In this section we give two examples of how to write course guides in English following UVic style as outlined in this document.

We recommend these actions:

• Add links to regulations about attendance, non-academic criteria for fail grades, etc., rather than giving details in the course guide itself.
• Avoid restatement of general UVic or Faculty information.
• Avoid detailed specification of assessment criteria.
• students / you may be used as alternative forms to address the reader.

A course guide drafted by a non-native speaker of English

The first is an example of a course guide drafted by a non-native speaker of English. An amended commented version made by the UVic Language Services English section follows below.

Original version

Integrated Project III

Objectives

This subject belongs to a series of subjects, Integrated Project I-VI, on the undergraduate programme in Biomedicine which culminate each semester from the first to third year. The common objective of this set of subjects is to work at a practical level on the knowledge that students have acquired in other subjects during the semester, while facilitating the acquisition of skills related to biomedical research. The teaching methodology is problem- or project-based learning.

In particular, Integrated Project III aims that students will learn experimental design, techniques of molecular biology, metabolic biochemistry and statistical analysis: isolation and amplification of a cDNA, electrophoresis in agarose gel, cloning of the cDNA in an expression vector, transformation in bacteria, expression of the protein of interest and analysis of the enzymatic activity of malate dehydrogenase in different experimental conditions and some statistical analysis. Immunodetection of the study proteins will be performed in different samples. Finally, the statistical data analysis and discussion of the data will be carried out.

Learning outcomes

• RA1. Identify and use laboratory equipment correctly to carry out experiments.
• RA2. Work with biological material in an appropriate manner, taking into consideration the necessary safety measures whilst handling and disposing of biological waste.
• RA3. Demonstrate comprehension of spoken and written scientific English.
• RA4. Recognise and apply the main guidelines for structuring presentations, projects and publications in scientific communication.
• RA5. Resolve problems and situations relevant to professional practice in an innovative and entrepreneurial manner.
• RA6. Design interventions to meet the needs of the area in a multidisciplinary way.
• RA7. Critically reflect on processes related to professional practice.
• RA8. Use appropriate spoken language (verbal and non-verbal) to communicate in personal and professional situations in Catalan, Spanish and English.
• RA9. Apply strategies to promote gender equality and justice in the workplace.
• RA10. Prepare reports and written documents (mainly of a technical nature) with correct spelling and grammar in Catalan, Spanish and English.

Content

1. Experimental design
2. Gene expression techniques
3. Enzyme activity
4. Immunodetection techniques
5. Information retrieval and protocol writing
6. Writing scientific article from data statistical analysis
7. Scientific workshop

Evaluation

The course will be evaluated through:

• Online evaluation: 10%
• Elaboration of scientific protocols: 20% (individual assessment: 10% + group assessment: 10%)
• Competences in following technical protocols: 10%
• Evaluation of results and discussion: 30% (individual evaluation: 12,5% + group evaluation: 12,5%)
• Scientific workshop: 20% (individual evaluation: 10% + group evaluation: 10%)
• Active participation: 10% (participation, attitude, attendance)

Attendance is compulsory. Absences are not allowed, but it is possible to miss 1 or 2 sessions for justified reasons. More than 2 unexcused absences mean failing the whole course.

Excused absences do not exclude students from doing the work derived from the session they did not attend.

Excused absences allowed are:

• Hospital admission
• Court summons
• Death of a family member of 1st or 2nd degree of consanguinity or affinity
• Medically diagnosed illness that makes it impossible to attend the session
• Attendance at a scheduled visit to the hospital, which cannot be postponed and which involves diagnosis, follow-up and/or medical treatment

In case of a justified absence

• If it is not possible to make up the class, the student must do a work (proposed by the teacher) that allows him/her to recover, totally or partially, the content of the session he/she has missed. The elaboration of this work is compulsory and the non-presentation of the work implies a penalty equivalent to the reduction of 5% of the final grade of the course.

In the case of unexcused absence

• It is not possible to recover the class and a penalty equivalent to the reduction of 10 % of the final grade of the course for each session to which it is missed (therefore, one absence supposes a reduction of 10 % of the final grade and two, one of 20 %).
• Absence from 3 or more sessions means failing the course.
• The student can do a recommended work to recover, totally or partially, the content of the session to which he/she has missed, but it is not obligatory. If the student makes up the work satisfactorily, he/she can recover 5% of the penalty imposed for the absence.

Methodology

This course is based on the problem-based learning (PBL) methodology, which involves individual and group work to respond to a challenge, generate a protocol and execute it in the laboratory, and analyse, present, and discuss the results in writing and orally.

Revised version

Integrated Project III

Objectives

Students will:

• Put into practice the knowledge acquired in other subjects during the semester.
• Acquire skills for biomedical research.
• Learn about experimental design, the techniques of molecular biology, metabolic biochemistry and statistical analysis.

