Unit completion requirements

To pass this subject you must achieve all of the following.

• Receive a final overall mark of >50%.
• Submit a research proposal
• Present a research seminar
• Engage with the research project to the satisfaction of the project supervisor. As a guide, supervisors will expect students to invest a minimum of 15 h per week to their projects.
• Submit a project report

Assignment description

Project outline (5 % of final mark)

Addresses graduate capabilities 1, 2 and 4

Produce a brief outline of your research project detailing the hypothesis to be tested, the experimental approach, the nature of data collected, plan for analysis and a suggested timeline.  Maximum 1 side of A4 paper.  The intention of this assessment task is to give early feedback to students on their planned project.

Your research plan will be assessed on

1. Formulation of a clear question and hypothesis;
2. Feasibility of the research plan;
3. A plan for analysis and statistics;
4. Overall communication of your work. 

Research Seminar (20 % of final mark)

Addresses graduate capabilities 1, 2 and 4

You should deliver a 20-minute presentation of your project structured as an academic conference presentation, followed by a period for questions.  Your oral presentation should be accompanied by slides prepared in either Powerpoint or Keynote.  This will be an open presentation, meaning any member of the university community may attend, and you should anticipate presenting to the majority of the BBE academic and student community. 

This should also be seen as an opportunity to gain constructive comment and feedback from your examiners and peers, which may improve your thesis.

What makes a good oral presentation?

1. A clear statement of your aims and the questions you addressed;
2. A logical and coherent progression of ideas;
3. A concise but unhurried presentation.  Don’t try to pack too much in;
4. Clear visuals that complement the spoken presentation;.
5. Minimal text and clear, simple illustrations in slides;
6. Careful explanation of data and statistical methods;
7. Remember that practice makes perfect!

Supervisor assessment (15 % of final mark)

Addresses graduate capabilities 1-6

Your supervisor will be asked to report on your performance. Students are expected to commit an average of 12 h per week to their research project and supervisors will report on students:

1. diligence and commitment,
2. punctuality and dependability,
3. integration and cooperation with the research team,
4. practical experimental skills,
5. capacity to follow instruction,
6. capacity for independent creative thought,
7. initiative.

Project report (60 % of final mark)

Addresses graduate capabilities 1 - 6

The project report should be written and formatted as a submission-ready manuscript in the style of a research paper written for the journal Animal Behaviour. Write your report for a scientifically literate but non-specialist audience.  This must be fully referenced following the referencing style of the journal.  A copy of the formatting guidelines for Animal Behaviour can be found at:

http://www.elsevier.com/journals/animal-behaviour/0003-3472/guide-for-authors

Note that there is an important difference between the format of a submission ready manuscript and a published paper.  You are asked to provide the former. 

The thesis must not exceed 3000 words inclusive of references.

What makes a good project report?

1. A clear definition of the problem;
2. Careful documentation of methods and materials, and a critical appraisal of methods used where appropriate;
3. Appropriate and accurate analysis of the data;
4. Proper interpretation of results leading to justifiable conclusions;
5. Critical discussion of results in the context of previous work in the field;
6. Evidence of ability to perform experiments, make good quality preparations or accurate observations as appropriate;
7. Ability to write a well organised report in a clear succinct style;
8. Precise spelling, grammar and use of English;
9. Use a citation program to store a library of your references and format your citations
10. Clear and meaningful figures and illustrations.

Project report examination criteria

When grading, your project report examiners will consider:

1. Your demonstrated understanding of the topic;
2. Design and execution of the project;
3. Discussion of results in the context of relevant literature;
4. Overall communication of your work. 

Assignment submission

All assignments must be submitted electronically via ilearn.  Use the turnitin links through the assignment section of the iLearn page. 

Extensions and penalties

10% of the mark allocated for the assignment will be deducted for every 24 h period (or part thereof) that any work is submitted past the nominated deadline.

The deadlines for assignments are not negotiable. Only a medical certificate or a letter with appropriate supporting documents outlining other serious, extenuating circumstances can be used to submit an assignment after the due date without penalty. All applications for special consideration or extension must be sought before the due date unless this is absolutely impossible. All applications for extensions of deadlines must be submitted to the course chair. 

Returning assessment tasks

Assessment tasks will be returned via iLearn.  

Website

Unit outline, workshop notes and course notices will be distributed via iLearn

http://ilearn.mq.edu.au

iLearn is a web-based computer mediated communication package and can be accessed by most web browsers from inside or outside the University. iLearn and email via the official Macquarie Student e-mail address will be the principle method of communication in this subject.

You must use iLearn for:

• Regularly checking subject announcements;
• Downloading course materials;
• Downloading reference materials;
• Checking your grades.

The iLearn log-in page is: http://ilearn.mq.edu.au/. Your user name is your student number. If you are having trouble accessing your online unit due to a disability or health condition, please go to the Student Services Website at http://sss.mq.edu.au/equity/about for information on how to get assistance. If you are having problems logging on, If you cannot log in after ensuring you have entered your username and password correctly, you should contact Student IT Help.

UNIT SCHEDULE

Website

Unit outline, workshop notes and course notices will be distributed via iLearn

http://ilearn.mq.edu.au

iLearn is a web-based computer mediated communication package and can be accessed by most web browsers from inside or outside the University. iLearn and email via the official Macquarie Student e-mail address will be the principle method of communication in this subject.

You must use iLearn for:

• Regularly checking subject announcements;
• Downloading course materials;
• Downloading reference materials;
• Checking your grades.

The iLearn log-in page is: http://ilearn.mq.edu.au/. Your user name is your student number. If you are having trouble accessing your online unit due to a disability or health condition, please go to the Student Services Website at http://sss.mq.edu.au/equity/about for information on how to get assistance. If you are having problems logging on, If you cannot log in after ensuring you have entered your username and password correctly, you should contact Student IT Help.

Timetable

BBE 303 differs from most undergraduate units in that there are minimal contact hours; instead students are expected to invest about 15 h per week on their research project.  The schedule will depend entirely on the nature of the research undertaken and should be discussed with project supervisors.  Seminars are held in Andrew Barron’s office in W19F.

Seminar topics.