Module Assessments

There will be 3 x 2-week module sessions during the unit (see Schedule for details) that will focus on advanced aspects of palaeobiology. See the BIOL381 iLearn page for all the details on what is expected for each module. Modules will be convened by separate staff members and will include a mix of assessments tasks including short written evaluations and online Quizzes. Each module will have a mix of lectures, guest lectures, discussion forums, workshops and practical Lab exercises/demonstrations. The “Lectures” slots will include mixed mode activities and will be held in 10MW 269 (E3A) on Fridays from 2.00-4.00 pm. The Lab sessions will be held in E5A 220 on Mondays from 2:00 to 5:00 PM. These sessions are COMPULSORY for the unit. There will be no other opportunity to complete these Modules and if you miss them only the Lecture part will be recorded. Other non-lecture activities WILL NOT be recorded and so you need to be present to pass the assessment tasks associated with each Module. Please see schedule for exact dates required for attendance. I reiterate, students are expected to attend all 6 Lecture and Lab sessions across the 3 Modules.

The Module Lab sessions will include a mix of hands-on surveys, measurements and identification of fossils, exposure to new and traditional palaeobiology techniques and methods as well as computer-based exercises that introduce the core methods of analytical palaeobiology. All students of palaeontology should have a basic understanding of these concepts and techniques. You will be provided with the skills to not only conduct your own analyses but to also critically assess those in the literature.

Each BIOL381 student is expected to submit one major Essay on a topic of your choice within 5 broad areas of palaeobiological research focussed on current, controversial or interdisciplinary palaeobiological research. Please CAREFULLY READ the instructions for the Major Essay posted under ASSESSMENT on the BIOL381 iLearn page. The key premise of the essay is that it must have an “evolutionary” theme and focus on data derived from the fossil record. In this respect, the core question(s) to be evaluated in the Essay might focus on (list not exhaustive) phylogenetic relationships, life history reconstruction, functional morphology, palaeobiological reconstruction, timing of key lineage splits, origination and extinctions. Obviously, the key data for the Essay must come from primary scientific papers detailing data/results/ interpretations from the fossil record.

Essay format

Please SEE the detailed instructions for the Essay scope, topic and format on iLearn webpage! The text here is more summary and introduction.

For this essay, you are required to formulate your own ideas, interpretations and conclusions regarding the strengths and weaknesses of the data presented in a series of published papers on a topic of your choosing. Please see the Essay Instructions for details about the 5 broad areas of palaeobiological research your essay must be chosen from. Do not simply summarise each paper. For this essay, it is essential that you read a wide array of primary literature.

The Essays also must be written in your own words. You must not copy material from any source without attribution. Any copied words, no matter how few, must be placed in quotation marks. If you copy anything without attribution or without using quotation marks you will not receive credit for the relevant part of the Essay. If you have copied without attribution, then depending on the severity of the case you may be reported to the Faculty Student Administration Manager, in accord with the Academic Honesty Procedure (see the Policies and Procedures section).

Please write in a concise, well-organised manner. If you are not feeling very confident in your ability to do so you may want to purchase the short, simple volume by W. Strunk and E.B. White, The Elements of Style, Macmillan (normally available in the Co-op bookshop).

For detailed instructions on how to format your essay please see the instructions posted Important points to note regarding the format and structure of the Major Essay:

• Word limit is 2500 words ± 10% not including the references. Include an accurate word count on the front of theEssay.
• Essays must be word processed using 12 pt font and 1.5 line spaced. Hand written Essays will not beaccepted.
• The Essay must include additional, but relevant supporting figures, graphs, ortables.
• The Essay should be written in the succinct, tight style of a scientific paper following the format of a mainstream science journal such asPaleobiology
• Make sure all primary information sources used are cited in the text in the appropriate manner. A full reference list presented in alphabetical order and written in journal style should be included at the end of the Essay. Only sources cited in the main text of the Essay should be listed in the referencelist.
• Regardless of the details, you MUST use the Harvard Referencing Style when writing your Essays. This means use of footnotes or numbered reference citation (Oxford referencing style) should be completelyavoided.

The Library Web page (http://www.library.mq.edu.au/) has a number of very useful databases for searching out relevant primary sources. Use databases such as Web of Knowledge or Scopus or publisher websites such as BioOne, JSTOR, ScienceDirect, Springer Link or Wiley Online Library when searching for information.

Note that a primary source is a paper published in a peer reviewed international scientific journal that presents new scientific data and is not simply a review of existing research. A secondary source is a review or compilation of the research work performed by other workers. Examples of secondary sources include Wikipedia, textbooks, popular science magazines (e.g. New Scientist), newspapers, and most other websites (though there are exceptions such as the online journal Palaeontologica Electronica).

Major Essay marking criteria (Summary – Full rubric available on iLearn)

Marks for the Major Essay will be allotted for the following:

1. Scientific content, meaning how well you have researched and evaluated the evidence to support your answer written in your own words.50%
2. Logical organisation, spelling, grammar, and conciseness. Use sub-headings.20%
3. Comprehensiveness, relevance, and formatting of the references you have consulted in researching your topic and cited in the text (see Harvard Referencing Style Guide).20%
4. Relevance, effectiveness, and referencing of figures, graphs and/or tables. At least one figure, graph, or table must be included.10%.

