Autumn 2008

 

ANBE/BIOL 415 -- CONSERVATION BIOLOGY

JOURNAL ARTICLE CRITIQUES

 

 

Purpose:

The three journal article critiques are short exercises designed to help you evaluate the primary literature in conservation biology. In most cases, these journal articles will also lead you to a term-project topic. The purpose of the assignments is twofold: (1) to foster specific skills in evaluation of primary sources, and (2) to initiate research for your term project.

Assignment #1

Choose an article that deals with conservation biology from any of the conservation and ecological journals available at the Bertrand Library or available electronically via the WWW. In 1 to 2 typewritten pages, summarize the article in your own words. What is(are) the author(s) asserting? How did he/she show it? What did they find? What questions were left unanswered? Attach a photocopy of the article's abstract or summary to your critique. And, very important -- In several sentences, indicate your planned topic for your term project.

Assignment #2

Choose a second journal article dealing with conservation biology from a conservation or ecological journal. In about 2 typewritten pages, summarize the article as you did in assignment #1. In addition, evaluate the article. Are the authors clear? Did they do what they said they would do? Judge the adequacy of the method, approach, or arguments. Would you do anything differently? Again include a photocopy of the article's abstract or summary. In several sentences, indicate your planned topic for your term project -- indicate if your focus has changed since Assignment #1.

Assignment #3

Choose a third journal article from any of those necessary for your term-project research. By now you should have obtained copies of articles via interlibrary loan. In about 2 typewritten pages, summarize and evaluate the third article as you did in assignment #2. In addition, compare and contrast this third article with one from an earlier assignment. In what ways do their approaches differ? What accounts for the difference? Which article do you believe to be more sound, if either? Include a photocopy of the article's abstract or summary. In several sentences, indicate your planned topic for your term project -- indicate if your focus has changed since Assignment #2.