Some Editorial Codes and Grading for Writing Assignments - leading up to a FINAL DRAFTS:

1. Format (5 pts): follows centering, etc., of Columbus article. SS/DS = Sngl/ Dbl spaced. Don't date the draft: the editor/publisher will date it if and when accepted.

2. Intellectual level: written for professional microbiologists.

3. Title (5 pts): Not cutsy; should succinctly tell the general result. C = centered

4. Full address (2-3 pts): name(s), dept, school, town, ZIP. C = centered

5. Summary section (10 pts): a. make shorter; b. what's THE question and result? c. what's the general method for arriving at the result; d. important implications of the result.

6. Introductory section (20 pts): a. keep focused: superfluous information not to the point; b. what's THE question; c. speculated alternative answers; d. implications of each answer; e. routes to finding which answer is correct? f. needs a zinger opening; g. properly referenced assumptions using numerals within parentheses (see 11).

7. M&M section (20 pts): a. use key words to introduce ¶'s; b. denote methods by name; c. specify aberations from std methods; d. example: use 5-vols, not 20 ml this and 100 mls that; e. use: at timed intervals; various temperatures; several different media (your subsequent data will specify which times, temperatures and media); f. use of tables, if desirable.

8. Results & Discussion section (20 pts): a. e.g.: 'The results are shown in Fig. 1.'; b. future applications; b. future expts; c. gone astray

9. Figs & Tables (10 pts): a. numbered and referred to; b. have legends; c. only B/W

10. Acknowledgments (optional 3 pts): people who helped you: providers of info; supplies; cultures; access; $$$ support. (If no Ack section, #4 and #11 take higher pt values.)

11. Literature Cited (5-7 pts): a. only journals and books but not textbooks; b. ref'd in above text; c. consistantly numbered either alphabetically or by first use in article. Format = Authors, Year, Title of article, Journal, volume, page range of article.