##Please adapt these for the situation at hand, and don't just post them blindly.
Please read the comment editing help page for a list of shortcuts you can use in comments (some of which I use below). Things like [help], [tour], [edit], and shortcuts to other SE sites are very useful.
This is organized into three sections: Questions, Answers, and Useful Links.
#Questions
##Welcome/explain how site works
Welcome to the Biology Stack Exchange. Please take the [tour] and carefully read through the [help] to learn more about the site, including what is on-topic and what is not, and how to ask a good question. Please ensure your post is formatted correctly as well.
Welcome to the Biology Stack Exchange. Please take the [tour] and carefully read through the [help] to learn more about the site, including [what is on-topic](http://biology.stackexchange.com/help/on-topic) and [what is not](http://biology.stackexchange.com/help/dont-ask), and how to [ask a good question](http://biology.stackexchange.com/help/how-to-ask). Please ensure your post is [formatted correctly](http://biology.stackexchange.com/help/formatting) as well.
##Too broad discussion/tutorial request questions
This takes the previous comment and changes the first sentence a bit.
This is not a forum or tutorial service; it is a Q&A site where specific questions relating to biology get specific answers. Please take the [tour] and carefully read through the [help] to learn more about the site, including what is on-topic and what is not, and how to ask a good question. Please ensure your post is formatted correctly as well.
This is not a forum or tutorial service; it is a Q&A site where *specific* questions relating to biology get *specific* answers. Please take the [tour] and carefully read through the [help] to learn more about the site, including [what is on-topic](http://biology.stackexchange.com/help/on-topic) and [what is not](http://biology.stackexchange.com/help/dont-ask), and how to [ask a good question](http://biology.stackexchange.com/help/how-to-ask). Please ensure your post is [formatted correctly](http://biology.stackexchange.com/help/formatting) as well.
##Homework/easily researched questions
This takes the standard close reason and adds a bit to it. Feel free to modify it. The last sentence especially doesn't always need to be included. I only use it when someone claims their question isn't homework, just something they're interested in.
Homework questions and questions that show little or no prior research effort are off-topic on Biology unless you have shown your attempt at an answer. For more information see our homework policy. "Homework" is interpreted to mean any academic or other assignment, test preparation, or task given in relation to a class, educational setting, or self-learning.
**Homework questions** and **questions that show little or no prior research effort** are off-topic on Biology **unless you have shown your attempt at an answer**. For more information see our [homework policy](http://biology.stackexchange.com/help/homework). "*Homework*" is interpreted to mean any academic or other assignment, test preparation, or task given in relation to a class, educational setting, or self-learning.
or, you can use just the standard close text, which includes the homework policy link:
Homework questions are off-topic on Biology unless you have shown your attempt at an answer. For more information see our homework policy.
**Homework questions** are off-topic on Biology **unless you have shown your attempt at an answer**. For more information see our [homework policy](http://biology.stackexchange.com/help/homework).
##Medical Questions
Personal medical questions and health advice are off-topic on Biology. We cannot safely answer questions for your specific situation and you should always consult a doctor for medical advice.
**Personal medical questions and health advice** are off-topic on Biology. We cannot safely answer questions for your specific situation and you should **always consult a doctor for medical advice**.
##Bioinformatics questions not about biology
Questions regarding analytical methods, such as those related to bioinformatics or biological simulation, that do not ask explicitly about the underlying biology are considered off-topic. Please [edit] your question to address only your question relating to about biology or delete this question and visit another Stack Exchange site such as [so] for programming, [stats.se] for statistics, [ai.se] for AI, [su] for general computing, etc. You may also find Biostars helpful.
Questions regarding analytical methods, such as those related to bioinformatics or biological simulation, that do not ask **explicitly** about the *underlying biology* are considered off-topic. Please [edit] your question to address only your question relating to about biology or delete this question and visit another Stack Exchange site such as [so] for programming, [stats.se] for statistics, [ai.se] for AI, [su] for general computing, etc. You may also find [Biostars](http://biostars.org) helpful.
##Do some thinking yourself
The first sentence doesn't necessarily need to be included, and should be altered to fit the question being asked. Basically, just try to communicate that this is not a tutorial site.
Unfortunately, this is not a tutorial site to explain every aspect of a given paper, concept, or idea. I strongly suggest you take the [tour] and carefully read through the [help] to learn more about the site, including what is on-topic and what is not, and how to ask a good question.
Unfortunately, this is not a tutorial site to explain every aspect of a given paper, concept, or idea. I strongly suggest you take the [tour] and carefully read through the [help] to learn more about the site, including [what is on-topic](http://biology.stackexchange.com/help/on-topic) and [what is not](http://biology.stackexchange.com/help/dont-ask), and how to [ask a good question](http://biology.stackexchange.com/help/how-to-ask).
You can also use this:
This is a Q&A site where specific questions relating to biology get specific answers. Please take the [tour] and carefully read through the [help] to learn more about the site, including what is on-topic and what is not, and how to ask a good question.
This is a Q&A site where *specific* questions relating to biology get *specific* answers. Please take the [tour] and carefully read through the [help] to learn more about the site, including [what is on-topic](http://biology.stackexchange.com/help/on-topic) and [what is not](http://biology.stackexchange.com/help/dont-ask), and how to [ask a good question](http://biology.stackexchange.com/help/how-to-ask).
