Specifications Grading Rubrics

RESEARCH TRACK SPECIFICATIONS

To earn a C (Satisfactory Completion):

□ Attend and actively participate in 80% of Tuesday lab sessions
□ Maintain cultures for minimum 10 weeks (or document and learn from failure)
□ Collect weekly observation data with basic documentation
□ Attend 80% of Thursday roundtable sessions
□ Present findings in one roundtable discussion
□ Complete research journal entries weekly (can be brief)
□ Deliver final presentation meeting basic structure requirements
□ Submit research report with all required sections (even if incomplete)

 

To earn a B (Strong Performance):

All C requirements PLUS:

□ Attend and actively participate in 90% of Tuesday lab sessions
□ Maintain detailed, organized research journal documenting process
□ Conduct at least one SEM imaging session of cultured specimens
□ Collect quantitative data (measurements, counts, growth rates)
□ Contribute meaningfully to 90% of roundtable discussions
□ Create data visualizations showing experimental results
□ Deliver clear final presentation with evidence-based conclusions
□ Submit complete research report (Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion)
□ Demonstrate problem-solving when experiments encounter challenges

 

To earn an A (Exceptional Work):

All B requirements PLUS any THREE of the following:

□ Propose and implement methodological innovation or improvement
□ Lead discussion on 2+ roundtable papers (not just present)
□ Conduct EBSD or advanced microscopy analysis
□ Develop novel research question extending beyond initial project
□ Create publication-quality figures suitable for manuscript
□ Perform statistical analyses demonstrating significance testing
□ Write discussion section integrating findings with broader literature (8+ sources)
□ Help troubleshoot another student's experimental challenge
□ Present work at campus research symposium
□ Submit manuscript-quality abstract (250 words) for potential publication
□ Develop educational materials explaining your research to non-scientists

 

ANALYSIS TRACK SPECIFICATIONS

To earn a C (Satisfactory Completion):

□ Attend and actively participate in 80% of Tuesday work sessions
□ Complete data exploration with initial visualizations (Week 3)
□ Conduct basic statistical analyses of provided dataset
□ Attend 80% of Thursday roundtable sessions
□ Present findings in one roundtable discussion
□ Complete research journal entries weekly (can be brief)
□ Review minimum 5 published papers related to dataset
□ Deliver final presentation meeting basic structure requirements
□ Submit research report with all required sections (even if incomplete)

 

To earn a B (Strong Performance):

All C requirements PLUS:

□ Attend and actively participate in 90% of Tuesday work sessions
□ Conduct appropriate statistical analyses with clear justification
□ Create publication-quality data visualizations (3-4 figures minimum)
□ Contribute meaningfully to 90% of roundtable discussions
□ Review and synthesize 8-10 published papers
□ Develop evidence-based interpretation of data patterns
□ Deliver clear final presentation with well-supported conclusions
□ Submit complete research report (Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion)
□ Identify and discuss limitations and uncertainties in the data

 

To earn an A (Exceptional Work):

All B requirements PLUS any THREE of the following:
□ Lead discussion on 2+ roundtable papers
□ Conduct advanced statistical analyses (multivariate, time series, etc.)
□ Develop compelling alternative hypothesis with strong supporting evidence
□ Create comprehensive literature synthesis (systematic review format)
□ Write manuscript-quality discussion section (1500+ words, 15+ sources)
□ Develop novel visualization that enhances understanding of patterns
□ Evaluate and compare multiple competing interpretations systematically
□ Present work at campus research symposium
□ Develop educational materials translating findings for non-scientists
 

 

SHARED SPECIFICATIONS (Both Tracks)

Roundtable Participation (applies to C, B, and A):

□ Come prepared having read the assigned paper(s)
□ Bring 2+ discussion questions or observations per session
□ Engage respectfully with others' interpretations
□ Connect papers to your own research when relevant
□ Take one of the rotating discussion roles at least 3 times (Method Critic, Data Detective, Connection Maker, Devil's Advocate, etc.)

Research Communication (applies to B and A):

Final presentations must include:

□ Clear research question or objective
□ Brief methods explanation
□ Results presented visually
□ Evidence-based interpretation
□ Connection to broader paleoclimate concepts
□ Limitations and future directions
□ 15 minutes + 5 minutes Q&A
 

Final research reports must include:

□ Abstract (250 words max)
□ Introduction with background and objectives
□ Methods section (what you did)
□ Results section (what you found)
□ Discussion section (what it means)
□ References in consistent format
□ Figures with captions