Tutorial – Semester 3 – Level 2

 Semester 3

1. Reading scientific papers. In Semester 3 you will concentrate on reading primary research literature. You will be referring to original articles (papers) in scientific journals rather than textbooks when you carry out your Dissertation in Semester 4. In addition, your lecture units will be increasingly referring you to original papers as you progress on your course. Although scientific papers are normally set out in a logical and fairly standard format, first encounters with the literature can be daunting, particularly if the terminology is unfamiliar to you. Research papers will be selected by your Advisor that relate to your degree programme. You will be asked to write an abstract for a research paper and carry out a GBL session based on a research paper. These exercises should give you a chance to think about and discuss the principles of experimental design. Consideration of the ‘What is Science For?’ unit should inform discussions within your tutorial group about the ethical and social context of the work presented in the papers. The Critical Writing Skills module should help you to move from reading and understanding primary scientific literature, to writing your own.
2. Group Based Learning (GBL) session. In Semester 3 you will carry out a GBL session based on a research paper related to your degree programme. The GBL sessions will be organised according to Appendix 2, but will usually cover the research paper you used for abstract writing. You will be required to give a group presentation on the research paper in the final GBL session. The presentation should be a seamless, unified delivery of the research paper, presented cohesively by all members of your group.
3. Experimental Design Module (EDM) write-up. The skills you have gained through the analysis of the primary literature during Semester 3 will be used for writing your own short scientific paper based on data from the EDM, with advice from your Advisor. The EDM to be written up is determined by your degree programme. Specific guidelines can be found in Appendix 3. The mark for your EDM write-up contributes to your EDM unit mark and NOT your tutorial marks. The Full Practical ‘Write-up’ must be submitted online by Thursday 15^th December 2016 4pm. Each practical will also have online pre-lab and post-lab assessments. Late submissions for the online assessments will not be accepted (refer to the EDM Blackboard site for details of all assessments and submission dates).

4. Exam preparation. At the end of Semester 3 your exams will be mostly short answer and/or essay based. To gain experience in this type of examination you will be asked by your Advisor to review one or more topics related to your lecture units. You will then be given a question, or questions, from which you will have to write an essay or short answers under exam conditions during a tutorial session. You Advisor will mark this work and provide you with feedback that should be helpful in your preparation for January exams.

5. Science Ethics and Society (What is Science For?). You will complete a case study exercise and debate within your tutorial group. You will then be asked to write an essay on a related topic for Advisor and peer marking (these activities may take place in Semester 1 or 2, at the discretion of your Advisor and Programme Director). See full description above.