Check this page frequently for added questions and answers as the semester progresses.
General:
1. There is a date given on the syllabus but it does not say to hand anything in. Do we need to hand in anything to you?
A: No—unless it explicitly states there is something you are required to turn in, this is an internal deadline for your group to help keep you on track in a timely manner.
2. I can’t make it to your office hours to discuss issues with our project. What should I do?
A: Please email the TA to set up an appointment or email your questions directly.
3. The due date for one of the assignments falls on a day we do not have class. Where do I turn in my assignment?
A: All written assignments are due via Trunk. Submission of late assignments is possible for two weeks after the due date.
4. How will our videos be evaluated?
A: Evaluation details are given in a rubric provided on the “Final Project” page.
Group sign-up & forms:
5. We only have three group members/I can’t find a group to work with. What do I do?
A: Use the “Forum” feature on Trunk to communicate with other students to find another group member or groups to join.
6. I submitted our information to the form twice but it hasn’t shown up on the Google Document. What do I do?
A: Email the TA or Dr. Orians immediately.
7. How do we submit the electronic copy of our group forms?
A: Via Trunk. Under the “Course Tools” tab, you’ll find the “Assignments” link. Assignments are listed here and you can submit your assignment as an attachment.
8. On the group forms, do we need to submit the contact information to you?
A: You can remove all personal information, however I need the signatures at the end of the document. The rest of the document including policies and group expectations must be filled out and appropriate signatures added on the hardcopy as well.
Bibliography:
9. What are the requirements for the bibliography?
A: Specific requirements are outlined on the “Bibliography and citation details” page.
10. How do I indicate on my bibliography which citations are primary versus secondary literature?
A: Use subheadings to show which citations are of which type. The templates provided are given to help organize your work for evaluation.
11. How do I format my citations?
A: We use the citation formats of the Council of Science Editors. There is information available on the Bio 7 wiki under “Bibliography and citation details.”
12. How do we cite electronic articles & databases?
A: You don’t–we cite all journal articles, whether found on the internet or in hardcopy the same way. This is because there are multiple ways to access an electronic article, via multiple databases and search terms, thus the method if irrelevant.
13. How do we format the bibliography?
A: A template is provided under “Bibliography and citation details” next to information about the bibliography assignment. There are two separate bibliography templates–one for the initial bibliography, and one for the final bibliography.
14. For the initial bibliography, it says to annotate our sources but only wants an electronic copy. How should we give you the annotated articles?
A: Annotation in the case of a bibliography does not mean highlighting or notes. Rather, an annotated bibliography means providing a short paragraph for citations that describes the article and how it’s relevant to your topic.
15. I did not receive comments on my bibliography. What should I do?
A: Please email the TA immediately. Do not wait to begin work on your storyboard
16. We were told in comments on our bibliography that we did not have enough peer-reviewed literature. What is peer-reviewed literature? What is primary and secondary literature?
A: Please consult the Bio 7 Wiki (“Finding resources”) and the Bio 7 research guide for information on peer-reviewed literature and primary versus secondary literature.
Storyboard:
17. As of right now we have just a basic outline in word format for our storyboard, of 4 sections talking about our topic with an intro/purpose and conclusion. Is this format on point and are we expected to have pictures with this outline?
A: We are definitely expecting more than that. the criteria by which we will evaluate the storyboard is: “Purpose is clear and visuals and production details complete. Major points of each panel highlighted and overall story is cohesive.” We are expecting you to have chosen all of your visuals and a complete script. The template on the Bio 7 Wiki (under “Storyboard”) shows the additional information required, such as production details. The template provided is easy for you to edit and should be used.
18. Do we need to include in our storyboard the finalized pictures we will use in our project?
A: Yes, we require to have finalized which pictures you plan on using. These can change if there are changes to the story that are made when video production begins, however, you should not expect or rely upon production time to still be piecing together the fundamentals of your video.
19. What should be the format of our storyboard?
A: A template is provided on the Bio 7 wiki.
20. Do I need to turn in a bibliography with the storyboard?
A: No—we will require you to turn in a storyboard with the final project at the end of the semester.
21. How do I find images that are free from copyright and available for me to use without permission?
A: The Bio 7 research guide gives details on websites that have free domain or limited restrictions on image use.
22. The storyboard template asks for “production details.” What exactly are production details?
A: These are the logistical details of the video, such as slide transitions, length of each picture, music to be used, etc.
Video production:
23. Do I need to cite images and sounds in my video?
A: Yes—please refer to the “Bibliography and citation details” page for more information on expectations and formatting.
24. Is the peer review video part of our final grade?
A: No—this is an opportunity for you to receive helpful feedback. We will be evaluating you on the quality comments you give to your fellow students.
25. Can I use an image/sound that I found using Google?
A: Yes, if it has the proper licensing. You may use free domain images, with author attributions, without obtaining permission. However, not all copyrighted images/sounds are created equal and you need to follow-up by checking the specific permissions/licensing information.
26. Do we need to turn a bibliography with our video for peer review?
A: No—the peer review assignment is simply for you to receive feedback on your videos. We require a final bibliography to be submitted at the end of the semester with the final project. For more information please see the page “Bibliography and citation details.”