Intro to Insect Morphology & Ecology:

Things to think about for projects

1 REFERENCES/BIBLIOGRAPHY
ALWAYS cite references, and keep formatting consistent throughout. For example, you
can have a bibliography at the end (like of a book or video) or the bottom (like on a poster) in
tiny script, and reference specific things by using superscript numbers that link you to the
specific reference source. If your project cannot involve written material directly, then please
print out a bibliography.

YOU MUST INCLUDE AT LEAST 1 *PRINTED, PUBLISHED* SOURCE IN YOUR

BIBLIOGRAPHY OR REFERENCE LIST!!!
All reference sources in your bibliography should be given in alphabetical order BY AUTHORS
LAST NAME. For every reference source in your bibliography, give info in this order: AUTHOR,
TITLE, YEAR OF PUBLICATION, PUBLISHER (if book) or PUBLICATION (if magazine,
newspaper, online publication (e.g., Huffington Post), etc.) or actual WEBSITE (with date
accessed). Remember to underline or italicize the TITLE if it is a book or titled webpage, or the
PUBLICATION, if it is a mag, or in an online publication, etc. Be VERY CAREFUL with websites
that weigh heavily on obvious personal opinion, and avoid using info from unsubstantiated
blogs!
Heres an example reference list, including a book, a magazine and a webpage (if it were a
bibliography then it would not have the superscript numbers):
References
1

Mark and Nancy Deyrup. The Caterpillar that Recycles Turtles. 2007. Wings.

Jeanne K. Hanson. The Beastly Book: 101 of the Worlds Most Dangerous Creatures. 1993.
Prentice Hall General Reference.
3

John R. Meyer. Dermaptera. 2005. Website:

http://www.cals.ncsu.edu/course/ent425/compendium/earwigs.html, accessed 3 November
2011.

2 - BE CAREFUL WITH SPELLING, GRAMMAR! Heres a suggestion: have someone else

read over the text you are preparing before you begin to include it in your design. Others will
usually catch odd mistakes or whatever, and this works for everyone! Also, and this is obvious,
butUSE YOUR OWN WORDS, unless you are directly citing a reference, which requires
quotation marks and some way of citing the author, for example, superscripts1,2 and
reference list (see above). When you paraphrase, you give specific information from a

published source, but IN YOUR OWN WORDS; this can be also be referenced with
superscripts. I will check everyones work with regard to this.

An electronic document of your text is required!

FYI - the plural of genus is genera, so if you want to refer to >1 genus, use the term genera;
example: there are 52 genera of hairball moths in New Zealand

3 - CAPS & italics

genus & species names are the ONLY words that need to be italicized (or underlined if
you prefer). Sometimes you may refer to a genus name (w/o any species mentioned), and that
is fine, but just make sure you italicize the genus name. Let me know if you have any questions
with this
when using a genus name (either alone or w/a species name), the Genus gets a capital
letter, while the species is always lowercase: Genus species. Example: Homo sapiens
for classifications of Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order or Familywhen referring to a
specific classification, please capitalize the term (ex. Phylum), and also capitalize the phylums
name: for example, Phylum Arthropoda. So, when you are mentioning the technical name for
an insect order, you must capitalize it (ex. Siphonaptera, Odonata, etc. etc.), but if you want to
convert the order name into a common name, you can use the term in lowercase by adding an
-n (like heteropteran) or in other ways (like odonate); let me know if you have a question!
when using a common name for a species, capitalize the FIRST WORD ONLY;
examples: Common green darner, Monarch butterfly, Cat flea, German cockroach, etc.

4 STRUCTURE
For projects that involve artwork for gallery-type presentationthey must have accompanying
text for plaques. Remember that at least 3 elements need to be included in project media that
involve a series.

5 PRESENTATION
You can use PowerPoint, or not, for your presentation. But DO NOT copy & paste text into ppt
presentations, DO NOT READ off your project for your presentation (although you can refer to it,
or use it as an illustration of something)! This presentation is on the bug itselfits
morphology, ecology, habitat, behaviors, etc.not the design or rendering of the project; thus if
a student chooses to make a short film on the conservation of Monarch butterflies, the oral
presentation should be on the basics (e.g., life-cycle, migration, etc.) of Monarchs, not on the

details of the film production. The presentation is NOT a regurgitation of the info included
in the projectproject needs to be detached from presentation. Please make it briefI will
have to cut off at 7 minutes!

DUE NEXT CLASS (Dec. 4th)

Project elements (physical and/or digital)

Bibliography or reference list (included somehow within project (see above) or printed)

Digital copy of project text

You to give presentation!

GRADE BREAK-DOWN

Size/breadth of project (ex. 3 posters minimum) (6)

Inclusion of correctly-formatted bibliography (2)

Value of information presented (8)

Value of presentation method for topic (4)

TOTAL: 20 points (20% of grade)

(points taken off if handed in late)