Advice for Doctoral Students Regarding the Extra Sessions

As noted in the syllabus, doctoral students must each give one brief presentation of articles from the SCI 614 B course pack. The following is a brief description of what is expected of you and how you will be evaluated.

1. Each of you will be evaluated with regard to your attendance/participation in all six sessions. Part of this is a matter of professional courtesy - you demonstrate respect to your fellow participants when you ask intelligent questions about articles when you are not the presenter that week. But part also, to be candid, is the practical necessity of giving you all an incentive to study the readings in the absence of an exam on this material. Half of your presentation grade will be based on this assessment.

2. As a presenter, I will expect you to meet with me briefly once prior to your session to discuss the articles you have been assigned, what you think are the main discussion points, and any questions you might have. Please let me know in advance when you plan to drop by so I can be sure to have read and thought about the articles prior to our meeting.

3. To facilitate the discussion, I expect you to prepare a brief handout outlining the major claims of the articles, evidence for them and the outstanding questions you propose we discuss. Mention of what you take to be the articles' weaknesses and strengths, or the relevance of the article for your own research, is particularly welcome. Please pass this out at least one week in advance of your presentation.

There is no need to do this with the chapters from Matthews - but you may if you wish, particularly if you think our discussion should contrast his views with those of the authors of the two articles.

4. With regard to your presentation itself, you will be evaluated primarily with regard to the extent to which you accurately portray the authors' views and present an intelligent critique of them. When authors disagree, consider what one author might say in response to the others' points and also how the first would respond.

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You may contact Dave Rudge either by email, by phone (616)-387-2779 or by fax (616)-387-5609.

Dave Rudge's Home Page.

The Department of Biological Sciences's Home Page.

The Mallinson Institute for Science Education's Home Page.

Western Michigan University's Home Page.

Last updated on 18 May 2002.