| Week 1 - | 8/27 - | Overview of Class, syllabus; (Cerulli and Sheldon); start Nature of Science (Sojka) |
| Week 2 - | 9/3 - | Continue Nature of Science - What is science and scientific research? (Sojka) [HW1 assigned: register for Marcus and Nature of Research Quiz, due next week] |
| Week 3 - | 9/10 - | Finding a Mentor and Preparing an Academic Resume (Sheldon) [HW2 assigned: resume, due in two weeks] |
| Week 4 - | 9/17 - | Instead of class: Go to Academic Fair during class, be sure to check in with any major or minor you plan to declare, then check in with Dr. Sheldon at Physics & Engienering table |
| Week 5 - | 9/24 - | Report back on resumes; Finding a Research Opportunity How and Why? (Sheldon) [HW3 assigned: Faculty Profiles, due next week] |
| Week 6 - | 10/1 - | Report Back on Faculty Research (Sheldon); Working with Faculty; lab/research etiquette and safety (Sojka) [HW4 assigned: Lab Accident, due next week] |
| Week 7 - | 10/8 - | Library Skills Session (Schenk) |
| Week 8 - | 10/22 - | Overview of Class, syllabus (Sheldon) Reading a Journal Article (Schenk) [HW1 assigned: Reading a Scientific Paper, due next week] |
| Week 9 - | 10/29 - | Communicating Research I: Prepare for MARCUS (Sheldon) [MARCUS
assignment assigned: Report on MARCUS, due next week] Research Literacy (Schenk) [HW2 assigned: Research Literacy, due in two weeks 11/12] |
| Saturday | 11/2 - | MARCUS CONFERENCE (Sheldon) [Report on MARCUS already assigned, due next class] |
| Week 10 - | 11/5 - | Report Back on MARCUS (Sheldon) [reminder that HW2 was assigned and
is due next week] |
| Week 11 - | 11/12 - | Peer Review Lit Review (Schenk) [HW3 assigned: Peer Review, due next week] |
| Week 12 - | 11/19 - | Discuss Research Assignment/IRB (Sheldon) Research Ethics (Sojka) [Reminder of Research Assignment] |
| 11/26 - | No Class | |
| Week 13 - | 12/3 - | Communicating Research II: create a poster (Sojka) |
| Week 14 - | 12/10 - | Poster Presentations and Potluck (Sojka) |
Homework: A short homework assignment will be assignmed most weeks, due at the start of class the following week. Assignments will be typicallly be submitted in Moodle before the start of class. In addition, you must go to at least one Lunch & Learns with faculty each session (total of two), and should ask them about what they do for research. Be sure to write some notes about each L&L, you will be asked to report back. You are expected to register for and attend the MARCUS conference and report back. At the end of the class, in Session 2, you will have a two-week final research project.
Policy: Attendamce is required. In Session 1, your grade is based on class participation - 40% - and about 5 homework assignments (including attending a L&L) - 60%. In Session 2, your grade is based on class participation - 30% - and about 4 homework assignments (including attending a L&L's) - 30%., attendance at MARCUS and associated assignment - 20% - and your final research and poster presentation - 20%. If there are true conflicts with MARCUS or L&L's, you will have an alternative assignment to complete. Assignments will be graded on a check-plus, check, check-minus, or missing scale. Late assignments will be penalized by 10 points (one letter grade) in the first week, and two letter grades if any later than that.
Taking notes in this class is required. It is as important as coming to class. You must take notes by hand, if possible. (For reasoning and evidence, see this link.)
Grade Scale: This class grades on a ten-point scale, where an A is worth 95, B is worh 85, etc. Please see here for detail. Please note that in the case of a completion grade, a complete assignment is an A, which is worh 95 points.