Science News, which is published every two weeks, contains the latest scientific results and breakthroughs in all scientific fields, from biology to psychology to astronomy. This very short (15-20 pages) magazine summarizes the science in layperson's language and is accessible to the nonscientist.

You will have TWO Science News synopsis assignments due by Monday of every other week this semester. There is a table at the bottom of this page that summarizes the due dates. Each synopsis is worth 10 points and you need to complete 10 synopses (out of 16 possible) over the course of the semester, for a total possible 100 points.

You pick one article; I pick the other every other week....

Read through the current Science News and pick one story or article that interest you. It can be on any topic—It does NOT have to be biological. Go to the online assignment submission form (the link is at the bottom of this page), where you will summarize each article in your own words one at a time and state why you find it interesting. You will include the magazine volume and issue, the magazine date, the article's title, and the page the article is on.

In each current Science News, I will pick 2 or 3 articles or summaries that are pertinent to this class. There will be an insert in each Science News issue listing the articles I have picked. You will review ONE of these articles, paying special attention to WHY it is significant in the content of Bio 182. Go to the online assignment submission form (the link is at the bottom of this page), where you will summarize each article in your own words one at a time and state why it is pertinent to Bio 182. You will include the magazine volume and issue, the magazine date, the article's title, and the page the article is on.

New issues of Science News will be put on reserve every other week in the Biology Learning Center (for use in the BLC) and the Downtown Campus library (on 2-hour reserve). Each will be labeled with a BLC issue number that corresponds to the week of the semester and a unique BLC identification number. So, for example, during the second week of the semester, you would read an article from BLC Issue #1 and use the online submission form to send your instructor your synopsis.

NOTE: Science News does have website, but I do NOT want you using it for this assignment. Use the paper copy and read or skim through the entrie magazine to find a story of interest. I want you to use the paper version so you see everything available; the website only includes part of the paper magazine. I read my copy over breakfast and it only takes me two breakfasts to finish the magazine each week—it's a very fast read.

Your Assignment

Check out a copy of Science News from either the BLC or the DTC library (on 2-hr reserve) and read through to find one article of interest and one article that has been assigned. Complete the online submission form (link below) for your synopsis of each article. Each synopsis will include a summary in your own words of the science of the article, why you found it interesting or why it is pertinent to Bio 182, and a citation for the article. You will complete 10 synopses (out of 16 possible) during the course of the semester.

Two synopses are due within each 2-week cycle that starts on Tuesdays (exceptions are noted below in bold), for a total of 10 reviews, according to the following schedule:

Click here to go to the online submission form.

Grading Rubric

The main purpose of this assignment is to expose you to new ideas and topics in science and to the breadth of research that is going on every minute of every day in science. Your synopsis should be a short summary of the article that captures the main points it conveys.

Summaries that are not in your own words (that are substantially copied word-for-word from the article) will not be accepted. The student will be warned the first time this occurs and asked to re-do the assignment. If this happens again, the student will receive a 0 on the assignment.

Answers that are unintelligible, missing information, or inaccurate will be penalized and will result in a deduction of 1 point for each occurence up to a maximum of -5 points.

A secondary goal is to help you improve your communication skills ... that is why spelling and grammar count.

Spelling and grammar errors will be penalized and every 1-2 errors will result in a deduction of 0.5 points.

Assignments that do not include the BLC code for the issue will not be accepted.

Credits

This assignment is based on an article in the Journal of College Teaching: McCullough, Laura. 2006. Science News and the Science Classroom. Journal of Collegge Science Teaching, November/December 2006, pages 30-33.