Biology 100 - Principles of Biology
Essay Policies and Suggestions
The Principles of Biology course includes two midterm exams, each of which includes an essay portion. In addition, there is one extra credit recitation essay exam. Every semester, these essays are an area of tremendous stress for students. Here are some policies and suggestions to help you.
Essay Grading Policy:
The essay portion of each midterm includes three possible essay questions, of which you choose and write only two. The instructor of the recitation for which you are officially registered will grade your exams. Essays will be returned in your recitation section approximately two weeks after the exam. Recitation instructors will review the exams at that time.
If you believe you are entitled to a re-grade, you will be expected to articulate in writing why you feel you deserve more points. Therefore, your presence when the instructors review the correct answers is important. Re-grade requests for exam 1 must be submitted prior to the date of exam 2. Re-grade requests for exam 2 must be submitted prior to the date of the extra credit essay exam. There will be no extra credit essay re-grades.
Instructors make photocopies of all the essays and compare them when there are grade appeals. If you change ONE thing on your essay and are trying to receive more credit, you will be given a zero on that essay and possibly both essays.
Essay Writing Tips:
Read the question carefully, and underline important words/phrases. Make sure to answer all parts of the question. As you write, keep referring to the question and ask yourself, "Am I answering the question? Or am I just spewing all the information about this topic that I can remember?"
Reread the question and your answer during the exam.
If you use a term in the essay, define it clearly.
Each essay is regarded as a separate, stand alone answer; if you use a term in the first essay also define it in the second.
Do not write an introduction or a conclusion.
Do not include information that is not requested.
Do not waste your time with statements such as "X is very important in biology" or "X is fascinating."
Diagrams and bullet points may be used to illustrate and clarify concepts. Be sure to use full sentences when describing the information included in the diagrams.
Make sure your answer is organized, clearly written and without unnecessary repetition of information (no matter how important you deem that fact to be).
Make sure that your handwriting is legible, illegible essays will lose credit.
Practice Early and Practice Often:
Explaining science in written words may be a new skill for you. If that is the case, begin practicing now. Here are some types of questions to begin thinking about. This is by no means and exhaustive list of the question types you may expect.
Discuss the structure and function of Y.
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Discuss the similarities and differences between X and Y.
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Suppose X was to malfunction…What would be the likely effect?
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Tip: Explain how X is supposed to function. Then explain the likely effect if X were to malfunction.