Homework Assignments

Homework 1. Models_instructions          Models_pdf_template
Homework 2. Data_instructions               Data_pdf_template
Homework 3. Correlations_instructions     Correlations_pdf_template
Homework 4. Experiments_instructions     Experiments_pdf_template

The class web site provides examples of good and bad homeworks. Note that those examples use the old templates. They are informative for the new templates, but do not attempt to use those old templates for your assignments.

Table of contents

Homework Guidelines

Format (applies to all homeworks)

1. All homework assignments now use a web interface with fields for you to fill in. When done filling in the blanks, you generate a pdf. The filled pdf must be uploaded to this class (Bio301D) in your Blackboard account -- LOOK for the virtual class number instead of the unique number for which you are registered. MAKE SURE before you upload that the saved file has retained your edits, including the last one. Also, don't send homeworks by email unless you have been specifically notified that they are allowed (which is almost never).

The deadlines for each homework are posted in the syllabus and are advertised on the class web page typically within a week of the due date; you can assume that you have until 5:00 PM the day of deadline to upload; ask first to see if it is later. In many years, we have allowed late homeworks to be uploaded for 48hr past the advertised deadline (with a small penalty). Inquire about late submissions before assuming they are allowed.

2. The article should be less than 9 months old. You will need to upload it in some form with your pdf (scan, electronic version, etc.).

3. Some assignments require you to quote from the article. The form will contain a field in which you paste the quote.

4. Your text fill-ins should be no longer than necessary. Be succinct. Excessive verbosity will reduce the credit you receive. Do not add unnecessary wording, especially when quoting from the article. For example, if the question asks for a quote describing a correlation, the quote

"babies sleeping on their stomachs learn to crawl earlier"

is preferred over the longer quote

"A recent study of 1200 babies showed that babies sleeping on their stomach learn to crawl earlier"

because the latter quote contains information not relevant to the question.

Failure to follow any of the above format guidelines may result in points being deducted.

Choosing an Article

1. Informative articles will receive the most points (all else equal). The selected article should contain sufficient depth. Ideally, the article should contain enough information so that the information requested by the template is specifically mentioned. Do not use really short articles. Tiny newspaper blurbs will not contain enough information to satisfactorily complete an assignment.

A common mistake is to use an article that talks about the consequence of a study but does not go into detail about the study itself. Such articles are difficult to fit into the class formats, because they are too removed from the actual studies.

2. Good sources for articles include the following, although at this stage we don’t know which of these sources provide electronic articles:

New York Times (click on the SCIENCE section)

The Wall Street Journal

The Austin Chronicle

Time

Newsweek

Discover

Pubmed (http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/)

Newscientist.com

MSNhealth

3. Because they often contain brief and incomplete articles, the following are discouraged:

The Austin American-Statesman

Dallas Morning News

The Daily Texan

USA Today

Homework Assignments

Table of contents

bio301d@bull.biosci.utexas.edu