Biology Passion Project Information & Grading Rubric

TOPICS: For your final project in Biology, you and your partners will brainstorm and research a very significant biology-related topic about which you are particularly passionate. Your topic must be more specific and go into more detail that has been covered in the notes in this class. You must defend why your topic is very significant in biology and relevant to you! All topics must be approved by the teacher before you begin working. Presentation dates for each group will be selected at random. If you have a conflict with the date selected, you must inform Ms. Brown immediately. ***You MUST be in attendance on the day of your presentation or you will earn a ZERO. This is a long term assignment; an excused absence is not acceptable. LENGTH: Presentations must be 15-17 minutes. You will lose points if your presentation is shorter or longer in length. PRESENTATION TYPE: Your group will create a PowerPoint on Google Docs to allow all group members to access and edit your presentation at any time. All members must be actively involved in the presentation. Be sure to include numerous examples and visual aides with titles and labels to help teach your topic. DO NOT plan on simply reading the slides as your presentation. Your presentation should be far more detailed than what is included on your slides (your slides are for main points/categories and diagrams). OUTLINE & INFORMATION SHEET: Presenters will provide the class with a 1-2 page typed Outline & Important Information sheet, which organizes the main points, vocabulary, and essential labeled diagrams on your topic. If possible, please make copies double-sided to save paper. REFERENCES: For every fact you get from a source, you must cite it within your PPT and include it in your References page. A typed References page in MLA format will be turned into the teacher. (Suggestion: as you use a source, simultaneously use EasyBib online to create your References page.) Wikipedia is not a valid source. Search for science magazines, science journals, books, university-affiliated websites, and reliable science organizations (online versions are fine). Topic: ____________________________________________________________________________________ Presentation Date: _______________________________ Group Members: ___________________________________________________________________________ Mr. Gorgones Topic Approval: _______________________________ TEACHER COMMENTS: ______________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________

5
Content Content/Accuracy Thorough and accurate Excellent analysis, thorough statistics/support

4
Mostly thorough and accurate

3
Average coverage and accuracy Adequately thought out, some statistics/support

2
Minimally covered and accurate

1
Little coverage or accuracy Little analysis, minimal statistics/support

Analysis/Support of Topic Significance

Presentation Skills Introduction Eye contact, voice, delivery Passion/Enthusiasm Excellent

Generates strong interest Good Demonstrates great enthusiasm for the topic

Generates some interest Fair Demonstrates some enthusiasm for the topic Some new terms are highlighted, explained, and pronounced correctly Adequate organization and formatting Some pictures, diagrams, graphs, props, and videos are used to support content Somewhat prepared and rehearsed Few questions answered accurately Provided class with a typed outline, minimally organized, includes some diagrams and vocab

Generates minimal interest Poor Demonstrates little enthusiasm for the topic Minimally explains, and pronounces some new vocabulary Poor organization and formatting

PowerPoint Vocabulary

Organization and format (includes font and diagram size and visibility) Visual Aides

All new terms are highlighted, well explained, and pronounced correctly Well organized and formatted

Most new terms are highlighted, explained, and pronounced correctly Good organization and formatting

Preparedness

Comprehension

All questions answered accurately

Numerous pictures, diagrams, graphs, props, and videos are used effectively and support content Completely prepared and well rehearsed Most questions answered accurately Provided class with a typed outline, well organized, includes essential info and diagrams

Many pictures, diagrams, graphs, props, and videos are used well and support content Mostly prepared and rehearsed Accurately answers some questions

Outline & Important Info Sheet

Sources

>5 valid scientific sources, all are cited within PPT, MLA References section.

Provided class with a typed outline, adequately organized, includes some info and diagrams >5 valid scientific sources are sometimes cited within PPT, MLA References section.

Minimal pictures, diagrams, graphs, props, and videos are used poorly and/or do not support content Minimally prepared and rehearsed Almost no questions answered accurately Provided class with a poor and/or incomplete outline

Insufficient scientific sources are used and/or not all references are cited. Poor MLA References section.

Total Time of Presentation: ______________

Total points from rubric: ________ / 50