Weber State University
Weber State University
Department of Botany
Botany 2503, Biology of the Plant Cell
Oral Report
You will present a 15 minute oral report on how the structure of a specialized plant cell contributes to its specific function. You will turn in an abstract, bibliography, and outline of the report prior to giving it.
Abstract
Your abstract is a written miniature, self-contained version of your oral
report. It should
1. State the problem faced by the plant to be solved via cell
specialization
2. Describe the methods employed to investigate the cell specialization
and the results obtained
3. State the principle conclusion(s) drawn about the cell specialization
4. Explain how the cell specialization contributes to the function of the
plant tissue where the cell is found, the function of the organ that
contains that tissue, and the function of the plant as a whole
An abstract should not contain any references or abbreviations. It does not include information or conclusions not in the presentation. Your abstracts must not exceed 250 words.
Bibliography
You must use a minimum of three references for your talk. One of the references must be a scientific paper from the primary literature. No more than one reference can be a textbook. No more than one reference (excluding online journals) can be a web site.
Format for citations:
The Botany Department faculty have agreed to require that
students use the
Council of
Science Editors (formerly the Council of Biology Editors) format for
citations for all Botany assignments, including the portfolio essay and student
theses. A copy of the CSE style manual, Scientific Style and Format, is
in the reference collection of the Stewart
Library. Examples of the CSE format can be found at the websites for the
libraries of The Ohio
State University and
Duke
University. If you are using EndNote to manage your references, select "CBE
Style Manual N-Y" (N-Y will give you name-year in text citations).
Outline
You must turn in a fully developed outline of your report. Your second progress report should include a fairly complete version of what will be your final outline. Please be aware that this outline is not the outline printout that Presentations or PowerPoint is happy to make for you. The grading of the organization of your talk will be done from the outline.
How your report will be scored:
|
Report Element |
Points |
|
Statement of problem to be solved via specialized cell structure (#1 from the Abstract) |
6 |
|
Description of cell specialization and its contribution to function (#2 and #3 from the Abstract) |
13 |
|
Conclusion, including how the cell specialization is connected to tissue/organ/plant specialization (#4 from the Abstract) |
6 |
|
Abstract |
6 |
|
Outline (includes assessment of organization of the talk) |
6 |
|
Bibliography |
3 |
|
Delivery of the talk |
5 |
|
Quality of visual and other illustrative materials used
|
5 |
|
Total |
50 |
Resources to tap when preparing your oral report
Writing Papers in the Biological Sciences, any edition, by V. E. McMillan
(This text is required for Botany 2121.)
How to Write and Publish a Scientific Paper, any edition, by Robert A.
Day
Both of these books include sections on giving oral reports.
The following web sites provide useful pointers on giving oral reports:
http://www.kumc.edu/SAH/OTEd/jradel/Preparing_talks/103.html
http://www.rpi.edu/dept/llc/writecenter/web/presentation.html
The following websites have information on preparing outlines:
http://depts.washington.edu/psywc/handouts/pdf/outline.pdf
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/general/gl_outlin.html
Tutorials for using Power Point:
http://www.fgcu.edu/support/office2000/ppt/
http://homepage.cs.uri.edu/tutorials/csc101/powerpoint/ppt.html
http://www.education.umd.edu/blt/tcp/powerpoint.html
Return to Botany 2503 Home Page.
21 August 2009
