BIOL 180 Assignment 2: The Outline
For this assignment, you will use the “species” you chose for the Week 2 Mini-Presentation.
Objective: Organize your thoughts and the main points of your research for your final presentation
Before You Start:
To prepare for this assignment, I recommend that you do the following:
Read these directions carefully
Review the sample Outline provided to you: BIOL180_Sample_Outline.pdf (Note that this is an example only and should not be exactly followed. Follow the assignment instructions!)
Read the BIOL180 Outline Grading Criteria.pdf.
The grading criteria is a detailed evaluation that I will use to assess your performance. It also will help you understand what is expected of you as you prepare your assignment.
Use your own words (paraphrase). For help with paraphrasing, please review the ‘Quoting and Paraphrasing’ help in the Trefry Library Writing@APUS Center.
Note that your Turnitin report similarity score should be under 20% (not including references) and free of paraphrasing issues. Review the color-flagged text on your report, fix any issues, and resubmit again before the deadline (this assignment is set to unlimited submissions until the deadline).
Note that less than 10% of your work should contain direct quotes.
Email me with any questions!
Assignment Instructions: To help you complete Assignment 3: Final Presentation, you will first submit an outline to organize your thoughts and main points. Your outline should be formatted in the specified way and must contain the following elements as described below.
Be sure to add your name and course number to your outline.
The Outline Format: Your outline must be formatted as described and exemplified in the example linked above – an alphanumeric outline created with MS Word and saved as a .doc or .docx file type only. Please note that this format will be assessed in your grade:
Use an alphanumeric sequence
Sections should be indented and aligned
Follow the suggested order of the required topics/subtopics
Use brief but detailed and descriptive phrases (e.g., Mate in April or May, viviparous, polygynandrous)
The required topics/subtopics: Depending on the type of species you have chosen, you will address different sets of questions. Please see the category that corresponds to your selection below in the colored boxes. (Scroll down!) Your outline should contain the following topics/subtopics in this order, and please note that some of these should be your personal observations, if possible. Also, remember that your Final Presentation (Assignment #3) should only be 10-15 slides, so you need to be concise and clear with your information.
Please make note of the following general tips and tricks for your Outline:
I understand that this is a rough draft and, as your research and writing continue over the next few weeks, details may be added or changed. Although you do not have to resubmit it to me, I recommend that you update this outline to help you best complete Assignment 3.
Write your outline so that it has detailed and descriptive phrases in bulleted format that you can easily then flesh out into sentences for the audio narration component of your Final Presentation (Assignment 3).
After your outline is complete, I recommend that you next draft your conclusion section for your outline. This will ensure that all the main points of the outline are incorporated in this framing section.
All internal citation references (in-text-citations) should be listed on the reference page, and vice versa. ** Work that is improperly cited and referenced or lacking either proper citations or references may not be accepted for credit. **
*Writing Expectations: Apply scientific concepts and use scientific terminology correctly. Utilize proper spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
Additional Resources:
Use MS Word’s Outline Function. Use a MAC? Here is a video link (captioning included on the link) that you may find useful that reviews formatting in MS Word. (Setting up APA headers in Word).
Also, please see the resources below at The Owl at Purdue site for more information on how to develop an outline:
Types of Outlines and Samples
Four Main Components for Effective Outlines
Why and How to Create a Useful Outline
For more information on how to format in-text citations and references lists, the links below:
In-Text Citations: The Basics
Evaluation: Please review the BIOL180 Outline Grading Criteria.pdf that describe how your outline will be graded.
Submission Instructions:
You must submit your Outline as a “Microsoft Word” document in either a .doc or .docx file format (rather than a Word Pad, Works, etc. document) AND title your file name as FirstnameLastname_BIOL180_Assg2.doc. Otherwise, you will not receive credit for your assignment.
Upload your assignment for grading by clicking on the “Add a File” button at the bottom of the page.
The new screen will prompt you to click the “My Computer” button so you can locate the MS Word document of your Outline on your computer.
Find the file and double-click on it.
Click “Continue”.
Double-check to ensure that your outline was successfully uploaded as an attachment.
When you have completed this assignment, type “Completed” in the rich text editor box below.
Click the “Submit” button.
