Biol. 484 - Biology Seminar
NATURE AND PROCEDURES 
Spring Semester, 2004  

MINI-PRESENTATIONS:

     Your initial presentation will be a "mini-presentation".  A mini-presentation is a talk describing and explaining the content of a single research article from a biological journal.  Your mini-presentation will be given on an assigned date during the first half of the semester.  Following your talk the entire class will participate in a discussion of the article and a critique of your presentation.

     At the beginning of the term you will choose a journal article from a collection of papers previously selected by members of the faculty.  The articles in the collection may range from "classical" to "leading edge" and will represent a variety of biological disciplines.  When you have selected an article submit Information Form I: Mini-Presentation to the seminar coordinator.

     Begin the process of preparing your mini-presentation by carefully reading your chosen article several times for comprehension.  You may need to consult the faculty member who originally selected the paper for help in understanding more difficult aspects.  The chapter on Writing a Research Paper in your text (McMillan 2001, pp. 51- 87) will help you understand the organization of a scientific research article.

     Once you fully comprehend the paper you can start drafting your talk.  The presentation should include 1) an introduction to the question / problem / phenomenon / etc. that was studied, 2) an explanation of the methodology used in the study, 3) a review of the major results obtained by the study, and 4) a consideration of the conclusions drawn from the study.  Your talk should be in your own words.  You may paraphrase but do not plagiarize the article.

     When preparing your talk follow the suggestions for oral presentations given in your text (McMillan 2001, pp. 170-174).  Visual aids for figures and tables will not be needed as everyone in the class will have a copy of the paper.  Although a full period will be devoted to each article, your mini-presentation should run 15- 20 minutes leaving 30- 35 minutes for the class to discuss the paper and critique your talk.

     All students in the seminar will read each selected article before it is presented.  Every member of the group is also expected to participate in the discussion and critique.  For the discussion you should prepare a few questions and appropriate comments.  When possible the faculty member who submitted the paper will attend the presentation and lead the discussion.  Mini-presentations will not be open for general attendance.

MAJOR PRESENTATION:

     Your second talk will be a "major presentation".  It will be given on an assigned date during the second half of the semester

     The major presentation is an opportunity to examine a biological topic in considerable depth.  In many respects the major presentation is an oral version of a review paper, which is described in your text (McMillan 2001, pp. 88-106).  However, unlike most review papers the major presentation should include the presentation and critique of specific scientific data.  The principal requirements for a major presentation are 1) a reasonably thorough search of the scientific literature on an appropriate topic, 2) the delivery of an oral presentation of the topic, and 3) the preparation of an Abstract and Literature Cited for the presentation.

     By the third week of the semester you should have selected a topic for your major presentation.  Ideas for topics can come from class notes, magazines (e.g. Scientific American),  journals (e.g. Science), annual reviews (e.g. Annual Review of Genetics), members of the faculty and other sources.  Be sure your topic is neither too broad (e.g. the ecology of North America) nor too narrow (e.g. the fifth bristle on the thorax of Drosophila melanogaster).

     When you have selected a topic do a preliminary search of the journal literature (see Links for Searching the Literature and Examples of Journals, Magazines and Reviews).  Pick five (5) good journal articles on your topic to report on Information Form IIa.  If you cannot find at least five journal articles, select a new topic.  Once you have a suitable topic, secure an appropriate seminar advisor from the biology faculty.  If your first choice for an advisor already has too many seminar advisees, you will need to find a substitute.  By the fifth week of the semester you should submit Information Form II: Major Presentation and Information Form IIa to the seminar coordinator.  Be sure your seminar advisor has signed Form II.  Also, give your advisor a copy of the Advisor's Evaluation Form with your name and the date of your presentation filled in.  Plan to meet with your seminar advisor several times as you research and develop your major presentation.

