Check out 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.
###Please adapt these for the situation at hand, and don't just post them blindly.
Homework/easily researched questions
This takes the standard close reason and adds a bit to it. Feel free to modify it.
Homework questions and trivial questions about basic biological concepts 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 **trivial questions about basic biological concepts** 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.
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**.
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.
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.
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 "please hold my hand and walk me through this paper/concept/idea" site. 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 *"please hold my hand and walk me through this paper/concept/idea"* site. 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).
Answers that are really comments
This should be a comment, not an answer. You can always comment on your own posts, and once you have sufficient reputation you'll be able to comment on all posts.
This should be a comment, not an answer. 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.
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.
**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.
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.