Presentations
 

Lab 13 and Lab 14 

The last two laboratory meetings are reserved for student presentations. The presentations are based on a review of peer-reviewed papers on subject selected by the student that involves some aspect of organismal biology. From the course syllabus:  

Each student is required to write a research paper and make a PowerPoint presentation on their research topic during one of the last two lab periods. The topic of the paper is one you select that deals with some aspect of structure and function in biology. It can be approached at any level of organization, from the subatomic (electron flow) to the organismal. Your paper should take the format of a literature review of some area of interest you have or that you develop during the semester.  

You may start your literature search by looking at appropriate journals in our library or a online search using the various one-line services available. Note that most of the literature sources will not be found in our library and must be downloaded or hardcopies ordered in from surrounding libraries.  

Therefore it is very important to start your search as soon early in the semester as possible. Another aspect of this paper is that the literature used must be primary literature from refereed journals. While many online journals are available and may be used almost all of the more common websites and references you come up with if you goggle a topic may not be used unless they are from a valid refereed journal.  

The format for the references you cite in your paper should follow the format used in the literature cited section of any of the major journals you have used. By mid-semester you should hand in a short general outline for your paper with the key papers you plan to use. Your papers are due the last day of classes.  

A PowerPoint presentation of your paper will be given to the class in the last two weeks during lab. Your presentation will be 15 minutes long with 3 minutes for questions. Any new feedback or ideas resulting from your presentation should be integrated into your final draft of your paper.

 Below is a general rubric uses for any presentation that you may find useful. Also, the speaking center on campus, http://www.hsc.edu/Academics/Speaking-Center.html is an excellent resource for polishing up your presentation.

 The primary literature for scientists was defined by the Council of Biology Editors as the "first disclosure containing sufficient information to enable peers (1) to assess observations, (2) repeat experiments, and (3) to evaluate intellectual proccesses". The "first disclosure" is most often made within peer-reviewed and edited scientific journals (in print and/or online), but may appear in conference proceedings, technical reports, and other media.

Further, this published record of the reproducible results of original research must be written by the person or group who undertook the research (rather than being reported second hand by a science writer, editor, or in a text book or review article), and should be distributed in a source that is widely indexed by authoritative secondary and "tertiary" sources (such as those described above).

Peer-review refers to the process through which a research paper is critically evaluated prior to publication, by scientists with in-depth knowledge of the authors' area of research or investigation, to ensure that the work under review is accurate, reliable, well-written, and worthy of publication; the process is generally guided by an editor who makes the final decision. The American Chemical Society has published a detailed code of ethics related to the entire publication cycle, outlining the responsibilities and obligations of authors, reviewers and editors.  

How can you tell if a journal article went through the peer-review process? Consult the Web site of the journal or the inside front cover to find the instructions to authors and/or editorial board information. Ulrich's Periodicals Directory also indicates whether peer review is part of the publication process. It is generally the rule for every journal received in the science library.

 

Here are some search resources at the HSC Library:

 

American Society for Microbiology Journals:      http://0-journals.asm.org.lion.hsc.edu/search.dtl

 BioOne:                                                http://0-www.bioone.org.lion.hsc.edu/search/  

 Justor:                                                  http://0-www.jstor.org.lion.hsc.edu/action/showAdvancedSearch

 PubMed:                                               http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?db=PubMed 

 

 

Competency

Excellent

Satisfactory

Unsatisfactory

 

(1) Chooses a topic appropriate for the audience and         

       occasion

 

 

 

 

 

 

(2) Communicates the thesis/specific purpose in a manner

       appropriate for the audience and occasion

 

 

 

 

 

 

(3) Supports the argument with credible evidence and

       sound reasoning based on the audience and occasion

 

      

 

 

 

 

(4) Uses an appropriate organizational pattern with an effective

       introduction, body, and conclusion, and employs transitions

       and internal summaries to guide the audience through the

       speech

 

 

 

 

 

 

(5) Effectively employs rhetorical devices such as metaphor,

       analogy, simile, repetition, alliteration, allusion, and

       parallelism

 

 

 

 

 

(6) Chooses vocabulary that is appropriate to the audience

       and occasion, including gender inclusive language

 

 

 

 

 

 

(7) Chooses an appropriate mode of delivery and uses vocal

        variety in rate, pitch, and intensity to heighten and

        maintain interest; avoids excessive use of verbal fillers 

 

               

 

 

 

 

 

(8) Uses clear articulation and pronunciation; does not mumble

 

 

 

 

 

 

(9) Incorporates physical delivery – posture, gestures, dress, and eye contact – that supports the verbal message

 

 

 

 

 

(10) Uses audiovisual aids, including PowerPoint

         and other forms of technology, effectively as needed