Plant Ecology (BIO 4213/6213)

Criteria to include in summaries of this semester's readings

Each summary submitted should include, at a minimum:

1. The TOPIC of the paper - this could be the general sub-field of Plant Ecology (i.e., the heading given to each paper in the listing) or something more specific to indicate that you understand where the paper fits into the general sub-field.

2. The objectives and/or hypotheses of the paper - why did they write this?

3. The results and/or conclusions - what is the meaning of what they wrote?  Why was it important - was it important?  Did you believe it?

4. One specific connection between the paper and the textbook - How does this fit the general background information provided by the textbook?  Does it make sense, based on what is said in the text?  Did the text help you understand the paper?  Did the paper help you understand something from the text?

5. One written question meant to be asked during the class discussion.  This could be a question to help clarify a part of the paper that you did not understand, to explore further information in the paper, about methods used, or any other question that might help you or your classmates better understand items 1 through 4 above. 

Note: If it helps you ensure that you include all of these, you are welcome to write your summaries as numbered lists of these required elements.

*This semester's readings are available at the "readings" web page (/readings/).

Instructor contact info:

Gary N. Ervin

(662) 325-1203      gervin (at) biology.msstate.edu

Dept of Biol Sciences

213 Harned Hall

Mississippi State, MS 39762