Throughout the course we have learned how to critique and design and answer scientific and mathematical questions. You will now have a chance to apply what you have learned by choosing a question that interests you and telling us how you would go about answering it. Poster sessions are a regular part of mathematics and science research presentations, so you will present your work in that format.

You may work alone or with one other person.

Each project will contain the following components:

1. Describe your scientific or mathematical question or problem.
2. Conduct a literature review. Turn in a typed list of references separate from your poster but also summarize your literature review during your poster presentation:
   Ensures that you are not "reinventing the wheel".
   Gives credits to those who have laid the groundwork for your research.
   Demonstrates your knowledge of the research problem.
   Demonstrates your understanding of the theoretical and research issues related to your research question.
   Shows your ability to critically evaluate relevant literature information.
   Indicates your ability to integrate and synthesize the existing literature.
   Provides theoretical insights or develops a model as the conceptual framework for your research.
   Convinces your reader that your proposed research will make a significant and substantial contribution to the literature.
3. A plan for solving the question or problem: Design an experiment or discuss an approach for solving or answering your research problem or question. Descriptions of an experiment may include the procedures, the sample(s), control group(s), and any instruments or software that will be used. If you choose a theoretical problem that is not experimentally based, descriptions of your plan may include a description of the methodology you could use.
4. Your choice! The last portion of the project is up to you. Perhaps you want to conduct your experiment, or explore your interpretations of related topics, ethical considerations, financial considerations, different approaches and methodologies, a critique, information about a person who works on related problems, future directions, etc.
   
   

Creative projects are encouraged. Discuss your ideas with Dr. Sarah to obtain approval.

Poster Sessions Prepare a poster that summarizes the four parts of your project. If you work with someone, each of you must be prepared to discuss the entire poster, since you will be involved in separate poster sessions. We will divide up the class into two poster sessions. During your poster session, you must stand by your poster to answer questions (and your answers must demonstrate expertise of your topic). During the other session, you should briefly look over everyone's project, and choose three or four people (who are standing by their poster) to evaluate using the peer review form that will be given to you. A portion of your final project grade will be determined by the depth, quality and clarity of your peer reviews, which will be read by Dr. Sarah, but not by the project presenter. Each peer review must demonstrate that you read the project carefully. If you work on your project with someone else, you will each be in different poster sessions.

Grading The final project will be graded based on the depth, clarity, and creativity of the literature review and your explanations during the poster presentation, and the quality of your peer reviews. On a separate sheet of paper, that is not attached to your poster, turn in a list of references from your literature review. After the exam period is over, you will take your poster with you.