Expectations and grading policy

The senior seminar in the both semesters has 3 credits. We expect you to spend on average about 9 hours/week on the course (3 hours/credit). This includes times spent on the research project during the semester inside and outside of the class room. Since research is inherently unpredicable there might be crunch times where you need to spend more time and others where you can relax. However, some planning can go a long way to avoid work overload.

I. Participation: 20% of Senior Seminar Grade.

We expect from you that you meet the following requirements in a timely manner:
  1. Read one previously written thesis proposal recommended by you seminar advisor and be able to summarize the content in words at one of the individual meetings.
  2. Discuss with your seminar advisor at least one paper that is relevant for your project. .
  3. Attend the group and individual meetings (we will take attendance periodically).
  4. Implement your project in a professional manner: meet regularly with your thesis mentor, and be proactive about carrying your project through.
  5. Hand in outline, draft and final version of your thesis (proposal), on time! We will deduct 1/3 of the final grade if any of the documents are not turned in on time.
  6. Improve your drafts following advice of advisors, mentors, and writing fellows
  7. Present your work in the mini conferences and poster session.

II. Thesis (Proposal): 80% of Senior Seminar Grade.

    Content (most important): Does the paper clearly define the (proposed) research?  Does contain a good discussion of the scientific background of the study? Is the proposed research design adequate?  Are statements of fact appropriately referenced? Does the abstract summarize the major results of the work to date?

    Writing Quality:  Does the manuscript flow or are there gaps in the logic?  Is it well organized?  Does each paragraph cover one subject?  Is the grammar correct?  Does the paper have spelling errors that would be caught by using a spell checker? Is the title informative and a reflection of the content?  Are all scientific terms adequately defined?  Is scientific terminology used correctly?  Are abbreviations and acronyms used only when absolutely necessary?

    Quality of Graphs and Tables:  Are any reproductions of high quality? Is each axis labeled?  Does each figure have a figure caption?  Are different symbols legible? Are all figures interleaved with the text?  Do figures adequately  represent the points you want to make?

    Referencing:  Does the paper contain an adequate number of references from the peer reviewed scientific literature?  For the proposal we require at least 15 and for the final thesis, 30 RELEVANT references.  A few web sites are acceptable, as are major reference books and newspapers.  However, the bulk of the references should be from scientific journals and books.  Are all citations in the list of references?

    Approximate final thesis (proposal) length: 40 (20) pages, double spaced, 12pt font, including title page, plus figures.

III. Conducting research during the school year

    The goal of the senior seminar is to conduct independent research and present the results at the end of the year.  Some students include the summer in their research, other's don't.  Both groups of students can and have produced excellent theses.  For both groups we expect that the research and results are furthered during the academic year.  Results and reports written during the summer can be a part of but not the entire thesis.  The students who routinely have the best theses do not have the largest or most complex data sets but are the students who diligently work on their topic and thoroughly analyze and discuss the data they have; taking the time throughout the year to fully explore their topic. 

Definition of grades