Your Outline is automatically submitted to Turnitin with your submission: Outlines will be automatically added to and checked against the standard Turnitin repositories. Originality reports will be returned to the faculty and student in roughly 15 minutes of the submission. Multiple submissions are allowed before the due date. If you wish to learn more about and how to access Turnitin.com, a plagiarism detection website, these are available from the Trefry Online Library. APUS Writing Center.
MICROORGANISMS:
The Introduction Section
Organism Introduction
The common and scientific name of your organism. Please see this link to help with scientific names if needed: How to Write Scientific Names of Organisms
Where you observed your organism (country, state, park, zoo, etc.)
A brief discussion on why you chose your organism
If possible, a picture and/or video of you safely observing your species in the field. If not possible, search the Internet for an image (and remember to cite your source for the image) in a typical habitat.
The Body of the Outline
Physical Description
You must include a brief physical description of your selected species. You can use your personal observations. If you cannot safely observe your organism, you must research.
size, coloring, etc. (e.g., Differences between male and female, juvenile and adult.)
Life Cycle and Reproduction
Life Cycle: describe the life cycle of your organism. The life cycle refers to the series of changes that happen from the beginning of life as your organism develops and grows into a mature organism. Please see here for some hints on the Life Cycle. If you have any questions on this, please ask!
Reproduction: You must discuss the reproductive strategies of your organism. For example, discuss how your microbe undergoes asexual reproduction.
Structure and Function
Please select one organ system of your organism that you find to be particularly interesting and describe both the anatomy and physiology of that system.
If you have selected a bacterium or a fungus, the concept can be more complex. Please contact me directly for more help is needed.
Energy Ecology
If you can observe these, that is best. If not, research.
What are the food sources? Types? Amounts? Temporal pattern of feeding?
Habitat
Where your organism lives. This does not refer to a city or state, but rather the natural environment in which your organism lives.
You should consider abiotic factors, such as soil, water, etc., as well as biotic factors, such as predators, hosts, etc.
The Conclusion Section
This section should contain four to six points that sum up the main points from the body of the outline.
Start your conclusive section with one sentence summarizing some basic information about your chosen organism (name and geographical distribution).
Continue with a brief summary (1-2 sentences) about the life cycle and any particular body structures.
Include a brief summary (1-2 sentences) about the ecological role of your chosen organism in its ecosystem.
Wrap up the conclusive section with a closing note that provides brief information about a unique fact and/or behavior of your chosen organism.
Reference Lists and Internal Citations – must contain the following:
Internal Citations – These are not listed on a separate page, but rather are placed throughout the outline via in-text citations anytime you paraphrase, use direct quotes, or want to use visual/audio components from other sources. Therefore, all source material should be cited.
Reference Lists-
Include a final “References” list of a minimum of five (and no more than 10) academically and scientifically credible sources used for facts shared in your outline.
Include a final “Media References” list of all images, videos, graphs, audio elements, etc., you want to use within your outline.
All references listed on the reference lists should be cited internally within the outline, and vice versa.
NOTE:
Work that is improperly cited and referenced or lacking either proper citations or references may not be accepted for credit.
PLANTS/FUNGI:
The Introduction Section
Organism Introduction
The common and scientific name of your organism. Please see this link to help with scientific names if needed: How To Write Scientific Names of Organisms
Where you observed your organism (country, state, park, zoo, etc.)
A brief discussion on why you chose your organism
If possible, a picture and/or video of you safely observing your species in the field. If not possible, search the Internet for an image (and remember to cite your source for the image) in a typical habitat.
The Body
Physical Description
You must include a brief physical description. You can use your personal observations. If you cannot safely observe your organism, you must research.
size, coloring, leaf arrangement, flower color, etc.
Life Cycle and Reproduction
Life Cycle: describe the life cycle of your organism. The life cycle refers to the series of changes that happen from the beginning of life as your organism develops and grows into a mature organism – seed stage, germination stage, mature stage, and so on. Please see here for some hints on the Life Cycle. Plants can be a bit more complicated, so if you have any questions, please feel free to ask!
Reproduction: You must discuss the reproductive strategies of your organism. Are there any specific structures or cells involved in reproduction? Are the flowers specialized?
Structure and Function
Please select one organ system of your organism that you find to be particularly interesting and describe both the anatomy and physiology of that system.
If your organism is a plant, here is a list of the general plant organ systems
If you have selected a fungus, the concept can be more complex. Please contact me directly for more help if needed.
