Text and Sample of Ornithology Resources

   I. Class Tests – 3 class tests weighted 36% of the course grade (each weighted 12%):

Test 1: Tuesday February 12th covering class material January 15 - February 5 (7 class periods with Feb. 7 class period on test 2).
Test 2: Thursday March 6th covering class material February 7 - March 4 (7 class periods).
Test 3: Wednesday April 30th 12:30 PM during the exam period covering student presentation class material March 18 - April 24.

  II. Journal Article Summary Conclusions - 16% of the course grade:

         As a part of the regular class period format, each student is to prepare BEFORE CLASS and BRING TO CLASS a one-page summary of the main conclusions of a journal article (e.g., online, see Text and Sample of Ornithology Resources) that relate to the text topic/chapter of the day (See class sequence of text topics).  As a part of the discussion of the topic of the day each student will be expected to contribute to the discussion by telling the class the basic conclusions of the research article as it relates to the overall topic.  Furthermore, the one-page summary is to include a complete citation (including Internet address) and turned in on that day (to be copied and distributed by the professor at a later time).  Some test questions on the next test will come from those summaries.  Note that these summaries are due and will be needed on the day a text topic is discussed, so late submissions will not be accepted.  Begin working on this project NOW!  (You may omit turning in a summary of a journal article for one of the nine chapters/topics without penalty.)

 III. Student Oral Presentation – weighted 18% of the course grade

         The student oral presentation will be based on an extension of the basic principles in one chapter from the Wiens text plus at least two (relatively recent) journal articles (e.g., online, see Text and Sample of Ornithology Resources) that are related to the topic of the text chapter.  The presentation should first give an overview introduction of the topic, followed by more in-depth explanations of concepts and principles as needed as they relate to the two journal articles, and conclude with more in-depth explanations of research objectives, methods, results, and conclusions for the journal articles.  Definitions of terminology used should be given throughout as needed.  The journal articles may elaborate on the concept from the perspective of general principle or give specific examples of the concept.  The presentation should be planned for 40 minutes long with 10 more minutes allocated for questions and comments from the rest of the class, i.e., the student is responsible for leading a fifty-minute class period in a seminar style.  The rest of the class has the responsibility of “helping” the presenter by asking questions and commenting on topics at appropriate times.  The oral presentations will begin immediately after Spring Break.  Begin working on this project NOW!  In addition, as a part of this assignment, the student is responsible for providing 5 questions and answers to be a part of the third test during the exam period.  These questions and answers are to be provided to the rest of the class at the end of the presentation by the presenter in the form of a handout.  The questions and answers should be of the short essay type.  Begin working on this project NOW! 

  IV. Lab – Each individual assignment will be graded separately and then the total raw score for the different assignments will be weighted 25% of the course grade.  Besides local field trips, separate weekend field trips are planned to Virginia and Kentucky.

              Grading will include such lab tests as
                     Bird identification in the lab and field
                     Selected Orders and Families of birds and associated examples
                     Identification of selected bird songs
 

   V. Participation – weighted 5% of the course grade
This will be based on participation in all aspects of the course, e.g., ACTIVE participation in lab and asking appropriate questions and making appropriate comments at appropriate times as a part of another student’s oral presentation.

 

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