How to develop and present a project? - net.fafu.edu.cnnet.fafu.edu.cn/_upload/article/files/cc/a1/601d6c9f43a2abccba6c12... · FAFU-Dal Course Project Seminar 王松良福建农林大学，2015年4月23

FAFU-Dal Course Project Seminar

王松良福建农林大学，2015年4月23日

How to develop and present a

project?

Songliang Wang, Ph.D, Professor Overseas Education College, Fujian Agriculture and

Forestry University (FAFU), Fujian, China Email:[email protected]

The presentation was adapted from Dr.Claude Caldwell



TodayToday’’s Goalss Goals

To review the steps in using a question to form a To review the steps in using a question to form a good experimentgood experiment

To practice using a question to form an To practice using a question to form an hypothesishypothesis

To choose a scientific topic and start preparation To choose a scientific topic and start preparation for literature review for literature review



Outline todayOutline today

Introduction to Introduction to ““questionquestion--literatureliterature--hypothesishypothesis-- designdesign”” (QLHD) approach(QLHD) approach

An example of QLHD An example of QLHD

Choose a scientific topic and start the prepare a Choose a scientific topic and start the prepare a literature reviewliterature review

Guidelines onGuidelines on how to write ahow to write a literature reviewliterature review

Guidelines for a good presentation ( Guidelines for a good presentation ( reserved for reserved for next timenext time))



What is the key to a great project?What is the key to a great project?

A great question!A great question!



The QLHD approach The QLHD approach

QuestionQuestion--literatureliterature--hypothesishypothesis--design (QLHD) approachdesign (QLHD) approach

Where do questions come from?Where do questions come from?

•• observationsobservations

LiteratureLiterature

•• You can save 2 years of work in the field with an hour You can save 2 years of work in the field with an hour in the libraryin the library

HypothesisHypothesis

•• Educated guessEducated guess

Experimental DesignExperimental Design

•• KISSKISSkeep it simple, stupid



QQ--LL--HH--D D sumamrysumamry

What was the observation that led to What was the observation that led to the question?the question?

What was the question?What was the question?

What was the hypothesis?What was the hypothesis?

What experiment could be done?What experiment could be done?








Guidelines for a good presentation Guidelines for a good presentation



An ExampleAn Example

““The vase life of cut lily species in 5 The vase life of cut lily species in 5 different solutionsdifferent solutions””

By: By: XiaolingXiaoling HuangHuang

Supervised by Dr. Claude Caldwell and Supervised by Dr. Claude Caldwell and Prof. Lloyd Prof. Lloyd MapplebeckMapplebeck



What were What were XiaolingXiaoling’’ss questions?questions?

What was she interested in?What was she interested in?

What did she observe about cut What did she observe about cut flowers?flowers?



LiteratureLiterature

Has anyone else ever had this question?Has anyone else ever had this question?

What have other people found?What have other people found?

If they have not worked on lilies, have they If they have not worked on lilies, have they worked on other species of cut flowers?worked on other species of cut flowers?

What can I learn from them?What can I learn from them?



HypothesisHypothesis

1. Some varieties of lily will have 1. Some varieties of lily will have longer shelf lifelonger shelf life

2. Some water treatments will be 2. Some water treatments will be better than just plain waterbetter than just plain water

3. Some treatments will work better on 3. Some treatments will work better on some varieties than on others some varieties than on others



XiaolingXiaoling’’ss ObjectivesObjectives

1. To determine which variety has the 1. To determine which variety has the longest vase life. longest vase life.

2. To identify which vase solution provides 2. To identify which vase solution provides longest vase lifelongest vase life

3. To determine if different 3. To determine if different varietiesvarieties react react differently to different solutionsdifferently to different solutions



Experiment designExperiment design

Two factor experimentTwo factor experiment

Factor 1: CultivarsFactor 1: Cultivars

Factor 2: vase solutions:Factor 2: vase solutions:•• GA3GA3•• ASA (Aspirin)ASA (Aspirin)•• SucroseSucrose•• vitamin Cvitamin C•• Distilled waterDistilled water


FAFU-Dal Course Project SeminarThe vase life of cut lily species in 5 different solutionsXiaoling

Huang, Dr. Claude Caldwell, Prof. Lloyd MapplebeckDepartment of Plant and Animal Science, Dalhousie University Faculty of Agriculture,

Truro, NS, B2N 5E3

Introduction

Materials and Methods

Results and Discussion

Conclusions

Acknowledgements

Objectives

Thanks to Dr. Samuel Asiedu for advice and guidance over the course of this project and Dr. Nancy McLean for performing the statistical analysis on the data. Thank you also to Jili Li and Sherry Matheson for their kind help during the my experiment.

