cell biology

Biology 401 : Cell Biology Assignment 3 (Rev ision 6 ) 1 Assignment 3: Essay In this course, you have learned about general principles of cell function. The essay assignment gives you an opportunity to focus on a specific topic that interests you. Your essay should be about 2,000 words (approximately 8 type -written, double -spaced pages), and should explain the m olecular basis of the topic you choose. Choosing a Topic Think about possible topics as you proceed through the course, and discuss them with your Academic Expert (AE). The only requirement for a topic is that it focuses on cell and molecular biology. For example, you might investigate the molecular basis of a disease such as AIDS or breast cancer, of aging, or of a degenerative disorder such as ALS or MS. You could study a normal cellular process such as signal transduction by G proteins, cell recognition and adhesion, or steroids and gene expression, in more detail. A new application in biotechnology or genetic engineering might also be of interest. You could get ideas from news reports of medical research, or by scanning the contents of Scientific America n. Perhaps a research project at your local university is particularly intriguing, or maybe a textbook reading will trigger an idea. You might choose to browse Medline Plus , a website that provides resour ces and discusses topics in cell biology. Once you and your AE have agreed on a topic , submit a summary of your proposed topic (no longer than 250 words). Gathering Research After you write the midterm exam, you should start gathering material for your ess ay. In consultation with your AE, select some key subject terms to help you search the literature for relevant articles. Your AE will assist with the procedure for searching and obtaining articles if needed. One excellent website is PubMed , which is run by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). Writing the Essay For further information on writing essays for university -level courses, see the section of the Course Orientation titled Writi ng Essays in Science. Your reference list and citations should be completed according to the format indicated in that section . It is also important to include in the essay some figures and tables that you have encountered in your research in order to illus trate data or concepts. This will contribute to your overall grade. Biology 401 : Cell Biology Assignment 3 (Rev ision 6 ) 2 Submitting the Essay Submit your essay using the Assignment 3 drop b ox on the course home page. Note: The essay must be accompanied by a Verification of Original Work form to certify that the essay is your own original work. You can access this form in the Assignment 3 section of the course home page . The essay will not be marked if this form is not attached when you submit it . Essay Marking Rubric The essay is worth 20% of your total course grade. Category Description Marks Introduction Provide a clear introduction to your topic and what will be covered in your essay. /10 Conclusion Summarize the concepts and ideas presented in your paper with a statement of possible future di rections and impact. /10 Grammar Use professional and scientific language with appropriate spelling and grammar. /10 References Use proper format for references list and citations /10 Content Include a sufficient amount of material with a level of detail that is appropriate for the course. /40 Integration Include figures and tables to illustrate concepts and data generated in the research and ensure the essay is clearly written and well - organized. /20 If you have any questions about the essay, con tact your Academic Expert (AE) by emailing [email protected] or by submitting a request to the Faculty of Science and Technology Student Success Centre. To submit a request, click the “Make a Request ” button on the top -right corner of the Biology 401 course home page. Your AE will be sure to respond to your questions in a timely fashion.