Time Schedule:
Julita A Ramirez
MICROM 496
Seattle Campus
An introduction to library research techniques and to microbiological literature. Staff assign a topic and supervise the project. Offered: AWSpS.
Class description
This course will teach methods of primary and secondary scientific literature analysis and composition of scientific review articles through completion of a literature review term paper. The topic of the review paper will be human T-cell leukemia virus type-I (HTLV-1), its epidemiology and associated pathological conditions such as adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) and HTLV-1 associated myelopathy-tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM-TSP). The student has chosen to focus on defining and describing possible risk factors and potential mechanisms of disease development for HAM-TSP.
Student learning goals
Identify relevant primary and secondary literature sources and the most important ideas they contain.
Integrate key information and concepts from different sources to synthesize threads for discussion of the topic.
Organize coherent and thoughtful written discussion of a chosen research topic.
Become familiar with the current state of scientific knowledge regarding the chosen topic.
General method of instruction
Instruction will take place through electronic correspondence and informal biweekly meetings with the student.
Recommended preparation
Introductory courses in biology and microbiology are pre- or corequisites.
Class assignments and grading
Submission of an outline, annotated bibliography and rough draft will be required in addition to the final term paper. The final term paper will be 10-15 pages long not including references, double-spaced in Arial 11-point font.
A grade will be assigned on the basis of timely completion of assignments, appropriate scope, coverage and discussion of the topic, the ability to find and weave themes from disparate concepts/sources, and demonstrated improvement in writing from rough to final draft of the term paper.
