• 2 Midterm Exams ( 35% each) 70%
• Group presentation (team-based) 25%
• Class discussion participation 5%

NOTES:

Exam format and Policy:
Exams will be held on the dates indicated and in the location of in-person lectures. The format of the exams will be a mix of multiple choice, short answer questions, and longer more open-ended questions (half to 1-page mini essay) designed to encourage imagination and conceptual thinking.

The exams will be in hand-written closed-book fashion, with no electronic devices permitted.

Exam attendance is mandatory. If the instructor is made aware of extenuating circumstances, i.e., illness, University sports travel, BEFORE the exam, other arrangements can be made. The manner of accommodation will be at the discretion of the instructor. It could include, but is not limited to, a make-up exam (either in-person or online) or re-weighting of existing evaluations.

Grade disputes and re-grades: If points for an exam have not been properly tabulated, please indicate this to the TA so a correction can be made (simply done as a Canvas entry). If you want a question(s) on an exam re-graded, give the exam to your TA; the TA will then bring the exam to the instructor. The instructor will then, in consultation with the TA, in an unbiased fashion, remark the ENTIRE exam. Please note that this could result in the assignment of a LOWER grade. There is a deadline of 2 weeks from the viewing of a midterm exam for requesting a re-grade.

Group presentations and class discussion:
Each presentation will be delivered by a group (3-5) students depending on class size. The groups will present a on a topic related to one of the three learning modules. The presentation should include 3-4 peer-reviewed primary data journal articles of their choosing that demonstrate the duality of the immune system: for instance, all papers can be on the complex dual nature and linkages, or 2 can be focusing on the “good” or “pro-health” roles of an immune molecule(s)/cell(s)/system(s) while 2 focus on the flip “bad” or “disease causing/exacerbating” side of the coin.

Each presentation will need to include an introduction to the topics and the broader context that are needed for understanding the article and an educational introduction to the pathogenesis of the immunological disease of interest. After that, the presentation will need to describe the research studies, focusing on the main figures/findings, and going through methodologies used to reach the conclusions. There should be a description of the study approach and key experiments and/or observations. This should be followed by a discussion of the caveats of the studies and questions for future studies, as well as a more comprehensive list of key reference papers on the topic beyond the 4 papers which could include recent review articles that the team has referred to in making up the presentation. It will be important to present material that educates the class beyond the material that is covered in the lectures, but it is encouraged to build upon this material.

Each team can divide these sections of the presentation so that team members share roughly equal time in presenting at the session.

The presentation will be followed by class discussion. 

The team will be graded on the depth of their understanding of the topic, polish/style of their presentation, and stimulation of class discussion.

Participation
A 5% mark will be assigned based on the participation in class during lectures and discussion of group presentations.

REQUIREMENTS:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS
SFU’s Academic Integrity web site http://www.sfu.ca/students/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of academic dishonesty. Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for their own conduct as it affects the University community. Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the University. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the University. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html

The specific policy of this course/instructor is zero tolerance for plagiarism or non-author-original material, or any form of cheating on exams, including concealed information to which one can refer during an exam, looking at another student’s exam, opening books when not authorized. Students will be rigorously examined to ensure that all written and presented materials are the result of their own original thinking and learning.