111
Microorganisms and Human Disease

Reports Description

To successfully complete this course requirement, you must turn in a 2 page (single-spaced) written report and present a 2-5 minute oral report based on it during class.

• Written Report (15 points):
  • Read a current article which you find in a recent (published/posted no earlier than one year prior to the start of this course) newspaper, magazine, or web page.
    • Your article must be directly related to a topic I will be discussing in class on the day you present your report, and the article must be at least 1000 words in length. (If you cannot find a single article with at least 1000 words on your topic, you may combine two or more shorter reports on similar topics, provided the total word count is at lease 1000 words.)
      • The due dates for your written and oral reports are listed on the Report Dates page in the Course Documents area of the course Bb website
    • Look for articles that are intended for educated people who are not professional scientists, because they relate more to the social and community aspects of diseases, which makes them more interesting and informative for this class:
      • Avoid web sites that simply present facts about your topic ... these are what I will be presenting during the lecture portion of each class session; therefore, they are not good choices for your presentations
      • Find an article that has been published in a newspaper or magazine ... an article that discuss the effects of your topic (disease, etc.) on life of the person and/or the effects of the disease(s) on the community in which the person lives
    • Here are two good ways to accomplish this:
      • Use news.google.com ... they have the best and most user friendly web search engine for news articles on a variety of topics
    • Use Miami University Library's online search facilities, as follows:
      • First, access the library web server at this url: http://www.lib.muohio.edu/
      • Second, click on the "Indexes and Databases" link
      • Third, click on the "Academic Search Premier" link
      • Fourth, enter the data relevant to the type of article you wish to find
      • Finally, sort through the articles that pertain for one that appeals to you and also conforms to the description on this web page
    • Neither articles from professional medical or microbiology research journals nor informational articles linked in the Course Outline are acceptable
    • Article duplications are not allowed within groups, and the Informative Articles listed in the Course Outline are not acceptable
  • Write a 2 page (single-spaced, typed, 12 pt font, 1 inch margins) report that must include all three of these components:
    • Reference (1 point) for the article at the top of the page on which your report appears.
      • The complete reference must include the: Author, Title, Source (magazine, newspaper, web page address [URL]), Date published, and Pages.
      • You will receive 1 point for the complete reference ... but 0 points will be given for the report until I receive the complete reference
    • Description of the article's content (10 points):
      • Thoroughly explain what the article was about (If you are using two or more short articles as the basis for your report, be sure to integrate the information from all of them into your written report ... do not simply describe each one in sequence.)
      • this will take several long paragraphs that will occupy about two-thirds your written report
      • please note ...

        Plagiarism and other infractions of Miami University rules and regulations will be dealt with as described in the Miami University Handbook (pay particular attention Part V Academic Misconduct and especially to SECTION 01.502).

    • relevance statement (4 points):
      • Thoroughly explain how your article is relevant both the discussion topic and this course
        • this will involve describing how your article is related to past, present, and/or future issues in infectious disease microbiology, and how/why that makes it relevant to this course
        • this will take at least one long paragraph that occupies about one-third of your written report
      • When writing your relevance statement, consider:
        • What does your article tell us that we wouldn't have known if we hadn't read (or heard about) it?
        • Does your article present:
          • newly discovered information, a new discovery, or a new application of existing information or technology?
          • a new or otherwise different perspective or interpretation of information?
        • Be certain you explain why it is important for others in the class to hear about your topic as well as why your topic is important to people in the US
      • Click here for an example of an acceptable relevance statement
  • Hand in your report, plus a photocopy of the article on which it is based, at the beginning of class the day it is due (one class day before you are scheduled to give your oral presentation).
    • The due dates for your written and oral reports are listed on the Report Dates page in the Course Documents area of the course Bb website
• Oral Report (10 points):
• Be sure to email me your PowerPoint presentation and discuss your oral report with me when you turn in your written report, because I will integrate your talk into my lecture on your topic and I need to know the focus of your presentation to do that well.
• Present your 2-5 minute oral report based on a PowerPoint presentation on the day assigned:
  • The due dates for your written and oral reports are listed on the Report Dates page in the Course Documents area of the course Bb website
  • If you do not present your report on the assigned day, you will not be allowed to do a makeup presentation.