Oriental lilies (Lilium orientalis hybrids) have been used as a traditional wedding flower for many centuries, becoming more and more popular in the flower market over time. Cut flowers, such as lilies, in general, last in a vase for one week. However, consumers want more. To solve this problem, there are several ways to treat the water solution and selectively choose a longer lasting variety. Stargazer lily has been the most popular for years, but there are other varieties, such as Tiger Woods lily and Dizzy lily. The three cultivars have similar appearance and various vase lives.

1. To determine which variety has the longest vase life. 2. To identify which vase solution provides longest vase life.

This was a two factorial experiment in a randomized complete block design with four blocks. The two factors were cultivar and vase solution. Cultivar had three levels: Dizzy, Tiger Woods and Stargazer. The five levels in the vase solution factor were 50 g L-1

of GA3, 10 g L-1 ASA (Aspirin), 30 g L-1 of sucrose, 200 mg L-1 of vitamin C and distilled water as a check. Experimental units were one stem per vase. Vase life and water uptake data were analyzed by Proc Mixed and flower ratings were analyzed by Proc Catmod of SAS v. 9.3. Means were tested by Fisher’s protected lsd test at α

= 0.05.

Flowers were harvested from the greenhouse and the stems were cut 60cm from root. The smaller leaves that were closer to the cut were trimmed up by hand (Fig.1).

The solutions were made. 1cm of the stem was cut under water (Fig.2). The fresh stem was weighed and the data was recorded. The vase opening was covered by plastic wrap (Fig. 3). Then the lilies were placed in the solutions randomly. One stem per vase.

5.Excellent 4.Very Good 3. Good 1. Poor2. Fair 0. Dead

Fig.1.Trimming the stem Fig.2. Cutting under water Fig.3. Placing stem

Fig. 4. Vase life (days) of three lily cultivars in 5 different solutions.

a-f Means followed by the same letter are not significantly different according to lsd a t α=0.05.

Tiger Woods lilies in GA3 solution and sucrose solution had the longest vase life, while Stargazer lilies in ASA solution had the shortest. Tiger Woods lily had the longest vase life followed by Dizzy lily, while Stargazer lily had the shortest. GA3 and sucrose supported the longest vase life.

Data were collected on flower quality rating, water uptake, once per week. Vase life was recorded for the lilies in each vase. Fig. 5. Flower quality ratings of 5

different vase solutions on Day 5.

a-b Means Fig. 6. Percentage of live stems in 5 different vase solutions on Day 12.

a-c Means

Tables 1 and 2 show that cultivar had no significant effect on either flower quality or percent of live stems, while solution was significant. On both Day 5 and Day 12, sucrose supported the best flower quality and percent of live stems, followed by GA3 (Fig. 5 and Fig. 6). Lilies in ASA solution recorded the worst flower quality on Day 5 and lowest percent live stems on Day 12.

Fig. 7. Water uptake (mL) of three lily cultivars in 5 different vase solutions.

a-f Means followed by the same letter are not significantly different according to lsd a t α=0.05.

Fig. 7. shows that Tiger Woods lilies in GA3 solution and Stargazer lilies in Check solution had the highest water uptake, followed by Dizzy lilies in GA3 solution. The lowest water uptake of all three lily cultivars was recorded in ASA solution. All three cultivars had similar high water uptake in GA3 solution.

Tiger Woods had the longest vase life in all solutions. Dizzy generally had intermediate vase life and Stargazer was usually the first to die. Sucrose provided highest percent live stems and generally supported the longest vase life. GA3 supported highest flower quality rating and usually the highest water uptake. ASA was the worst solution for all measured variables.