Energy Ecology
If you can observe these, that is best. If not, research.
How does your plant harvest the energy from the sun? How does it store the energy?
Habitat
Where your organism lives. This does not refer to a city or state, but rather the natural environment in which your organism lives.
You should consider abiotic factors, such as soil, water, etc., as well as biotic factors, such as predators, hosts, etc.
The Conclusion Section
This section should contain four to six points that sum up the main points from the body of the outline.
Start your conclusive section with one sentence summarizing some basic information about your chosen organism (name and geographical distribution).
Continue with a brief summary (1-2 sentences) about the life cycle and any particular body structures.
Include a brief summary (1-2 sentences) about the ecological role of your chosen organism in its ecosystem.
Wrap up the conclusive section with a closing note that provides brief information about a unique fact and/or behavior of your chosen organism.
Reference Lists and Internal Citations – must contain the following:
Internal Citations – These are not listed on a separate page, but rather are placed throughout the outline via in-text citations anytime you paraphrase, use direct quotes, or want to use visual/audio components from other sources. Therefore, all source material should be cited.
Reference Lists –
Include a final “References” list of a minimum of five (and no more than 10) academically and scientifically credible sources used for facts shared in your outline.
Include a final “Media References” list of all images, videos, graphs, audio elements, etc., you want to use within your outline.
All references listed on the reference lists should be cited internally within the outline, and vice versa.
NOTE:
Work that is improperly cited and referenced or lacking either proper citations or references may not be accepted for credit.
ANIMALS:
The Introduction Section
Organism Introduction
The common and scientific name of your organism. Please see this link to help with scientific names if needed: How to Write Scientific Names of Organisms
Where you observed your organism (country, state, park, zoo, etc.)
A brief discussion on why you chose your organism
If possible, a picture and/or video of you safely observing your species in the field. If not possible, search the Internet for an image (and remember to cite your source for the image) in a typical habitat.
The Body
Physical Description
You must include a brief physical description. You can use your personal observations. If you cannot safely observe your organism, you must research.
size, coloring, etc. (e.g., Differences between male and female, juvenile and adult.)
Life Cycle and Reproduction
Life Cycle: describe the life cycle of your organism. The life cycle refers to the series of changes that happen from the beginning of life as your organism develops and grows into a mature organism. Please see here for some hints on the Life Cycle. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask!
Reproduction: You must discuss the reproductive strategies of your organism (e.g. release of gametes by a fish or hermaphroditic reproduction in earthworms), mate choice, mating displays, mate competition, and mating systems.
Structure and Function
Please select one organ system of your organism that you find to be particularly interesting and describe both the anatomy and physiology of that system.
If your organism is an animal, here is a list of the general animal organ systems
Energy Ecology
If you can observe these, that is best. If not, research.
What are the food sources? Types? Amounts? Temporal pattern of feeding? Specific handling or processing of food items by the organism (e.g. the way a squirrel manipulates an acorn)
Habitat
Where your organism lives. This does not refer to a city or state, but rather the natural environment in which your organism lives.
You should consider abiotic factors, such as soil, water, etc., as well as biotic factors, such as predators, hosts, etc.
The Conclusion Section
This section should contain four to six points that sum up the main points from the body of the outline.
Start your conclusive section with one sentence summarizing some basic information about your chosen organism (name and geographical distribution).
Continue with a brief summary (1-2 sentences) about the life cycle and any particular body structures.
Include a brief summary (1-2 sentences) about the ecological role of your chosen organism in its ecosystem.
Wrap up the conclusive section with a closing note that provides brief information about a unique fact and/or behavior of your chosen organism.
Reference Lists and Internal Citations – must contain the following:
Internal Citations – These are not listed on a separate page, but rather are placed throughout the outline via in-text citations anytime you paraphrase, use direct quotes, or want to use visual/audio components from other sources. Therefore, all source material should be cited.
Reference Lists –
Include a final “References” list of a minimum of five (and no more than 10) academically and scientifically credible sources used for facts shared in your outline.
Include a final “Media References” list of all images, videos, graphs, audio elements, etc., you want to use within your outline.
All references listed on the reference lists should be cited internally within the outline, and vice versa.
NOTE:
Work that is improperly cited and referenced or lacking either proper citations or references may not be accepted for credit.
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