TERM PAPER ASSIGNMENT

(Please read this document carefully! Also, note Hints section on p. 4 and requirements on p. 6.)

OPTION #1: Term Paper

1. Select a topic of interest to you that is related to the Geosciences - Earth Science, Oceanography, Atmospheric Science, Astronomy. Your topic should not be so broad that it would take extensive research and a long paper to cover, nor so narrow that it will be difficult to find reference information. Some suggested topics are listed below, but you are free to select others. Your topic and the major emphasis of your paper must be scientific, in fact, geoscientific. Many topics have important political, social or economic aspects and you are free to discuss these, but the paper should be primarily a science paper. When you have selected your topic, find two or three key references to help you with your paper. The term paper is not really a research paper which is intended to completely review the latest findings on a topic. Rather, you are asked to investigate a topic of interest using a small number of good references and write a paper which displays your understanding of that topic.

2. Write a short paragraph (about two sentences) prospectus of your term paper describing your topic and how you plan to approach it in your paper. List at least two key references (author, title, publication, etc.) on your prospectus. Only one reference is required if you are reporting on (reviewing) a book. The prospectus is due on Tuesday, March 4. You will get your prospectus back with an indication as to whether or not the topic is acceptable, and, in some cases, suggestions related to sources of information or other aspects of your proposed topic.

3. Write a 5-8 page (double spaced typed, text only, normal size type [12-point Times New Roman font; you should have about 300 words per page of text with this font and normal margins] and margins; figures, tables and references are extra) term paper on your topic. A draft* of your term paper must be reviewed by a fellow student. The suggestions for improvements contained in the review should be considered when preparing the final version of your term paper. See section on Review below. The term paper is due on Tuesday, April 15. You may turn them in early. Late reports will be graded down. The term paper is worth approximately 15% of the course grade. Your term paper will not be returned to you. (You will be able to find out your term paper grade on WebCT.) If you want to keep a copy, please be sure to make a copy before you turn in the paper. Always retain a copy of your paper on your computer until after the semester.

*The draft of your term paper must be a reasonably complete (full length, edited) and typed version of your paper that can be given to a fellow student for review about one week or more before the due date. Reviewer and Author’s Response forms will be available and must be turned in with the term paper.

OPTION #2: Lesson Plan for Teaching

1. In this option (designed especially for Education majors), you are to prepare a detailed lesson plan that could be used for teaching a Geoscience topic. The target grade level for your lesson plan is open, but grades 4-8 are suggested. Your lesson plan must consist of the following sections:

(a) Educational Objective (a brief discussion introducing your topic and describing the principles, concepts, and skills to be taught).

(b) Materials Required (a description and copies of materials including (paper copies of) transparencies, props, models, etc. needed for demonstration in teaching of the lesson).

(d) Scientific Background (a section of at least two pages in length and utilizing at least two references which gives the scientific background of the topic that you have chosen and demonstrates your understanding of the topics that are included in your lesson plan).

Your lesson plan term paper must be reviewed by a fellow student (see point 3 above, and section on Review below).

2. The other aspects of the term paper assignment discussed above and below (length, prospectus, due date, etc.) also apply to this option.

REVIEW OF YOUR TERM PAPER

After writing a first (or secon