Throughout the semester, certain readings are chosen for class discussions. A major component of this course is a term paper in the form of a research proposal. Students are expected to come up with an original idea for a research project, review the relevant literature, state questions to be investigated or hypotheses to be tested, and describe methods to carry out the research. All papers are read and edited by the instructor and handed back for revision. This course fulfills the W requirement for undergraduates.
Exams There are two exams, a midterm and a final.
The midterm is a take-home exam in which students are asked to write a critique of a published paper as if they were reviewing the paper for the editor of a journal. The final is an essay exam. Ten questions are handed out two weeks before the final, and the questions on the exam are drawn from these questions. This course is taught MWF at 10 in alternate fall semesters. An introductory course in animal behavior is recommended.