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BIOL 520: Source Types

Biology Graduate Professional Development Seminar.

Course Overview

BIOL 520 introduces new graduate students, pursuing a Master's of Science degree, to important aspects of becoming a successful graduate student.  Course topics include:
  • common misconceptions
  • cultivating respect
  • manuscript writing
  • proper citations
  • academic misconduct
  • keeping a research notebook
  • social networking
  • CV/Resume writing

Types of Scientific Literature

Primary Literature Secondary Literature
  • Tertiary Literature
  • Original research and/or new discoveries!
  • Research activities that have immediate results.
  • Data analyses from information collected in the field or generated in the lab.
  • Summaries of someone else's original research article.
  • A book covering scientific research that has happened in a specific area.

 
  • Condensed versions of materials under a single subject heading.
  • A piece that references primary or secondary literature sources.
  • "Overview" materials that summarize an entire subject in just a few pages.

EXAMPLES:  

Peer-reviewed & published journal articles

Dissertations (Example - for your PhD)

Technical reports

Conference Proceedings

EXAMPLES:  

A review of current trends in _____ (genetics; neurobiology; virology; etc.)

Books

EXAMPLES:

Textbooks

Dictionaries

Encyclopedias

Wikipedia

"Facts on File" type sites