UMUC BIO495 Assignment: Reading and Analyzing Primary Scientific Literature

11 Jun UMUC BIO495 Assignment: Reading and Analyzing Primary Scientific Literature

Question
Assignment: Reading and Analyzing Primary Scientific Literature (100 points/9%)

Addresses course outcomes 1, 2, and 3:

? Interpret and critically analyze primary scientific literature to assess the validity and

reliability of scientific results and evaluate the conclusions drawn from these data

? Demonstrate proficiency in scientific principles, techniques and applications in the life

sciences to evaluate experimental design and determine compliance with standards of

protocol and ethical practice

? Effectively communicate scientific principles, concepts, methods, and research findings

based on critical analysis of primary literature, industry reports, and other life sciences

resources

This assignment is designed to help you learn or improve in the skill of reading and analyzing primary

scientific articles. In this assignment, you will trace the scientific method through a primary article by

exploring the problem, hypothesis, abstract, introduction, the materials and methods, the data, and

conclusions of the article designated as primary article A, which will be assigned by your instructor.

THE ASSIGNMENT

After reading primary article A, please address each of the following items. Label each section of

your paper according to the labels 1-8 below.

1. The problem (5 points)

Describe the observations made and questions the authors asked

2. The hypothesis (5 points)

State what you believe is the hypothesis of primary article A

3. The abstract section of primary article A: (10 points)

Summarize the research based on the abstract section of primary article A

4. The introduction section of primary article A (5 points)

Discuss whether or not you believe this was useful research to conduct based on

the introduction and why.

5. The materials section of primary article A: (10 points)

Summarize the materials, subjects, and tools, used in this study.

6. The methods section of primary article A: (10 points)

Summarize the procedures used in this study

7. The results section of primary article A: (10 points)

Summarize the data and results of the study

8. The conclusions section of primary article A: (10 points)

Summarize the authors’ conclusions

10. References (15 points)

A. Include in-text references where appropriate (5)

B. Cite all references (5)

C. Use APA-style references (5)

(NO REFERENCES = ZERO FOR THE ASSIGNMENT)

11. Paper format (10 points)

A. Title page: Name, Course Name, Instructor Name, Paper Title, Due Date (5)

B. Sections of paper properly labelled (1)

C. Double-spaced, 11-point, Times New Roman font with 1-inch margins (2)

D. 3-4 pages (not including title page and reference page) (2)

12. Grammar (10 points)

Spelling, punctuation, capitalization, sentence construction, and paragraph

construction will be considered in the grading of this assignment.

Please submit your paper as a Word document to your assignment folder.

Grading Guidelines:

Content: 65%

References: 15%

Paper Format: 10%

Grammar: 10%