Contents of this page:
Climate and Climate Change
Topic Suggestions
The research projects
are an opportunity for you to learn about a climate-related topic in more
depth and to share your knowledge with classmates and with the instructor.
If
you find enough in common with classmates on your project, you may work with
upto two others, otherwise you may work alone. We will help you connect
with each another. Each person
in the group must pursue a separate and unique idea that is related to the
topic. The main purpose of working in groups is to enjoy discussing the project
at length with your colleagues and to create a poster together.
Start your research early to ensure success, and feel free to discuss your research or the rough draft of your paper with us at any point. This project forms one quarter of your course grade, so you should expect to spend a lot of time on it. Your research must be extensive, your writing must be of high quality, and your presentation must be clear.
Requirements
You will be evaluated on two
major components: the written report (20% of your course grade) and
your poster presentation (5% of your course grade). The written report is
due November 12.
Individual papers should be at least 1000 words in length (equivalent to 4 double spaced typewritten pages). Students taking ATMS 211 as a writing coursewill be required to submit a 10-page (2500 word) paper that may be revised in response to suggestions from the instructor. For more info on the "W" requirement, click here.
Individual
Papers (minimum 1000 words; due on November 12)
The written paper must
be a solid piece of writing. You will be evaluated primarily on content,
including structure and accuracy, but we also expect correct spelling, punctuation,
grammar, and construction. The paper should include a title, an introduction,
a discussion of the subject matter, and a conclusion. Supplementary tables
or figures are encouraged and datasets, references, and other sources of
information used in the paper should be listed in sufficient detail at the
end so that an interested reader will know how to locate them. Use at least
three references (unless you are commenting on a book, in which case the
book alone is probably enough). Your references may include complete
URLs, with date accessed, but at least one reference should be from a printed
source. You must list all of your references, and any direct quotes must
be indicated as such.
Please be very careful about your referencing. If you copy any exact wording from one of your sources, you must cite the source in your text. If you fail to do so, you run the risk of plagiarizing. Even if you're paraphrasing in your own words something that is clearly one scientist's idea or opinion, you must mention the source. Much of what you write in your papers should represent your own synthesis of what you've learned in your own reading and through talking with other members of your group.
Length: about 4-8 pages (minimum 1000 words), not including references.
"W" credit
If you are taking ATM S 211 as a writing course, you must submit a 10-page (2500 words) paper on November 12 with everyone else (This is not a rough draft!). You will have the opportunity to edit the paper in response to suggestions from the instructor, and a revised version is due Friday December 10. I will grade only the final version. For more info on the "W" requirement, click here.Poster Presentations
You are required to present your findings in a poster that will be shown at two poster symposia on November 9 and 10. One poster is required per group. The amount of information given in the poster should reflect the number of people involved.Each group will be given a 3'X4' sheet of royal blue poster paper. It will be flexible enough to role up, so you can move it around easily. Each member of the group will work together to choose a title and write an introduction and conclusion. Each person will have their name on the poster under the title.
Each member of the group should then select at least two figures that illustrate their project. The figure can be a photograph, a graph, a sketch, or even a table. The figures should ideally coordinate somewhat.
The point of your poster is to communicate your project to each other. You will stand next to your poster during the poster symposia next week and explain you project to anyone who pauses to look at your work. There are two days devoted to showing posters so each person can stand by their poster for about 30 minutes. The remainder of the time will be devoted to looking at the posters of your classmates. Each person in class is required to write a half-page critique of two posters (NOT their own poster). This will be part of you class participation grade.
Check out this web site for some good ideas for poster construction. Further instructions will be given in class.
Last Updated:
10/1/2004