For this course all assignments are turned in via this Google Form. Once assignments are submitted (your Google Doc = copy #1) a new copy (copy #2) is produced of which I am the owner. I will leave comments and your grade on this new copy and send you a notification when you can review it. In the case of multiple drafts (i.e a first draft and a final draft) - I recommend taking this new copy with my comments (copy #2), making a copy in Google Docs so that you have edit permissions (copy #3), and editing this (copy #3) directly as your new draft. This way you have a clear history of your work and can most easily incorporate my comments into your new draft.
****NOTICE**** Please use Google Docs and Google Slides and NOT Microsoft Word and Powerpoint to complete assignments. Using Microsoft products is just fine in your day-to-day but these products do not completely integrate with Google tools. Keeping all document creation within Google ensures a smooth work flow.
*I reserve the right to remove assignments or add additional assignments as needed to meet the Learning Objectives of the course while balancing an appropriate workload for students. This will change the overall point total. While I reserve this right I also commit to keeping your workload very close to what is originally stated here which may involve altering expectations/point totals of existing assignments if any assignments are added.
Project Proposal and Presentation: The principle aim of this course is to plan, propose, and present a long-term project that you will begin this year and carry out through your senior year. All students will prepare a Project Proposal this term that includes an extensive literature review, experimental/project design, data collection methods, budget and timeline (about 15-20 pages). Students will also give a formal Proposal Presentation (12 minutes) in the final month of the course. The project proposal will be developed over the course of the semester and includes several drafts that receive instructor and peer feedback (see schedule).
Full Project Proposal [800pts TOTAL] --- The grade for this category must be >60% in order to pass the class.
[400pts] Complete Full Proposal - FINAL
[100pts] Presentation of Full Proposal - sign up for slot
[200pts] Project Proposal Outline and Drafts
Outline -- 20pts
Introduction Draft -- 50pts
Materials/Methods/Budget Draft -- 50pts
Complete Draft and Peer Edit - Peer Review Rubric -- 80pts
[50pts] R statistics Prep - will be evaluated via quiz(s) --- 50pts
downloading and installing R - this includes R base, R studio desktop, & R studio Cloud
installing R packages
importing and manipulating data from excel
using R notebooks
creating comments to clarify your code
calculating descriptive statistics like mean, variance and standard deviation (and know what they mean and how they are used)
running statistical tests like t-tests, chi squared tests, ANOVA, ANCOVA, and linear regressions (and know what they mean and how/when they are used)
producing plots like scatter plots, barplots, boxplots, and line plots
R tutors!!!
Bongiwe Ncube:
Fridays 10am-12pm, zoom tutoring
Mira Yoder:
Tuesdays, 7pm-9pm, in person, UN 004 west OR zoom tutoring
Professional Development: You will want to begin planning for life after college graduation. We will share information on preparing for graduate or professional schools, applying for jobs, and preparing for interviews. You will practice necessary skills by creating a CV or resume along with a personal/research statement or cover letter.
Personal Development: It is important that not only do you become an excellent scientist, but that you will take the GC Core Values with you into your future career. Your values will shape the kinds of research questions you ask, the methods you use to investigate those questions, and the people you will serve through your work. You will have an opportunity to consider the scientist you are becoming through your thesis work and readings throughout the semester.
[100pts] Participation
Advisor meetings & collaboration
Coffee hour planning (Oct. 7)
Journal Club leadership/participation - papers must be turned in before class
Senior Seminar presentation attendance
[100pts] Professional Development Activities
Resume -- 50pts
In the Future – Be ready to collect data (through BIO 400 credit in spring, REUs or other research experience (Maple Scholars) over Summer or Fall), then analyze it in BIO 410: Senior Seminar – where you will complete your.... Final Thesis Manuscript!!!!!!!!!!
Here are a couple of links to help you prepare yourself for Senior Seminar. Please think about this as you work through Junior Seminar: