COURSE GUIDELINEs

general :


Coordinator : Hande Toffoli (ustunel@metu.edu.tr)

Lecture Hours : Tuesdays 17:40-18:30 (will be conducted via online lectures)

items of grading :

    • Advisor selection (1%)

At the beginning, you have to declare your advisor. Even if you do not know the exact title, you need to let me know who you are working with.

    • Attendance (4%)

There will be 4 or 5 lectures where we will cover topics such as basics of scientific writing, poster presentations etc. Attendance will be taken during these online courses.

    • Project Proposal (5%, graded by the coordinator)

A few weeks after the add drop period, you will submit a short proposal that describes your planned work. The coordinator will provide the template.

    • Midterm report (20%, graded by your advisor)

About a month after the proposal, you will submit an interim report which describes what you have done so far. The coordinator will provide the template.

    • Poster (20%, graded by the poster evaluator(s))

At the end of the semester before the finals, you will prepare a poster and one or two poster evaluators (other than your advisor) will grade your poster. We will not be using a set template but we will discuss examples of preparing an effective poster. However, for reasons of uniformity and fairness, you are required to prepare a A2 color poster in the portrait orientation.

The about the printing quality for the poster that you see below DOES NOT apply for the 20201 Online Semester.

    • Presentation (25%, graded by jury members)

The actual presentation will be given to a jury of two faculty members during the finals period in an online session. Your advisor is welcome to come, however, they will not be grading you. There will be no set template for the presentation, but we will discuss tips for giving an effective presentation.

    • Final report (25%, graded by your advisor)

At the end of the finals period, you will submit your final report. The coordinator will provide a template.

TIMELINE :

IMPORTANT : You must complete ALL the activities here in order to get a passing grade from this course (including the advisor selection and the proposal). Otherwise, you will get an Incomplete, which after a while converts itself to an FF. NO EXCEPTIONS!!!

NOTE that this timeline is approximate and will change slightly as the events draw near.

  • Before you take the class or in the very first week

--- Start looking for an advisor

  • End of the add-drop period

--- Fill in the form on ODTUClass to officially enter your choice of advisor and topic

  • Approximately one month into the semester

--- Proposal

  • A little past mid-semester

--- Interim report

  • Just before (or after) the finals period

--- Poster session

  • Towards the end of the finals period

--- Presentation

  • Just after the finals period

--- Final report

Working with your advisor during online teaching :

  • Contact your advisor as soon as possible.

  • At the end of the add-drop period, you will be asked who your advisor is and you will not be able to continue until you disclose who your advisor is.

  • We encourage students to work with their advisor online as much as possible.

  • If you have to come to the department to work with your advisor, say in the lab, you MUST stick to the health precautions taken by the department such as wearing masks at all times, not occupying the same space with too many people for long periods of time.

  • IMPORTANT : Consult a health authority at once if you experience any symptoms. Notify you advisor and plan with your advisor on how to continue with your project.

RULES FOR THE POSTER :

    • Size : A2

    • Orientation : Portrait ONLY!!!

    • Paper quality : Glossy (you will be given a discount when you go to the printing store in the shopping center)

    • Color/Grayscale : Color

    • Please ask the person in the printing store to punch three holes at the top of the poster. He will know what you are taking about.