Projects

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. Please find two other group members as soon as possible. If you are unable to find a group, 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 with your group members and to create a poster together. Learning to talk about science is an important part of this course. Use your small group to discuss homework assignments too if you like.

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 20% 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 (15% of your course grade) and your poster presentation (5% of your course grade). The written report is due Feb 17.

Individual papers should be 1200-1500 words in length, not counting the reference list and figure and table captions. Please pay strict attention to the upper word count limit. Students taking ATMS 211 as a writing course will be required to submit a 3000-3500 word paper that may be revised in response to suggestions from the instructor. For more info on the "W" requirement, click here. 

Individual Papers
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 3 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 or downloaded from a well recognized journal (eg Scientific American, Science, Nature, National Geographic). You must list all of your references, and any direct quotes must be indicated as such. Travel websites often contain climate information, but please don't assume they are accurate. Also travel websites should not be one of your 3 primary sources.

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.

Poster Presentations