##Unclear what you're asking
Please clarify your specific problem or add additional details to highlight exactly what you need. As it's currently written, it’s hard to tell exactly what you're asking. See the How to Ask page for help clarifying this question.
Please clarify your specific problem or add additional details to highlight exactly what you need. As it's currently written, it’s hard to tell exactly what you're asking. See the [How to Ask](http://biology.stackexchange.com/help/how-to-ask) page for help clarifying this question.
##Text posted as an image
PLEASE DO NOT POST TEXT AS IMAGES. Copy and paste the text into your question. Images are not searchable, and can not be interpreted by screen readers for those with visual impairments. Use the [edit] link to modify your question. See this for more information.
**PLEASE DO NOT POST TEXT AS IMAGES**. Copy and paste the text into your question. Images are not searchable, and can not be interpreted by screen readers for those with visual impairments. Use the [edit] link to modify your question. See [this](http://meta.stackoverflow.com/a/285557/1426065) for more information.
##Miscellaneous comments under bad questions
From the [help/dont-ask],
If your motivation for asking the question is "I would like to participate in a discussion about ______", then you should not be asking here.
From the [help/dont-ask], *`If your motivation for asking the question is “I would like to participate in a discussion about ______”, then you should not be asking here.`*
From the [help/dont-ask]:
Your questions should be reasonably scoped. If you can imagine an entire book that answers your question, you’re asking too much.
From the [help/dont-ask]: *`Your questions should be reasonably scoped. If you can imagine an entire book that answers your question, you’re asking too much.`*
#Answers
##Please accept an answer
This does not need to be posted by the author of the answer, and if possible shouldn't be to avoid being perceived as a reputation hog.
If this answer addressed your problem, please consider accepting it by clicking on the check mark/tick to the left of the answer, turning it green. This marks the question as resolved to your satisfaction, and awards reputation both to you and the person who answered. Once you have >= 15 reputation points, you may also upvote the answer if you wish. There is no obligation to do either.
If this answer [addressed your problem](http://biology.stackexchange.com/help/someone-answers), please consider [accepting it](http://meta.stackexchange.com/questions/5234/how-does-accepting-an-answer-work) by clicking on the check mark/tick to the left of the answer, turning it green. This marks the question as resolved to your satisfaction, and awards [reputation](http://biology.stackexchange.com/help/whats-reputation) both to you and the person who answered. Once you have >= 15 reputation points, you may also upvote the answer if you wish. There is no obligation to do either.
##Answers that are really comments
In addition to posting this comment, please also flag the answer as "Not an answer" or "Very low quality".
This should be a comment, not an answer. To critique or request clarification from an author, leave a comment below their post. You can always comment on your own posts, and once you have sufficient reputation you'll be able to comment on all posts. See here to learn about this limit and what you should do to earn this privilege. Comments posted as answers are subject to removal, or you can delete it yourself.
This should be a comment, not an answer. To critique or request clarification from an author, leave a comment below their post. You can always comment on your own posts, and once you have sufficient [reputation](http://biology.stackexchange.com/help/whats-reputation) you'll be able to [comment](http://biology.stackexchange.com/help/privileges/comment) on all posts. See [here](http://meta.stackexchange.com/q/214173) to learn about this limit and what you should do to earn this privilege. Comments posted as answers are subject to removal, or you can delete it yourself.
##Answer needs references
Some of the information contained in this post requires additional references. Please [edit] to add citations to reliable sources that support the assertions made here. Unsourced material may be disputed or deleted.
Some of the information contained in this post requires additional references. Please [edit] to add citations to reliable sources that support the assertions made here. Unsourced material may be disputed or deleted.
##Very short answers
We're looking for long answers that provide some explanation and context. Don't just give a one-line answer; explain why your answer is right, ideally with citations. Answers that don't include explanations may be removed.
We're looking for long answers that provide some explanation and context. Don't just give a one-line answer; explain why your answer is right, ideally with citations. Answers that don't include explanations may be removed.
##Don't answer lousy questions
From How do I write a good answer? in the [help],
Answer well-asked questions. Not all questions can or should be answered here.
From [How do I write a good answer?](http://biology.stackexchange.com/help/how-to-answer) in the [help], *`Answer well-asked questions. Not all questions can or should be answered here.`*
##Link-only answers
Link-only answers are generally not acceptable on Stack Exchange sites. The link may change or become unreachable in the future, and without a summary of what the link contains this answer would be useless. Please summarize what is in the link (don't just copy and paste) and use the link solely for reference. If you remove the link and the answer cannot stand on its own, it is not a good answer.
Link-only answers are generally not acceptable on Stack Exchange sites. The link may change or become unreachable in the future, and without a summary of what the link contains this answer would be useless. Please summarize what is in the link (**don't** just copy and paste) and use the link solely for reference. If you remove the link and the answer cannot stand on its own, it is not a good answer.
#Useful links
Understanding Evolution from the University of California, Berkeley.
[Understanding Evolution](http://evolution.berkeley.edu/evolibrary/article/evo_01) from the University of California, Berkeley.
American Association of Physical Anthropolologists' statement on Biological Aspects of Race.
American Association of Physical Anthropolologists' statement on [Biological Aspects of Race](http://physanth.org/about/position-statements/biological-aspects-race/).
If you have additional comments or links you'd like to share, please edit this answer.