The goal is to suggest an investigation of a principle problem in animal behaviour, pattern, or process that involves animal behavior. To pick your general topic, determine what you think will be the most interesting aspect of behaviour that you might learn during the term? As you read, see me about what you think might be a reasonable final investigation.

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Key points for your term paper:
1) I want you to write a proposal -- not an essay.
2) You must justify why you want to know something.
3) You must read the literature -- you will present 6 papers related to the problem you wish to study. You can use as many papers as you like, but the proposal must have at least 6 references - the ones you present.
4) Given what you read, what is it that you would like to investigate and why?
5) Then propose a specific experiment and formulate hypotheses and an experiment that will provide test(s) of the hypotheses that you have.

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Your proposal should follow the following format:
1.Title page with author (not to be included as page 1).
2.Why is phenomenon "x" interesting (or significant) as an evolutionary principle, problem, pattern, or process?
3.Start with: What is phenomenon "x"?
4.What has be done to investigate "x" in the past?
5.Is this information adequate (critical or praise)?
6.If not, what would you do to test phenomenon "x"? As a matter of course, your term paper should include some sort of proposed test of the issues that you are considering. Papers that do not include a proposed test of the issues will receive a poor grade!
7.Be conceptual!!
8.Be concise (5-8 pages of 10-12 point typed text, not including literature cited
9. Double spacing.
10.In the text cite with APA format.
11. Think about how you can incorporate a reference about the brain, genes, hormones, etc.

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What I absolutely do not want:
1.This should not be everything you learned about "x". You are not doing a review.
2.This paper should not be an elaborate exposition, and description of experimental design, methods, and statistical test.

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Start thinking about your term paper early. As you read papers during the term, think about how these authors have justified the problems they address, and the mode of analysis. You will present 6 papers - you will detail the question of interest, the methods used to study the problem, and the outcome of the study. For each presentation, only 3 overheads should be used. Each should have 3 or fewer figures and be written with text at the size of 22pt. This big! I will give you other information on how the presentations will be evaluated and the feedback I will give you.

I will be asking you to turn in a brief 1 page abstract of your proposal by the first week of February - thus, I expect to have all by the end of class on February 6th. I will make comments on style and the structure of the arguments that you can then use to improve your final paper. I will read mostly complete drafts between Spring Break and mid-March. I expect to do ONE reading for each student, unless I see a significant problem in the first reading.

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What is phenomenon "x"?

Phenomenon "x" can be virtually anything related to the animal behaviour we will learn about in this course. Please feel free to send me an email and ask about the topic you hope to write on.

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Some General Themes for Proposal Topics:
Genes and behaviour
Development of behaviour
Neural control of behaviour
Learning and cognition
Feeding
Predation
Basic reproduction
Attraction and courtship
Mating and competition
Parental care
Competition, aggression, peacemaking
Social relations
Sensory systems
Migration
Navigation
Motor systems (related to a behaviour)
Escape

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TERM PAPER GRADING
Name:
1 Page - Outline and Rough Draft (15 points total)
Outline / Summary (3)
Rough draft (6) -- yes, I expect to see at least one draft from everyone!
Comments taken into consideration (6)

Introduction (25 points total)
Clearly stated/described behavioural problem of interest with some background (10)
Factors observed to be potentially important to specific processes being investigated (5)
Specific question(s) being addressed (5)
Species of study: interest, selection rationale, Genus species (5)

Experiment Proposal (20 points total)
Detailed description of experimental methods (7)
Appropriate selection and justification of methods (8)
Ability of proposed experiment to address stated hypotheses (5)

Discussion (25 points total)
Consideration of potential results both supporting and rejecting your hypotheses (10)
Relationship of results to the behavioral category examined (5)
Discussion of significance of study (5)
Directions for future research (5)

References (5 points total)
Inclusion of at least 6 primary literature sources (2)
References, included and properly formatted in APA style (3)

Comprehensive / discretionary points (10 points total)
- Is it interesting and easy to read???
Organization (2)
Clarity of writing and expression of ideas (6)
Aesthetics (2)
- look at a journal article to see how everything is laid out!

Points off: over page limit (10 points/page) and lateness (5 points/calendar day)

Total: (100 points total)

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Animal Behaviour webpage
Dr. Ivanco's webpage