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| Portfolio Section | Week Introduced | Skill(s) | Assignment | Assessment |
Textbook Summary |
Week 3 Recitation
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Summarize concepts from this week’s assigned textbook readings.
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Each BI 101 exam is comprised of questions from lecture, lab, recitation, and the textbook readings. One of the most effective ways to study the textbook readings is to briefly summarize each section. Chapter 3 has 16 sections, each with its own heading (for example, section 3.1 is “Leaf Hairs”). List the numbers for each heading (one through sixteen). For each heading, read over the paragraphs, look at any accompanying photos, and summarize the passage in only a sentence or two. For example, for #1 you will have a sentence or two on what leaf hairs are, for #2 you would have a sentence or two on spines/thorns/prickles, and so on. Note: if headings consistently have long summaries (more than a few sentences for each heading), points will be deducted.
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This assignment is worth 4.0 points (0.25 point for each brief summary).
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Labeled Microscope Drawings
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Week 3 Laboratory
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Identify, draw, and label organisms viewed with microscopes.
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In the space provided on the next page, draw and label the “live” organisms and structures you observe under the microscope in this activity (Azolla and Anabaena, lichens, oak gall). Include the magnifications used next to each labeled drawing. Include both organisms (drawn and labeled) in each symbiotic pair. If for some reason you do not see an organism, write that you did not see it, and describe what it should have looked like under the microscope.
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This assignment is worth 3.0 points. Each labeled drawing is worth 1.0 point (0.5 points for the drawing, 0.5 points for the labels). |
Exam Results Analysis |
Week 4 Recitation |
Analyze exam results to improve learning and performance on future exams.
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Using your exam results printout (handed out in week 4 lab/recitation) and exam answer key/outcomes (available at course website), analyze your exam results. On a sheet of paper, make three columns. In the first column, list the numbers of every question missed. In the second column write the source of each question’s material (lecture, lab, recitation, textbook). In the third column, write whether the question was vocabulary (a definition), an explanation (how, why, etc.), an illustration or other type. Finally, write a short summary paragraph summarizing specific things you can do, based on the questions you missed, to improve studying for the next exam. If you had all of the answers correct on Exam #1 simply write a sentence stating this in the portfolio.
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This assignment is worth 3.0 points (1.0 point is given for the source column, 1.0 point for the type of question column, and 1.0 point for the summary paragraph). |
Animal News Story |
Week 4 Laboratory |
Locate and summarize a current news story that describes recent research related to animals.
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Locate a current news story (within the past month) on the web related to recent research on animals. You can use the links to major news sources available through the course website (CNN, BBC, MSNBC, etc.). There are a lot of news stories about recently published animal research each week, select one that is interesting to you.
1. Write the source of the information. Include: title of story, news source and author if available, date, and the entire web page address. 2. Summarize in a paragraph, in your own words, what the news story states. Include the main point(s) of the story, why it is a news story (what is “new” about the information), and your response to the article (for example: Was it interesting? Why or why not? What additional information would be helpful? Was the story well written? etc.). |
This assignment is worth 3.0 points: 0.5 point for the source of information (title of story, news source and author if available, date, web page address) and 2.5 points for a thorough summary (1.0 points for main point(s) of the story, 0.5 point for why it is news, and 1.0 point for your response to the story). This portfolio assignment will be assigned zero points if no information on the source of the story is provided.
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Human Population Data Analysis |
Week 5 Recitation |
Analyze and describe human population data.
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Using the data in the chart provided below, write four brief paragraphs that (1) compares and contrasts the population sizes and fertility rates of Tanzania and Spain in 2009 and (2) the predictions of population size and fertility rates for both countries in 2050 and (3) explains how fertility rate will impact population size in these countries, and (4) describes how the ratio of youth/elderly will impact the changes in population size for each of these two countries. |
This assignment is worth 4.0 points (1.0 point for description of current populations, 1.0 point for descriptions of 2050 predicted populations, 1.0 point for discussion of fertility rate impacts on the two populations’ sizes, and 1.0 point for discussion of how age structure will impact the two populations’ sizes). |
Bird Field Journal Entries |
Week 5 Laboratory |
Make detailed bird field journal entries, including writings and drawings.
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Drawing and adding written notes can make an experience memorable. Find, observe, and make field journal entries on three (3) different varieties of wild birds. First, you need to find the birds. This is relatively easy on campus, as many birds can be found in the shrubs around the classroom buildings. Also consider looking early in the day, and at times between classes when there is less foot traffic. Quickly draw each bird as you see it, trying to sketch the general shape and posture, and when it moves you can then fill in other information from memory. Label your drawing, including each bird’s size, colors/pattern, and write about the bird’s behavior (what each was doing as you were observing). Also include general field information including the location of each bird and the time of each observation. To summarize, for each of the three birds you will have (1) a drawing, (2) labels (size, colors/pattern), (3) the bird’s behavior, and (4) general field information (location, time). Photographs can not be substituted for drawings in this assignment, give the drawings a try. |
This assignment is worth 3.0 points. Each bird is worth 1.0 point (0.25 point for the drawing, 0.25 point for labels (size, colors/pattern), 0.25 point for the bird’s behavior, and 0.25 point for general field information (location, time). |