BIOL.  INSTRUCTIONS FOR TERM PAPER

Introduction.  This assignment constitutes an opportunity for the student to research a topic in great depth and to generate a product that examines the topic in a complete and detailed manner.  The student should be aware of the fact that this assignment constitutes 35% of the overall lecture grade and thus, should not be taken lightly.  This is the student’s opportunity to demonstrate efforts that go above-and-beyond the call of duty, in defiance of less-than-stellar exam scores.

Procedure.  The student will choose one topic below and will clear that topic with the professor.  The student should be aware of the fact that one or more students might share the same topic.  The student should likewise be aware of the fact that the professor will be examining the papers for similarities.  Once the professor approves the topic the student researches the topic and will write a complete assessment of the topic with all sources documented in the text, as well as a complete listing of the sources in a References section at the conclusion of the paper.

Stipulations.

1. The paper must be a minimum of 7 typed pages of text (Calibri 14 pt, single-spaced) not including title page or References page.
2. The citations must be reported in the text by author name and date or URL and date.
3. Direct quotes are NOT to be used – even if they are cited appropriately.
4. The student should make every effort to avoid plagiarizing – this professor uses Turnitin to check for such academic irregularities.
5. The references section should include complete citations in appropriate format (the student should use the references sections from their current research articles as a model).
6. There should be no less than a total of 6 references. No more than 3 of those references can be internet resources (unless they are peer-reviewed journal sites) – the student should focus on print resources such as science texts and peer-reviewed journals.  Wikipedia or any kind of Encyclopedia is not an acceptable source.

Note on Late Submission.  The complete term paper, as a hardcopy, must be handed in to  the instructor on or before the due date published in the syllabus.  The grade on the term paper will be debited 10 percentage points for every day that it is late.

TOPIC:

• Ectothermy versus Endothermy in Animals: Comparisons, Contrasts, and Selective Advantages

Grading Rubric (based on 200 pts)

Baseline Grade                                                           80

Content Quantity

            Superior                                                         20

            Expected                                                         10

            Minimal                                                         5

Content Detail

            Superior                                                         20

            Expected                                                         10

            Minimal                                                         5

Content Accuracy

            Superior                                                         20

            Expected                                                         10

            Minimal                                                         5

Length

            Above-and-Beyond                                       10

Expected                                                         5

            Inappropriate                                                0

Organization

            Superior                                                         10

            Organization Evident                                               5

            Organization Not Evident                            0

Literature Citations in Text

            Present                                                           5

            Absent                                                                       0

Reference Quantity and Quality

            Superior                                                         15                                           

            Expected                                                         10

            Below Standard                                            5

References List

            Complete and Appropriate Format             10

            Incomplete or Inappropriate Format          0

Grammar/Spelling

            Superior                                                         10

            Expected                                                         5

            Not Acceptable                                              0