546 MHR • Course Challenge
Posters are one means that biologists use to
communicate their research information to their
peers. Posters usually contain the following elements:
a title; the authors’ names; an abstract; some basic
results, usually in the form of tables or graphs; a
conclusion; and some interesting illustrations.C.Check with your teacher to determine the
best way to format your information so that it
can be displayed at the Biology Symposium.
There is no specific format required for your
poster layout. Check with your teacher for
advice and suggestions. Examine the posters
shown below. These were produced and
presented by Dr. M. I. Sheppard and Dr. S.C.
Sheppard at a conference in France. These
scientists specialize in pollutant ecology and
soil science. Your poster does not have to
match this level of detail and complexity.
However, it will contain similar design
elements. Posters are used by students and
professionals in many fields of biology.
As you go through university, you will be
required to produce posters and papers that
can be easily understood by participants at
meetings and conferences.Action Plan
1.Along with your teacher and classmates,
study the Achievement Chart for Science
published in the Ontario Curriculum
document shown on the following page.
Discuss the categories and the criteria that
you will strive to meet in completing this
Course Challenge. Different types of
background information — research essays,
scientific papers, newspaper articles,
interviews, lab reports, data analyses, etc. —
may be better suited to fulfilling the criteria
for different categories. Criteria for
evaluating both the research paper and your
presentation or the poster display can be
established by the class, under the guidance
of your teacher. These criteria can then be
compiled in appropriate rubrics. Brainstorm
criteria that could be used to evaluate the
final product, as listed on the following
page, for example: