Assignment:
Throughout the summer session you will be required to maintain a field journal of biological observations that you make in your local neigborhood. There is no set format for your journal but each entry must include a date for the entry (you might also want to include the time of day and the weather conditions if you think these are significant for your observations). You will then be required to compile your observations into a word doc, powerpoint slides, or any page layout program to submit. You need to have a minimum of at least one observation per week.
Items that are appropriate for journal entries may include (but not limited to) the following:
• Observations you make outside of class that are related to concepts and topics discussed in class.
• Questions or thoughts you have about your observations.
• Sketches, diagrams, or photos of specimens or biological events that you observe outside of class.
• Behavioral observations of your pets.
• Observations that raise concerns you have about health or environmental issues.
• Descriptions of hikes or walks you take in natural areas (including urban natural areas).
• Overviews of your trips to science museums, wildlife sanctuaries, aquariums, zoos, etc.
• Your own philosophical ideas about the natural world.
• Anything that you feel would be appropriate for your own personal field journal.
The above are suggestions for journal entries. It is not expected that you include all of the above.
This is your journal. Make it meaningful for you.
Do not include data and observations that are required as part of a scheduled laboratory activity.
This information will be recorded and presented in your required laboratory reports.
Your field journal will be evaluated at the end of the semester on the number of entries, appropriateness of entries for a biological field journal, amount of thought and time you put into the journal entries, quality of your writing, number and quality of your illustrations, sketches or photos, and the overall appearance and format of your journal.
Refer to the sample journals posted in Moodle. These were submitted by previous students with their permission. Use them as a guide in presenting your own journal. You can use any format that works for you. The sample journals were submitted as word files but other formats are acceptable such as Powerpoint slides.