Important note: anything not in your own words does not demonstrate researching the topic; evaluating the evidence; writing logically and grammatically; or finding references on your own. Therefore, if you copy extensively you may receive little or no credit in any or all of these areas.

For this Assessment Task you will prepare a Scientific Research Grant Proposal under the broad research topic of ‘Interdisciplinary studies in Palaeobiological Research” funded by the hypothetical organisation called the Deep Time Institute of Australasia.

The aim of this task is to for you to learn how to develop new research strategies and questions that integrate separate interdisciplinary scientific fields to research, synthesise or solve outstanding questions in palaeobiology. It will provide practice in formulating a research question, devising a research plan that will allow you to experience the challenges of writing a research grant proposal.

Please CAREFULLY READ the instructions for the Scientific Research Grant Proposal posted under ASSESSMENT on the BIOL381 iLearn page.

All Scientific Research Grant Proposals MUST be completed via the online application form available on the BIOL381 iLearn website. Total word length is limited to 1500 words.

All sections of the applications must be completed (or at least attempted) – note that text- boxes have fixed size with strict word limits (see below) that cannot be exceeded. All applicants MUST use an 11-point font when completing the application.

Reference to primary peer-review papers must be cited throughout the proposal using the Oxford System for bibliographic citation which is based on a superscript numbering system. An Example of a recent ARC Grant Application can be found on the iLearn Website as an example of the style of referencing required.

For precise details of the requirements for this Assessment task please see the separate file “Scientific Research Grant Proposal Instructions and Format” under the ASSESSMENT section on the iLearn Web site.

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:

This outlines the criteria for Assessment and the weighting each of the sections will be given by Independent Reviewers (markers) for this Task.

Title, Background, Rationale and Aims (20%)

• Is the title clever, accurate andrelevant?
• How clearly is the background and rationale for the projectexplained?
• Are the citations/figures used up to date, comprehensive andrelevant?
• Are the aims clear and concise -achievable

Overall Project Quality, Significance and Innovation (25%)

• Does the research address a significantproblem?
• Is the conceptual/theoretical framework for the project innovative and original?
• Will the aims, concepts, methods and results advance palaeobiological knowledge?
• Does the project open new research frontiers or solve a more basic palaeobiologicalquestion?
• How up to date and comprehensive are the sourcesused.

Research Plan, Methods, Feasibility and Interdisciplinarity (25%)

• Do the project’s research design, methods and techniques create confidenceinthetimelyandsuccessfulcompletionoftheproject?
• Are the research plan and proposed methods clearly articulated, researched and well suited to fulfilling the overall aims of theproject?
• Is the level of interdisciplinarity clearly outlined and appropriate for the project?
• Are the necessary facilities and equipment available to complete the Project?

Expected Outcomes, Educational Outreach (15%)

• Are the expected outcomes reasonable, feasible and welljustified?
• Do the outcomes fulfil the original aims and research goals of theproject
• Is the strategy for educational outreach to scientific peers, schools and general public pitched at an appropriate level and through correct media/publications?

English Expression, Spelling, Organisation, Referencing (15%)

• Is text well written, clearly and concisely expressed in a logical manner and free of spellingerrors?
• Does the referencing match the required format and is it accurate, up-to- date andcomprehensive?

Posters are a time-honoured way to communicate scientific research in the academic community, and there are very few international scientific conferences that do not include poster sessions in their program. The aim of this assessment task for each student to gain experience in producing a research poster that could be submitted to an international congress. Research posters provide a critically important way for early career researchers to communicate their scientific research to a wide audience of peers via a short, concise review or evaluation of the author(s) research. They also let you communicate in more detail to a smaller number of particularly interested people who are prepared to spend time absorbing the finer points of your message.

Each student will be required to produce ONE research poster for this unit. The poster can be based on the same topic as your Major Essay OR Research Grant Application OR a completely different topic from the fossil record.

General Instructions for Poster Presentations

Each poster should be no larger than A1 size (= 595 mm x 840 mm). This is equivalent to 8 x A4 sheets. Your name + reference list must be clearly visible on the front of the poster.

There are numerous templates for producing scientific posters in programs such as PowerPoint, Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop. In addition, there are a number of freeware programs that can produce professional posters too. You can search the web to find alternatives that best suit you. Using a template is important because it provides a clear, logical organisation and flow for the poster (marks are given for clarity and organisation). It is not expected that you will need spend huge sums of money producing a highly professional, full colour print (although you may do so if you wish). The poster can be produced as a single A1 sheet or as 4 x A3 sheets, if you wish. You will have to decide how best to present your poster.

If you would like to have your poster printed at A1 size, there are a number of services that commercially print posters. Some even take online submissions and mail the poster to an address of your choice within a few days. For example, Officeworks offer full colour printing of A1 size posters for between $30-45 depending on paper type and quality. Postage and Handling is extra.

Macquarie University also offers the online Ergo Print Centre – which enable posters to be uploaded and printed. Cost is variable. You can get a quote before your print anything.

Contact is MUprintenquiries@ergoasia.com or Ph: 9850 6305.

The link is here: http://www.mq.edu.au/business_and_community/printery/macquarie_lighthouse_press/

For precise details of the requirements for this Assessment task please see the separate file “Poster Presentation - Instructions and Format” under the ASSESSMENT section on the iLearn Web site.