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Remember, the undergraduate program is a series of steps. Keep in mind that a level of performance that would result in a B/B+ or sometimes even an A at the introductory level, does not (and should not) translate into a high grade at the advanced level.
We forgive a lot of mistakes early on but you must recall the lessons learned from these mistakes when you conduct similar work at an advanced level.
Additionally, the criteria we use to evaluate your performance in an advanced laboratory course are different from those we use in an introductory course.

"Fairness" in this course means everyone is evaluated on the same criteria.
Since everyone does not have the same ability, everyone does not get the same grade; this outcome is not "unfair" but rather is simply reality.

• Please read my Honor Code Policy.
  
  
• A total of 250 POINTS is available in this class.
  
  Quizzes are given at exactly 3 p.m., just before the LECTURE (labs 1 and 4-7), OR exactly 1 p.m., just before the LAB (labs 2 and 3); if you're late, then you do not get to take the quiz.
  
  Due dates for each of the assignments are listed in the weekly schedules; those dates are subject to change. Do not ask for an individual extension to a due date because you have a paper due, or three exams, or you lost your disk; due dates are set so that you have plenty of time to complete your work. Don't wait until the night before to start - there is no penalty for starting early.
  
  Weekly assignments are due at the BEGINNING of LAB. The final notebook pages and final paper must be turned in by 3 pm on the due date. Please read the policy concerning late assignments.
  
  Contributions of individual assignments are as follows:
  
  
  • 70 points = Research Paper
  • 70 points = Lab Notebook (35 points per grading)
  • 35 points = Laboratory Performance
  • 35 points = Quizzes (5 points per week)
  • 20 points = Rough Drafts (5 points per section)
  • 10 points = Plagiarism and Paraphrase Exercises (5 points each)
  • 10 points = Library Assignments (5 points each)
  
  
• Take advantage of opportunities to earn points. Some of the assignments may seem trivial, but if you lose these points, you will not be able to catch up with the final paper. For example, quizzes are worth 14% of your final grade: if you familiarize yourself with the procedures each week, you should do fine; if you don't bother paying attention in lecture or reading the day's procedures, you may score low on the weekly quizzes, and this performance may drop your final letter grade by as much as a third.  In preparing for the quizzes, think about the "big picture" and do not get hung up trying to memorize every little detail--I promise I will never ask you the concentration/pH of a buffer solution or how to program the pump.
  
  
• The lab notebook is 28% of your final grade.
  You learned how to keep a research quality notebook in BIOS 211.
  In BIOS 311, you are expected to follow those same guidelines.  If you have any questions, please ask.
  
  
• The research paper is 28% of your final grade.
  The more effort and care you put into the rough drafts, the better the feedback I can give you and the less time you'll have to spend making revisions for the final paper.
  The final paper must be submitted as specified in the Instructions to Authors (see Style and Organization, Section Details, Tables, and Figures).
  
  
  
• GRADING SCHEME:
  • 95% & up = A+
  • 90 - 94% = A
  • 87 - 89% = A-
  • 84 - 86% = B+
  • 80 - 83% = B
  • 77 - 79% = B-
  • 74 - 76% = C+
  • 70 - 73% = C
  • 67 - 69% = C-
  • 60 - 66% = D
  • below 60% = F
    
    
  • You will be graded against this absolute scale, NOT against your classmates.
    
  • Grades posted on Esther are FINAL and cannot be changed.
    
    
  
  
• COMMENTS ABOUT LABORATORY PERFORMANCE: We expect students to follow explicit instructions and to recall and apply previous training to each experimental procedure. Puncutality, safe conduct in the laboratory, and efficient completion of responsibilities will enter into the evaluation of overall performance.
  
  
  • You will be assessed each week in the following areas:
    
    Preparation and familiarity with procedures (you're not expected to know how to do the procedures already, but you are expected to have read over the procedures and be familiar with the "big picture" for the day)
    Proper lab notebook (i.e., recording notes DURING experiments, NOT writing on scrap paper and copying at the end of lab or exchanging notebooks with your team at the end of lab)
    Teamwork (collaboration, division of labor, troubleshooting, and time management)
    Ability to function independently (troubleshooting and time management)
    Experimental technique
    
    
  • You are expected to function both as a member of a TEAM and as an INDEPENDENT investigator.
    Follow the experimental procedures, record the results, and analyze/interpret your findings.
    
    Accomplishment of the laboratory goals requires contributions from EACH team member.
    If a team member does not carry his/her weight, focuses only on his/her own work, or is not competent in the lab please bring this matter to our attention; be honest and objective (your comments will remain confidential). A conscientious evaluation of your peers will be appreciated and will be considered when determining the laboratory performance grade.
    
    
  • You do not necessarily EARN points for "experimental technique" by obtaining the expected results (i.e., performing the experiment properly); likewise, you do not necessarily LOSE points if you don't obtain the expected results. You are evaluated on HOW you get the results, not the results themselves. In other words, even if you lose your enzyme on lab day 3, you can still earn an "A" in lab performance.
    
    You will likely make mistakes, especially with a procedure that is brand new and strange--that's ok when that happens. I will help you troubleshoot so you can decide what steps to take next. Many times when I've made mistakes or something just didn't work the way it was supposed to I actually learned more and understood the procedure better than when/if it worked as expected.
    
    Sometimes experiments fail, or the results don't make sense, or your findings are at odds with published studies. Because of time constraints and limited materials you may not be able to repeat the procedure in a lab course; however, you should recognize that in a research setting you would perform the experiment again.
    
    
  • EXAMPLES of how to LOSE Points (this list is NOT all-inclusive):
    
    failing to follow explicit instructions in the procedures
    showing up late
    snoozing during the pre-lab lecture
    writing on scratch paper instead of in your notebook
    staying for an extended period after you've finished the procedures to write in your notebook
    not using your time efficiently
    not working with your team
    using the WRONG reagents
    not following lab safety rules (e.g., wearing sandals or eating/drinking in the lab)
    listening to your iPOD during lecture or lab
    talking on your cell phone or the lab phone during lab
    surfing the net or attempting to check e-mail

****Come to lab prepared and learn to work effectively as a TEAM. Focus on learning and you should do fine.****

Copyright, Acknowledgements, and Intended Use
Created by B. Beason (bbeason@rice.edu), Rice University, 9 June 1999
Updated 11 February 2010