Learning outcomes

Students will:

• Identify and use laboratory equipment correctly to carry out experiments.
• Work with biological material in an appropriate manner, taking into consideration the necessary safety measures whilst handling and disposing of biological waste.
• Demonstrate comprehension of spoken and written scientific English.
• Recognise and apply the main guidelines for structuring presentations, projects and publications in scientific communication.
• Resolve problems and situations relevant to professional practice in an innovative and entrepreneurial manner.
• Design interventions to meet the needs of the area in a multidisciplinary way.
• Critically reflect on processes related to professional practice.
• Use appropriate spoken language (verbal and non-verbal) to communicate in personal and professional situations in Catalan, Spanish and English.
• Apply strategies to promote gender equality and justice in the workplace.
• Prepare reports and written documents (mainly of a technical nature) with correct spelling and grammar in Catalan, Spanish and English.

Content

1. Experimental design
2. Gene expression techniques
3. Enzyme activity
4. Immunodetection techniques
5. Information retrieval and drafting protocols
6. Writing scientific articles based on statistical data analysis
7. Scientific workshop

Assessment

• Online assessment: 10%
• Elaboration of scientific protocols: 20%
• Competences in following technical protocols: 10%
• Evaluation of results and discussion: 30%
• Scientific workshop: 20%
• Active participation: 10% (participation, attitude, attendance)

Attendance is compulsory. Unjustified absence from three or more sessions will lead to failing the whole course.

Methodology

Instruction is through problem-based learning (PBL) methodology, which involves individual and group work to respond to a challenge, generating a protocol and executing it in the laboratory; and subsequent written and spoken analysis, presentation, and discussion of results.

A course guide translated from Catalan into English

The following subject (Animal Biology) only existed in Catalan (with a Google Translate version on the website) and the Language Services translated version follows below.

Original version in Catalan

Biologia Animal

Objectius

Els objectius d’aquesta assignatura són que l’estudiant:

1. Conegui els fonaments de la microscopia òptica.
2. Conegui els nivells d’organització i la histologia animal.
3. S’introduixi en el coneixement de la fisiologia animal.
4. Tingui una visió general de les principals línies evolutives que han seguit els animals.
5. Conegui la diversitat i la taxonomia animal i aprofundeixi en les característiques particulars dels principals grups d’animals.

Resultats d’aprenentatge

1. Coneix els principals teixits animals i la forma en què s’organitzen per formar els òrgans.
2. Ha adquirit una visió integrada i global dels diferents grups sistemàtics.
3. Cerca i analitza informació científica per completar els continguts de l’assignatura.
4. Mostra destresa per al treball en el laboratori i en el camp.
5. Aplica els coneixements teòrics en les pràctiques de laboratori.
6. Interpreta correctament els resultats obtinguts al laboratori.
7. Adquireix els coneixements bàsics de la histologia animal i entén els principals processos fisiològics.
8. Comprèn missatges orals i escrits expressats en les llengües pròpies i en anglès.

Continguts

1. Morfologia i organització animal
   1. Microscopia
   2. Desenvolupament embrionari
   3. Teixits animals
   4. Òrgans i sistemes
2. Grups sistemàtics del regne animal
   1. Porífers (esponges)
   2. Cnidaris
   3. Acelomats: platelmints i nemertins
   4. Pseudocelomats. Nemàtodes
   5. Celomats
      1. Anèl·lids, mol·luscs i equinoderms
      2. Artròpodes
      3. Cordats
      4. Vertebrats

Avaluació

L’avaluació de l’assignatura es basa en un seguiment continu del treball acadèmic de l’estudiant al llarg del curs.

La nota final de l’assignatura (NF) és la mitjana ponderada de les notes de les activitats avaluables següents:

Activitat 1. Teoria

• Teoria parcial 1: 15 % de la NF; activitat no recuperable; RA avaluats: RA1, RA7
• Teoria parcial 2: 25 % de la NF; activitat recuperable; sense nota mínima; RA avaluats: RA1, RA7
• Teoria parcial 3: 20 % de la NF; activitat recuperable; sense nota mínima; RA avaluats: RA2

Per aprovar l’assignatura cal obtenir una nota igual o superior a 4,5 de la mitjana ponderada dels exàmens d’aquesta activitat.

Activitat 2. Pràctiques

• Destreses pràctiques: 5 % de la NF; activitat no recuperable; RA avaluats: RA4, RA9
• Examen P1: 10 % de la NF; activitat recuperable; sense nota mínima; RA avaluats: RA1, RA5
• Examen P2: 5 % de la NF; activitat recuperable; sense nota mínima; RA avaluats: RA2, RA5

Activitat 3. Informes i exercicis

• Informes i exercicis: 20 % de la NF; activitat no recuperable; RA avaluats: RA1, RA2, RA3, RA5, RA6, RA8

El pes total de les activitats d’avaluació representa el 100 % de la nota final de l’assignatura.

