Insect Physiology Assignments

	Insect Physiology ENTO 507 / INSC 507 The University of Arizona
	Elizabeth Willott

Insect Physiology Assignments

Over the course of the semester you will generate several short reports on research papers and one, high quality, 10-25 page paper on a particular topic in insect physiology. I expect that if you are doing research that has a link to insect physiology, that this report will be great material (perhaps even directly a chapter) for your thesis or dissertation and so is not mere busywork.

The entirety of this essay project will comprise the greatest component of your grade; the remainder will consist of weekly, short, assignments on the topics we will cover as a group in class.

What this means is no final, no end balloon payment. By the last week of classes you will have less than 25% of your grade still outstanding. This scheme is designed so you are rewarded for working consistently throughout the semester, creating a better end-product as a result (and the end-product is expected to be of use to you). Another element of the design of the grading scheme is that you are rewarded for preparing to come to class; this benefits not only you but all the other students since better preparation prior to coming to class equals a much better discussion IN class.

There is some "slack" offered since we all get sick now and then or we simply need a breather. Therefore total points for the class add to more than 100 and this is fully intentional.

Here's what I envision:

Paper Project: Total points = 55

Assignment	Due Date	Points
Bibliography draft	Feb 7	2.5 points
Bibliography formatted	Feb 10	2.5 points
Preliminary draft or outline*	Mar 3	10 points
1st complete draft	Apr 7	15 points
Final paper (highly refined)	May 5	25 points

*Your choice. I will provide a guide for what constitutes an appropriate outline. I am expecting a substantial piece of work.

Weekly Assignments: Total points = 55
11 classes (Feb 3 - Apr 28) will have assignments. 5 points/class.

2.5 points: 1 page report on a paper of your choice from your Bibliography list unless you inform me otherwise (presumably you'll choose a paper you need to read for your Paper Project).
2.5 points: 1 page report on a paper that we will discuss in class that day (assigned at least with one week's advance notice).

Yes, this is intensive grading and I have no TA. That means you have to write well!

Link here for Writing Guides

Grading
There is a maximum total of 110 points:
I expect cut-offs to be approximately:
90 points for A
80 points for B
70 points for C
60 points for D
I reserve the right to adjust these downward if required.

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