     As soon as you have an approved topic and an advisor, complete a thorough search of the scientific literature (see Links for Searching the Literature and Examples of Journals, Magazines and Reviews).  Don't put this off; the process will take longer than you think!  The principal resources for your search are the published materials in the Tri-college (MSUM, NDSU and Concordia) libraries and data-base searching via the Internet.  Your advisor may also have materials or suggestions that will be helpful.  The chapter on Locating and Using Biological Literature in your text (McMillan 2001, pp. 5-19) will also be particularly useful.

     After you have completed your search of the literature, it's time to construct your talk.  The presentation should have an Introduction, a Body, and a Conclusion / Summary.  The sections in your text (McMillan 2001) on Presenting Material (pp. 91-100) and Oral Presentations (pp. 170-174) have numerous suggestions that should help you organize and prepare your talk.  Be sure that the body of your presentation includes at least  four studies from the journal literature for which you describe the methodology, data, and conclusions.  At an appropriate point in its development you should plan to write out your entire presentation.  It can then be revised and refined.  The final version of your talk should be put on note cards for use during the delivery.  Remember, your presentation should be in your own words.  You may paraphrase but do not plagiarize your sources.

     Your presentation must include computer-projected visual aids (e.g. figures, tables, illustrations, etc.).  The visuals and appropriate text must be assembled / constructed using Microsoft PowerPoint.  Be sure to use a version of PowerPoint compatible with the computer projection system in the seminar room (KH 101).  Also,  be sure your visual aids are clear, uncluttered and easy to view.  If you plan to make any original figures and tables, see Chapter 3 in the text (McMillan 2001, pp. 30- 50).

     When your talk is fully assembled, you can prepare the Abstract, Literature Cited, and Title.  The Abstract should be a 100 - 200 word summary of the content and conclusions of the presentation.  It should be understandable on its own and should be a meaningful synopsis of the information presented.  See your text (McMillan 2001, pp. 55- 59) for further information on preparing an abstract.  The Literature Cited should contain only those sources that are referred to in the presentation.  Use the Name-Year System illustrated in your text (McMillan 2001, pp.117- 125) for the Literature Cited.  You may also wish to include a list of Other Literature Consulted, but this is optional.  The Title should be informative and specific.  Your text (McMillan 2001, pp. 52- 55) has a number of suggestions for constructing an appropriate title.  You will be asked to submit a preliminary title (see Information Form II: Major Presentation) early in the semester to be used for the schedule of presentations, however, your final title cannot be determined until you know exactly what you will present.  The Title, Abstract, and Literature Cited should appear together on a typed page(s) (see Format for Abstract and Literature Cited) which will be distributed at the time of your presentation.  You must submit this material in final form to your advisor at least four full days before your presentation so that it can be approved and duplicated.  You must also show the seminar coordinator a copy of each journal article (study) described in the body of your presentation.

     Plan to practice your talk with your seminar advisor or a faculty substitute several days before your formal presentation.  This will be an opportunity to detect and correct problems in your text and visual aids.  The final version of your talk should take about 35- 40 minutes to present, leaving approximately 5-10 minutes for questions and comments from the audience.

     Immediately following your talk and the question/comment period, members of the class will participate in an oral critique of your presentation, time permitting.  Those attending your talk will also complete a written evaluation form.  If the class has orally critiqued your talk, you will be given the written evaluations to review.  These evaluations must be returned to the seminar coordinator.  If there isn't enough time for the class to orally critique your presentation, you will meet with either the seminar coordinator or your seminar advisor to review the written evaluations and to discuss your performance. 

GENERAL ARTICLES AND DISCUSSIONS:

     Periods not scheduled for mini-presentations or major presentations may be used to examine literature of a more general nature pertaining to the biological sciences.  Articles, selected by the seminar coordinator, from sources such as Scientific American, American Scientist and Atlantic Monthly will be the basis for class discussions emphasizing biological concepts and principles.  The seminar coordinator will lead the discussions and each member of the class will be expected to contribute her / his comments, thoughts, perceptions and ideas.
 

CONTACT PERSON:  Robert Weibust - weibust@mnstate.edu

LAST UPDATE: 4/26/04

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