Learning stimulation

I hear, I forget;I see, I remember; I do, I understand.





Grouping

Choose one of the listed topics and find 2 others to work with you.

Or your instructor assign a group?



TopicsSee hand-out for full listGet 4 other people and choose a topicTell me which topicEach topic can only be done once



Chose a topic1. Control of Diamondback Moth2. The role of genomic mapping for human

disease control3. The role of genomic mapping for plant

breeding4. Fusarium diseases of rice and mycotoxins5. Breeding of Fruit trees for the world market6. Breeding of peppers for the world market



Chose a topic (cont’d)

7. Should the Chinese yuan be allowed to “float” in the world currency market?

8. The effect of food safety scares on production and marketing of milk in China.

9. Recent Inflation and GDP trends in China; what do they mean?

10. The role Juncao in social and economic development in Africa

11. Soil degradation in China

12. The pros and cons of GMO’s

13. Community Support Agriculture: what and why?

14.Educational internationalization: present and future

15. Carbon fixation in response to elevated carbon dioxide in diverse species

16. Evaluating the college education in China



AssignmentsAssignments

Firm a group with 5 members Firm a group with 5 members

Find at 3 scientific papers on the Find at 3 scientific papers on the topic selected topic selected

Literature review composition: 3 Literature review composition: 3 pages essay of major pointspages essay of major points

Present on classPresent on class( omitted this time)( omitted this time)











Guidelines onGuidelines on how to write ahow to write a literature literature

reviewreview

This part was adapted from Dr. Zongming DongProf. of Saint Mary’s University,Canada, much appreciated!



What is a review of the literature?What is a review of the literature?

An important part of the introduction to a An important part of the introduction to a report or a term paperreport or a term paper

In essence, it is a report on the results of In essence, it is a report on the results of related studies that were done previously related studies that were done previously

It is also part of the introduction of any It is also part of the introduction of any scientific paperscientific paper



PurposePurpose

to increase your breadth of knowledge in your subject area to increase your breadth of knowledge in your subject area

to identify information, ideas and methods that could be to identify information, ideas and methods that could be relevant to your project relevant to your project

to identify gaps in the literatureto identify gaps in the literature

to ensure that the research has not been done before (i.e., to to ensure that the research has not been done before (i.e., to avoid avoid ““reinventing the wheelreinventing the wheel””))

to make sure that you are carrying on from where others to make sure that you are carrying on from where others have already reached (reviewing the field allows you to have already reached (reviewing the field allows you to build on the platform of existing knowledge and ideas)build on the platform of existing knowledge and ideas)



It will help you toIt will help you to……

learn from previous theory on the subject learn from previous theory on the subject refine, refocus or even change your topic refine, refocus or even change your topic setset--up the stage for your work, defining its up the stage for your work, defining its

relevancerelevance Build the foundation from which your Build the foundation from which your

report will growreport will grow



Role in your project report Role in your project report ( paper)( paper)

to convey to the reader what knowledge and to convey to the reader what knowledge and ideas have been established on a topic, and ideas have been established on a topic, and what their strengths and weaknesses arewhat their strengths and weaknesses are

to provide a context for the research, to provide a context for the research, showing where it showing where it fits intofits into the existing body the existing body of knowledge of knowledge

to put your work into perspectiveto put your work into perspective



Role in your project report Role in your project report ( paper)( paper)

to illustrate how the study of the subject has to illustrate how the study of the subject has been approached previously been approached previously

to outline gaps in previous researchto outline gaps in previous research to show that your work is going to add to the to show that your work is going to add to the

understanding and knowledge of the fieldunderstanding and knowledge of the field to justify the research to justify the research



