Western Section, American Society of Animal Science
Graduate Student Competition


I.  Written Presentation (50 points)
A.            Followed Journal of Animal Science Format (10 points)  ______
                                i.                abstract length limit – 2,500 characters and spaces
ii.                    introduction length limit – 2,000 characters and spaces
iii.                  implications length limit – 1,000 characters and spaces
                                iv.                number of citations should be minimized to those pertinent only to the paper (< 3 references per concept)
                                v.                JAS standard abbreviations should be used whenever possible, or defined prior to first use
                                vi.                citations should follow JAS style
vii.                see JAS Style and Format requirements (J. Anim. Sci. 78:244-259 or http://www.asas.org)
B.            Abstract (5 points)   ______
                        Should include:
                                                i.                clear statement of objectives
                                                ii.                pertinent results
                                                iii.                important conclusions
                                                iv.                up to 6 keywords (Consult JAS author guide or CAB Thesaurus)
C.            Introduction (5 points)   ______
                                Should include:
                                                i.                justification of research
                                                ii.                hypothesis to be tested
                                                iii.                clear statement of objectives
                                                iv.                no extensive review of literature.
D.            Materials and Methods (8)  ______
                                Should be clearly descriptive (or cite original reference) for all:
                                                i.                biological procedures
                                                ii.                analytical procedures
                                                iii.                statistical procedures
                                                                a.                statistical procedures should be those readily accepted by the society at large or be
                                                                                fully justified and described
b.                statistical model terms, including fixed main, interaction, covariate and random effects, and measures of variability or confidence (e.g. standard error), should be clearly stated
                                                iv.                deviations from standard analytical and statistical procedures
E.         Results and Discussion (can be combined; 10 points) ______
                                Results:
                                                i.                should be presented in tabular or graphic form with sufficient information
                                                                to interpret results (i.e., table and graphs should stand alone)
                                                ii.                tabular data should be explained in the text
                                                iii.                table and figure numbers should not be repeated extensively
                                Discussion:
                                                i.                should interpret results clearly and concisely in terms of biological mechanisms
                                                ii.                should integrate pertinent results from the literature
                                                iii.                should indicate if hypothesis was accepted or rejected and why
                                                iv.                should include sufficient information for reader to infer a conclusion
F.            Implications (5 points) ______
                                Explains in lay terms, without abbreviations, acronyms, or citations, what the findings of the research imply for
                                animal production and(or) biology in general.
G.            Scientific Merit (7 points)  ______
                                The reported research will be evaluated on the basis of its potential impact on production agriculture or the
                                advancement of important (i.e., key) scientific principles.
Manuscript Score:  ______

Western Section, American Society of Animal Science

Graduate Student Competition

II.  Oral Presentation (50 points)

A.            Delivery (10 points)   ______
                                Includes:
                                                i.                good eye contact
                                                ii.                distinct voice
                                                iii.                smooth presentation flow (i.e., organized presentation)
                                                iv.                draws attention to important points on graphics during talk
                                                v.                use of notes is appropriate and minimized
B.            Presentation (15 points)  ______
                                Presentation should:
                                                i.                follow the written paper
                                                ii.                include sections on:
                                                                a.                introduction
                                                                b.                hypothesis
                                                                c.                objectives
                                                                d.                materials and methods
                                                                e.                results and discussion
                                                                f.                conclusions
                                                                g.                implications
                                                iii.                stimulate discussion
                                                iv.                be limited to 12 minutes
C.        Visual Aids (10 points) ______
                                Should:
                                                i.                be readable
                                                ii.                have good color usage and, if appropriate, computer-enhancements (e.g. slide animation)
                                                iii.                capture the audience’s attention
                                                iv.                limit information on a single slide to one or two points
                                                v.                have slide titles that are descriptive but concise (i.e., not verbose)
D.            Knowledge of Subject Matter/Discussion of Research (15 points) ______
                                Communicated by:
                                                i.                relating an appropriate amount of pertinent literature results in context of the presented research
                                                ii.                a good explanation of the experimental and statistical methods/procedures being used and why
                                                iii.                interpreting data correctly
                                                iv.                answering questions concisely and accurately
                                                v.                exhibiting confidence in answering questions
Oral Score  ______
Total Score (manuscript + oral presentation) ______

 Check List for Authors –Journal of Animal Science Format

http://www.asas.org/jas/pre-edit.html


Abstract

Abstract is in JAS format and is a maximum of 2,500 characters and spaces to avoid truncation by abstracting services

Abstract uses only the most necessary and universally understood abbreviations

Abstract ends with one or two sentences that highlight important conclusions

Key words (maximum of six, listed in the CAB Thesaurus) appear after abstract

Text

Introduction is a maximum of 2,000 characters and spaces, including names

Text uses active voice and first-person verb forms whenever possible

Text does not use euphemism, regionalisms, or jargon

Abbreviations are used sparingly and consistently

Each author-defined abbreviation is spelled out at first use (the abbreviation follows the term, in parentheses)

Abbreviations are not used to begin a sentence or (with very rare exceptions) in headings

Literature citations in text are in JAS style, and citations in the text and the Literature Cited section match

Supplier name and location (city and state or country) are given for all chemicals, feeds, software, and equipment

Text concludes with a one-paragraph Implications section (maximum 1,000 characters and spaces, no literature citations, avoid or redefine all abbreviations)

Literature Cited

Literature Cited is double spaced and in normal type size

References are in proper format (check recent JAS issues), with inclusive page numbers given

Journal names are abbreviated per BIOSIS

Publisher name and location are given for books, handbooks, reports, and all other non-journal references

Citations are in alphabetical order, by names of all authors

Submitted papers not yet accepted are not listed in Literature Cited (cite in text as "unpublished data")

Tables

Table format is clear and conforms to JAS style

Information in tables does not duplicate data appearing in text (and vice versa)

Tables and their footnotes are double spaced

Abbreviations used in a table are redefined in that table

Figures

Original figures of the best possible quality are submitted with the final, revised manuscript

Legends are placed together on a separate page, not on the figures themselves, and double spaced

Abbreviations used in a figure are redefined in that figure's legend

Information appearing in figures is appropriate for figure format

Lettering is clear, of proper size and proportions for figure, and without misspellings

Symbols are of proper size and are distinct (avoid use of gray shading on figures)

Abbreviations for units of measure conform to JAS and SI styles

Note:  This is only a subset of the check list of items.  It contains those items pertinent to the Western Section Proceedings.