20.109(F12): Assignments
Contents
Attendance
Lab attendance is mandatory and there are no make-up labs. A family crisis or severe illness requiring attention from the infirmary and prohibiting you from all your coursework are acceptable reasons for missing lab and every effort will be made to accommodate you in these exceptional circumstances.
Assignments
You will perform three series of experiments (called “modules”) over the course of the semester. The modules differ in length and in the ways you will be assessed. For each module, you also have the opportunity to choose a concentration area for your assessments, namely
- an oral communication concentration (shown in red)
- a written communication concentration (shown in blue)
You will be working as pairs throughout the semester, but you will submit several of your assignments and presentations as individuals. Relevant guidelines on academic integrity from MIT policies and procedures are here and here. Please ask one of the teaching faculty if any question arises about what constitutes collaboration, plagiarism, etc.
Module | Oral communication concentration | Written communication concentration |
1 | | |
Lab certifications (10%) | Lab certifications (10%) | |
Online cloning lab and defense (5%) | M1 ppt summary and notes (10%) | |
FACS data analysis and defense (5%) | ||
2 | | |
Slides for Oral Presentation (10%) | Slides for Oral Presentation (10%) | |
Oral Presentation (10%) | Full Research Article (25%) | |
Results and Discussion (15%) | ||
3 | | |
Written Research Pre-Proposal (10%) | Written Research Pre-Proposal (10%) | |
Oral Presentation (15%) | Written Research Proposal (15%) | |
Some important notes
- You and your lab partner must choose the same concentration area for each module.
- We encourage but do not require that you try a different concentration for Modules 2 and 3.
- You are locked into your decisions for the term by the end M1D3.
- Late work is penalized 1/3 of a letter grade each day late.
- Only work turned in on time is guaranteed timely or extensive feedback.
Mod 1 assignments
Mod 2 assignments
Mod 3 assignments
All term, independent of concentration
5% Pre-lab Questions
You will be assigned a day to write three questions in advance of lab, submit these to the TA 24 hours in advance
10% Lab Notebooks
These will be reviewed by the TA once each module. You will be graded on a check minus (=75%), check (=85%), check plus (=95%) scale. The requirements for your notebooks are described here.
The yellow sheets of your lab notebooks must be turned in to the TA by noon on 9.21.12 (module 1), 10.19.12 (module 2), 11.30.12 (module 3). They will be returned at the start of your next lab period.
5% Reflections
Direct links to major assignments and guidelines
- Lab certifications
- Online cloning lab and defense
- FACS data analysis and defense
- M1 ppt summary and notes
- Slides for Oral Presentation
- Journal Club Presentation
- Results and Discussion sections
- Full Research Article
- Written Research Pre-Proposal
- Oral Presentation of Research Proposal
- Written Research Proposal
Module 1 lab practical
Module 1 powerpoint summary
Module 2: Research article guidelines
Module 3: Research proposal guidelines
"Blog & Summary"
General guidelines for writing up your research