The literature review is not The literature review is not limited tolimited to……

a descriptive list of the material a descriptive list of the material

available, or a set of summariesavailable, or a set of summaries



It must be defined byIt must be defined by……

a guiding concepta guiding concepte.g.,e.g., your research objective, the your research objective, the

problem or issue that you are problem or issue that you are discussingdiscussing



Also a training forAlso a training for……

information seekinginformation seeking: the ability to scan the literature : the ability to scan the literature

efficiently, using manual or computerized methods, to efficiently, using manual or computerized methods, to

identify a set of useful articles and books identify a set of useful articles and books

critical appraisalcritical appraisal: the ability to apply principles of : the ability to apply principles of

analysis to identify unbiased and valid studiesanalysis to identify unbiased and valid studies

cohesive integrationcohesive integration: the ability to tie things together : the ability to tie things together

in a cohesive wayin a cohesive way



A literature review should A literature review should ……

be organized around and related directly to the research be organized around and related directly to the research

question you are developing question you are developing

synthesize results into a summary of what is and is not synthesize results into a summary of what is and is not

known known

identify areas of controversy in the literature identify areas of controversy in the literature

formulate questions that need further research formulate questions that need further research



A literature review shouldA literature review should……

be organized into sections that present be organized into sections that present themes or identify trends, including relevant themes or identify trends, including relevant theory theory

synthesize and evaluate material published synthesize and evaluate material published according to the guiding concept of your according to the guiding concept of your research questionresearch question



……and most importantly, it shouldand most importantly, it should……

be be objective!objective!

……This is not a discussion, which is by definition This is not a discussion, which is by definition subjective (subjective (““discussible...discussible...””), and which should come ), and which should come much later in your reportmuch later in your report

At this stage, your critical appraisal should be limited At this stage, your critical appraisal should be limited to the evaluation of the literatureto the evaluation of the literature

……This should just be an objective report of what has This should just be an objective report of what has been done so far; an effort at summing things up in been done so far; an effort at summing things up in a cohesive waya cohesive way



Questions you should ask yourself Questions you should ask yourself when you read each publicationwhen you read each publication

Is the analysis of the data accurate and Is the analysis of the data accurate and relevant to the research question? relevant to the research question?

In what ways does this book or article In what ways does this book or article contribute to our understanding of the contribute to our understanding of the problem under study? problem under study?

How does this book or article relate to How does this book or article relate to the specific question I am developing? the specific question I am developing?



Suggested strategy Suggested strategy

Start writing about the most general aspects of Start writing about the most general aspects of your research topic, and gradually your research topic, and gradually pinpin--pointpoint to to the aspects of the literature that are most the aspects of the literature that are most closely related to itclosely related to it

准确地描述



Necessary steps in developing a Necessary steps in developing a literature reviewliterature review



1) Selecting the topic 1) Selecting the topic



Questions to ask yourself when Questions to ask yourself when selecting a thesis topic selecting a thesis topic

Can information be gathered locally? Can information be gathered locally? Are you in a position to travel to use various Are you in a position to travel to use various

sources? sources? Does it involve technology that is readily Does it involve technology that is readily

available? available? Is training in technology and / or software Is training in technology and / or software

readily available? readily available?



Questions to ask yourself when Questions to ask yourself when selecting a thesis topic selecting a thesis topic

Is the scope wide enough to be able to Is the scope wide enough to be able to ascertain a particular ascertain a particular nicheniche? ?

Is the scope so broad that it will lose Is the scope so broad that it will lose direction? direction?

Who will be interested in this research ? Who will be interested in this research ? ……and most importantlyand most importantly……



Does it interestDoes it interest

you?!!you?!!



……of course, keep in mind that your of course, keep in mind that your instructor/supervisor has the final instructor/supervisor has the final word on the selection of a topicword on the selection of a topic……



2) Gathering your literature from 2) Gathering your literature from library databaseslibrary databases



3) Writing an 3) Writing an annotated bibliographyannotated bibliography from from relevant referencesrelevant references

附说明的资料目录



4) Writing a 4) Writing a cohesivecohesive literature literature reviewreview

紧密关联的！



Annotated Bibliography

a list of sources with descriptive or evaluative comments (annotations) of each of the entries.

consists of two components: the Citation and the Annotation.



Source Selection

What problem am I investigating?

What question(s) am I trying to pursue?

What kind of material am I looking for?

Am I finding essential studies on my topic?



Citation

The citation should be formatted in the bibliographic

style of the NRC Press journal that is closest to your

field, or the style your instructor/supervisor would

like you to use for your study.



Dong, Z. and Layzell, D.B. 2001. H2 oxidation,

O2 uptake and CO2 fixation in hydrogen

treated soils. Plant and Soil 229:1-12.



