Guidelines for Term Papers
The paper should be approximately 12 double-spaced pages (12 point font, with 1 inch margins throughout), not including figures/tables, title page or references. Please print the paper double-sided if possible. For formatting details (e.g. referencing style), follow Conservation Genetics (see the Instructions for Authors at and download a recent paper as an example).
Term Paper Marking Scheme(Minus 1 mark/day late!)
[5]Abstract: Should include 1-2 sentences introducing the problem being addressed, 1 sentence with the methods used, 1-2 sentences summarizing the results, and 1 sentence presenting the importance or context of the results.
[15]Introduction: Should provide a literature review and background to get the reader up to speed= on the general problem being addressed, previous research on the subject, your study system, and sometimes also the methods you are using. Should have a general purpose or objective near the beginning, and one or more explicit hypotheses at the end.
[10]Methods: Methods should be given in sufficient detail that the project could be repeated by another researcher, although it may include references to other papers for details (e.g. PCR conditions). Should begin with tests of assumptions needed for the rest of the tests (HWE, LE and selective neutrality), then describe tests to address the hypotheses in the Introduction.
[15]Results: Should begin with results of tests of assumptions, then give results of tests that address the hypotheses.
[15]Discussion: Should give the big picture= of what the results mean, explore alternative potential explanations for the observed results, place the results in the context of similar studies inc. mtDNA studies of these birds. It should return to the initial hypotheses, and give conservation recommendations.
[10]Literature: Recent relevant literature should be presented. Comments in the text should be referenced appropriately. Literature Cited should be in a consistent format, including authors, data of publication, title, and either journal name and pages or book title, editor (if applicable) and publisher.
[20]Writing: Sentence structure, grammar, punctuation and spelling should use appropriate/correct scientific English. Each paragraph should address a single topic, begin with an introductory sentence and end with a summative sentence. See Writing Tips. Proof-read you paper and run the spell-checker before printing the final copy.
[10]General Presentation: Should be logically organized and neatly presented following the guildelines for Conservation Genetics. Figures and tables should be used as needed. Captions should say what the figure/table presents in sufficient detail that readers can understand the item. Figures borrowed from other sources should be referenced appropriately. Information that is not critical to understanding the paper but that may interest some readers may be presented in Appendices.