BIO week 3

Assignment #1: Course Project Check-In

Overview

This check-in assignment is designed to help you practice selecting  ONE  credible and relevant source for your Course Project ( based on the same approved medical condition/disease from the Week 2 Discussion), correctly citing it, understanding why citation accuracy is important, and ensuring you are on track for your final presentation.

Before You Start – Must Read!

Required Reading

· Refer to these four resources to complete the required worksheet:  Guidelines for Avoiding Plagiarism ,  Course AI Guidance ,  Citations 101: Why and How to Cite Sources , and  APA Citation Formatting Guidelines and Resources . 

· Carefully review the assignment instructions AND the  GE-BIOL Course Project Check-In Assignment Grading Rubric linked in the Evaluation section below for details on how you will be graded.

Originality, Citation, and Academic Integrity

· Originality: Explain concepts in your own words (paraphrase) and use direct quotes sparingly (less than 10%). Review your Copyleaks similarity score and revise as needed to keep it below 20% (references do not count).

· Citation:

· For the “ Citation Understanding” section, because you are being asked to use the four resource documents linked above, you are not required to cite and reference them.

· However, for the “ Citation Practice” section, include a properly formatted APA reference citation  and its matching in-text citations (parenthetical and narrative). Citations must be:

· Complete: Include  all required and available publication details (author, date, title, journal/publishing company information, URL/DOI, etc.). No missing details, such as omitting some authors, the year of publication, and or DOI/URL, etc.

· Accessible: Provide  working,  direct  DOI/URLs allowing access to the entire source article. No broken/dead links or page accessibility errors accepted.

· Accurate: Match your citation details to source publication details  exactly. No mismatches, such as listing an author who doesn’t exist or providing the wrong publication year, title, DOI, or URL.   

· Verifiable: Link directly to the  exact spot (webpage on a website, book chapter, journal article) where your quote, fact, or idea appears, so readers can locate your paraphrased, summarized, or quoted content. No homepage/main website URLs; must reach the exact webpage of the  full article.

· Academic Integrity:

· Credit will not be earned for affected content (or potentially the entire assignment) when citations are missing,  incomplete, inaccessible, inaccurate, or unverifiable. Missing or misrepresented/falsified sources are considered reportable academic misconduct.

· Follow the university’s policies and course guidelines regarding the ethical and responsible use of artificial intelligence tools in academic work .

Ask your instructor if you have any questions.

Instructions

Your submission must  include Parts 1: Completed Required Worksheet  and 2: Required Source Documentation  below to receive credit for this entire assignment.

Part 1: Completed Required Worksheet

· Download this required  WORKSHEET , type your answers into the blank boxes, and submit it as an MS Word document (.docx file type). No other file types will be accepted.

· Title your file name as:  FirstnameLastname_BIOL181_CP_Check-In_Assg.docx

· IMPORTANT: Failure to submit the completed required worksheet will result in a zero for the entire assignment.

Part 2: Required Source Documentation

· Students are required to upload documentation of the source they cited in the worksheet.

· Submitting this documentation does not replace including the required proper reference citation and in-text citations within your assignment. Submitting the Required Source Documentation is a separate required action.

· Journal Article or Book Chapter: upload its corresponding PDF file (.pdf file type).

· Webpages on Websites and Videos: upload a screenshot showing the article/video title  and the full URL in the address bar. Acceptable image file types are: .jpg, .jpeg, .png, or .bmp.

· For other source types, please contact your instructor for guidance.

· Submit the Required Source Documentation file individually; do not embed it in the Worksheet.

· Resource:   Help With Submitting the Required Source Documentation

· IMPORTANT: Failure to provide this documentation file at the time of submission will result in a zero for the entire assignment. For this first assignment only, your instructor may permit a one-time courtesy resubmission of your documentation. A 10% point deduction will apply.  However, for your Final Presentation assignment, you must provide the required documentation files at the time of submission, or the entire assignment will receive a zero.

Evaluation

Please carefully review the  GE-BIOL Course Project Check-In Assignment Grading Rubric  and the assignment instructions, which describe how your assignment will be graded.

How Rubric Grading Works

· Completing all elements in the Accomplished column  meets the standard requirements; addressing those in the Exemplary column earns the  highest scores.

· You must complete every element within a rubric section to earn points at that level.

Important Note: Once your work has been graded, resubmissions should not be expected. Ensure your final submission meets all assignment expectations and represents your highest-quality effort.

Submission Instructions

1. Upload your assignment for grading by selecting the "Add a File" section, allowing you to locate the MS Word document (.docx file format) of this assignment on your computer.

2. Next, upload your Required Source Documentation file (.pdf file for journal articles and book chapters; .jpg, .jpeg, .png, or .bmp file for screenshot images of website sources and videos).

3. Double-check to ensure that your Worksheet AND Required Source Documentation files were successfully uploaded as attachments.  Your total file submission count should equal one completed Worksheet .docx file  plus one source documentation file.

4. When you have completed this assignment, type "Completed" in the rich text editor box below and select the "Submit" button.

5. Review your Copyleaks report. Your assignment will be automatically submitted to Copyleaks, and a report will be generated within 15 minutes upon submission.

6. Multiple submissions of this assignment are allowed before the assignment due date.

BIOL181 Course Project Check-In Assignment

Name: ______________________________________

INSTRUCTIONS: First, read the four Resource documents linked in the assignment instructions. Then, answer the following questions with two to four complete sentences. Remember to paraphrase.