Criteris específics d’assignatura

• L’assistència a les sessions de pràctiques i sortides és obligatòria per aprovar l’assignatura.
• L’absència injustificada a més de dues sessions de pràctiques implica suspendre tota l’assignatura.
• L’absència justificada a més del 50 % de les activitats pràctiques implica una nota de zero de les destreses de pràctiques.
• Es pot guardar la nota de pràctiques d’un curs per al següent si és igual o superior a 6,0 i només si es cursa l’assignatura un curs seguit de l’altre.

Criteris generals d’avaluació

L’avaluació està prevista presencialment. Si per raons de noves restriccions no es pot fer en aquesta modalitat, es traslladarà a la virtualitat.

• La tinença de telèfons mòbils o similars (smartphones, tauletes, etc.) durant la realització de les proves recuperables comporta un zero en la prova.
• La no compareixença o no presentació dins els terminis establerts a alguna de les activitats d’avaluació comporta una nota de zero d’aquesta activitat. Aquesta qualificació es té en compte en el moment de calcular la nota final de l’assignatura.
• La nota final de l’assignatura s’obté ponderant, amb els percentatges respectius, les mitjanes aritmètiques de les diferents activitats.
• L’estudiant té l’opció de tornar-se a examinar de les proves recuperables suspeses. Les proves de recuperació es fan durant les últimes setmanes del semestre, destinades a aquesta funció, i no es pot recuperar més del 50 % de l’assignatura.
• Si es renuncia a accedir a la prova de recuperació, es manté la nota assolida en primera instància.
• En les activitats no recuperables no s’exigeixen notes mínimes per poder calcular la nota final de l’assignatura.
• Només es qualifica l’assignatura amb “No presentat” si no s’ha comparegut a cap prova avaluable ni obtingut nota en cap de les activitats de l’assignatura.

Metodologia

Aquesta assignatura utilitza diferents tipus de sessions i diferents formes de treball perquè l’estudiant pugui assolir les competències descrites anteriorment:

1. L’activitat dirigida:
   • Sessions a l’aula o online: es fan classes de continguts, sessions participatives, treballs en grup dirigits…
   • Sessions al laboratori: classes pràctiques
   • Sortides
   • Sessions de tutoria: grups i individuals
2. El treball personal:
   • Treball individual: engloba el temps d’estudi personal per a l’assimilació dels conceptes i procediments exposats a les classes magistrals i participatives, el temps necessari per a l’elaboració dels exercicis proposats, el temps necessari per a la preparació de l’examen…
   • Treball en grup: temps de treball dels diferents membres del grup per elaborar els documents que cal presentar.

Translation by Language Services

Animal Biology

Objectives

Students will:

• Learn about the principles of optical microscopy.
• Know about organisation levels and animal histology.
• Acquire basic knowledge of animal physiology.
• Be aware of the main paths of animal evolution.
• Learn about animal diversity and taxonomy, and the specific characteristics of the main animal groups.

Learning outcomes

Students will:

1. Learn about the main animal tissues and how they are organised to form organs.
2. Acquire an overall understanding of different groups.
3. Seek and analyse complementary scientific information.
4. Show dexterity for work in the laboratory and in the field.
5. Apply theoretical knowledge in laboratory practicals.
6. Correctly interpret laboratory results.
7. Acquire basic knowledge of animal histology and understand the main physiological processes.
8. Understand spoken and written Catalan, Spanish and English.

Contents

1. Morphology and animal organisation
   1. Microscopy
   2. Embryonic development
   3. Animal tissues
   4. Organs and systems
2. Systematic groups of the animal kingdom
   1. Porifera (sponges)
   2. Cnidarians
   3. Acelomates: flatworms and nemertines
   4. Pseudocoelomates. nematodes
   5. Coelomates
      1. Annelids, molluscs and echinoderms
      2. Arthropods
      3. Chordates
      4. Vertebrates

Assessment

Evaluation is based on continuous assessment of students’ academic work throughout the course.

The final mark of the subject (NF) is the weighted average of the marks of the following items.

Component 1. Theory

• Test 1: 15% of the NF.
• Test 2: 25% of the NF. May be retaken.
• Test 3: 20% of the NF. May be retaken.

Minimum average pass mark for Theory: 4.5.

Component 2. Practicals

• Practical skills: 5% of the NF
• Test 1: 10% of the NF. May be retaken.
• Test 2: 5% of the NF. May be retaken.

Component 3. Reports and exercises

• Reports and exercises: 20% of the NF

Other criteria

• Attendance at practicals and field trips is compulsory.
• Unjustified absence from three or more practicals will lead to a Fail grade.
• Justified absence from more than 50% of practicals will result in a mark of zero for the Practicals component.
• In general, assessment is in person.
• Students may retake activities, if applicable, in the reassessment period.

Methodology

Instruction is offered through a variety of sessions and activities.

1. Supervised work:
   • Sessions in class or online: content classes, including group work
   • Sessions in the laboratory: practicals
   • Field trips
   • Tutorials: group and individual
2. Self-study:
   • Individual work: private study, preparation of assignments, revising
   • Group work: team preparation of assignments.