Annotation

describe the content of the source

mention why the source is useful

indicate any strengths or weaknesses of the source

evaluate the overall reliability of the source

describe your reaction to the source



Annotation

Identify the main argument of a source

any assumptions

research question, or hypothesis

major methods of investigation

main conclusions

Focus on “why” the contents are there rather than just a list of the contents.



Components of a literature Components of a literature review review



Introduction: an overview of the subject and Introduction: an overview of the subject and theory under considerationtheory under consideration

Main text: division of works under review Main text: division of works under review into categories (e.g. those in support of a into categories (e.g. those in support of a particular position, those against, and those particular position, those against, and those offering alternative theses entirely) offering alternative theses entirely)

Discussion and conclusion: where are we at Discussion and conclusion: where are we at and where should we go from there? and where should we go from there?



Useful verbs in annotationclarify account for describe exemplify indicate

question analyze compare depict exhibit

judge recognize argue conclude assess

explain investigate reflect determine criticize

frame distinguish justify refer to assert

defend evaluate identify persuade report

assume emphasize define illustrate narrate

review demonstrate claim examine imply

propose suggest



Again: Suggested format for Again: Suggested format for your grouping literature review your grouping literature review essay essay

3 pages with more than 3 references)3 pages with more than 3 references)

DonDon’’t be afraid of including figurest be afraid of including figures

Good luck!Good luck!











Content----is essential !What is most important to tell the audience?What is a logical order in which to tell it?

Presentation---is critical!How can I make the information interesting?How can I engage the audience?



Skills needed for a successful presenterSkills needed for a successful presenter

Writing skillsWriting skills

Main ideaMain idea

Organizing a good essay (telling a Organizing a good essay (telling a good story)good story)

ParaphrasingParaphrasing

Citing Citing

Public speaking skillsPublic speaking skills

Basic knowledge of statisticsBasic knowledge of statistics

Computer literacy(Computer literacy(能力）能力）



Be scientificBe scientific

Inform and enjoyInform and enjoy

Note: The presentation should be Note: The presentation should be scientific and balanced in nature.scientific and balanced in nature.

If there are contradictory opinions, find If there are contradictory opinions, find them and discuss themthem and discuss them



What is an effective (good) presentation?The audience is interestedThe audience learns somethingWhat else?



What did he/she do that made him/her a good communicator?



Thinking a teacher

What did he/she do that made him/her a good communicator?

In table groups, discuss what makes a good communicator/teacher.List the top 5 (or more) characteristicsDecide who will record; report







Hints for an effective presentation

Know your audienceKnow your topicBe enthusiasticSpeak simply (avoid too much jargon)Most people cannot remember more

than three things!



What do you already know?What questions do you have about

the topic?Where can you look for information?Dividing up the tasksKeeping good notes



Have one person be a facilitatorHave one person be a recorderListen to each otherMake an outlineGood introduction and good conclusion

Fill in the information – not too much!



报告PPT制作原则

模板一定是白底黑字，除非必要，不用彩色照片和颜色做背景，字

体用美观的如华文新魏，行距设为1.2。这样效果好！

每片文字尽量少而大，字最小不小于24。切忌拷贝文本（包括论文

标题序号）在幻灯上，只能写出大纲，其他的用“嘴巴|“表达；

尽量不要链接和动画，但鼓励插入研究对象、技术路线等色彩鲜明

的图片，形成图文并茂的报告。

幻灯片数目在10张以内，按每分钟1个计算，10分钟内完成。

希望你们记录这个我毕生之经验，留到加拿大使用。



Thank you!Thank you!

Documents

How to develop and present a project? - net.fafu.edu.cnnet.fafu.edu.cn/_upload/article/files/cc/a1/601d6c9f43a2abccba6c12... · FAFU-Dal Course Project Seminar 王松良 福建农林大学，2015年4月23

How to develop and present a project? - net.fafu.edu.cnnet.fafu.edu.cn/_upload/article/files/cc/a1/601d6c9f43a2abccba6c12... · FAFU-Dal Course Project Seminar 王松良福建农林大学，2015年4月23