INSTRUCTIONS: Select ONE academically and scientifically credible source article that is directly relevant to your approved Course Project topic and discusses one or more of the four subtopics listed below. You will use this same article to complete all sections below (Citation Practice and Source Selection & Relevance).

· You may not reuse the same article from your Week 2 Discussion.

· Each response you provide must come exclusively from this one selected source.

American Public University System (TK) March 2026

Assignment #1: Course Project Check-In

Overview

This check-in assignment is designed to help you practice selecting  ONE  credible and relevant source for your Course Project ( based on the same approved medical condition/disease from the Week 2 Discussion), correctly citing it, understanding why citation accuracy is important, and ensuring you are on track for your final presentation.

Before You Start – Must Read!

Required Reading

· Refer to these four resources to complete the required worksheet:  Guidelines for Avoiding Plagiarism ,  Course AI Guidance ,  Citations 101: Why and How to Cite Sources , and  APA Citation Formatting Guidelines and Resources . 

· Carefully review the assignment instructions AND the  GE-BIOL Course Project Check-In Assignment Grading Rubric linked in the Evaluation section below for details on how you will be graded.

Originality, Citation, and Academic Integrity

· Originality: Explain concepts in your own words (paraphrase) and use direct quotes sparingly (less than 10%). Review your Copyleaks similarity score and revise as needed to keep it below 20% (references do not count).

· Citation:

· For the “ Citation Understanding” section, because you are being asked to use the four resource documents linked above, you are not required to cite and reference them.

· However, for the “ Citation Practice” section, include a properly formatted APA reference citation  and its matching in-text citations (parenthetical and narrative). Citations must be:

· Complete: Include  all required and available publication details (author, date, title, journal/publishing company information, URL/DOI, etc.). No missing details, such as omitting some authors, the year of publication, and or DOI/URL, etc.

· Accessible: Provide  working,  direct  DOI/URLs allowing access to the entire source article. No broken/dead links or page accessibility errors accepted.

· Accurate: Match your citation details to source publication details  exactly. No mismatches, such as listing an author who doesn’t exist or providing the wrong publication year, title, DOI, or URL.   

· Verifiable: Link directly to the  exact spot (webpage on a website, book chapter, journal article) where your quote, fact, or idea appears, so readers can locate your paraphrased, summarized, or quoted content. No homepage/main website URLs; must reach the exact webpage of the  full article.

· Academic Integrity:

· Credit will not be earned for affected content (or potentially the entire assignment) when citations are missing,  incomplete, inaccessible, inaccurate, or unverifiable. Missing or misrepresented/falsified sources are considered reportable academic misconduct.

· Follow the university’s policies and course guidelines regarding the ethical and responsible use of artificial intelligence tools in academic work .

Ask your instructor if you have any questions.

Instructions

Your submission must  include Parts 1: Completed Required Worksheet  and 2: Required Source Documentation  below to receive credit for this entire assignment.

Part 1: Completed Required Worksheet

· Download this required  WORKSHEET , type your answers into the blank boxes, and submit it as an MS Word document (.docx file type). No other file types will be accepted.

· Title your file name as:  FirstnameLastname_BIOL181_CP_Check-In_Assg.docx

· IMPORTANT: Failure to submit the completed required worksheet will result in a zero for the entire assignment.

Part 2: Required Source Documentation

· Students are required to upload documentation of the source they cited in the worksheet.

· Submitting this documentation does not replace including the required proper reference citation and in-text citations within your assignment. Submitting the Required Source Documentation is a separate required action.

· Journal Article or Book Chapter: upload its corresponding PDF file (.pdf file type).

· Webpages on Websites and Videos: upload a screenshot showing the article/video title  and the full URL in the address bar. Acceptable image file types are: .jpg, .jpeg, .png, or .bmp.

· For other source types, please contact your instructor for guidance.

· Submit the Required Source Documentation file individually; do not embed it in the Worksheet.

· Resource:   Help With Submitting the Required Source Documentation

· IMPORTANT: Failure to provide this documentation file at the time of submission will result in a zero for the entire assignment. For this first assignment only, your instructor may permit a one-time courtesy resubmission of your documentation. A 10% point deduction will apply.  However, for your Final Presentation assignment, you must provide the required documentation files at the time of submission, or the entire assignment will receive a zero.

Evaluation

Please carefully review the  GE-BIOL Course Project Check-In Assignment Grading Rubric  and the assignment instructions, which describe how your assignment will be graded.

How Rubric Grading Works

· Completing all elements in the Accomplished column  meets the standard requirements; addressing those in the Exemplary column earns the  highest scores.

· You must complete every element within a rubric section to earn points at that level.

Important Note: Once your work has been graded, resubmissions should not be expected. Ensure your final submission meets all assignment expectations and represents your highest-quality effort.

Submission Instructions

1. Upload your assignment for grading by selecting the "Add a File" section, allowing you to locate the MS Word document (.docx file format) of this assignment on your computer.

2. Next, upload your Required Source Documentation file (.pdf file for journal articles and book chapters; .jpg, .jpeg, .png, or .bmp file for screenshot images of website sources and videos).

3. Double-check to ensure that your Worksheet AND Required Source Documentation files were successfully uploaded as attachments.  Your total file submission count should equal one completed Worksheet .docx file  plus one source documentation file.

4. When you have completed this assignment, type "Completed" in the rich text editor box below and select the "Submit" button.

5. Review your Copyleaks report. Your assignment will be automatically submitted to Copyleaks, and a report will be generated within 15 minutes upon submission.

6. Multiple submissions of this assignment are allowed before the assignment due date.