Consider the scientific topics we've explored in our short class thusfar, and look ahead to those we'll be talking about more over the last 4 weeks, including a bit of geology, meteorology, and astronomy.  Select one area that interests you more, related in some way to the scientific exploration of global warming or our climate, and prepare a short research paper of at least 5 pages plus a separate bibliography.  Aim for the equivalent of double-spaced, 11 or 12 point font, with margins no more than 1"; a cover page is optional and not to be counted as one of the pages.  You will also be making a short 5-10 minute oral presentation to share with the class on that topic. 

Here is the schedule you need to follow:

By Sunday, 11/16:     Topic Selection and Thesis Questions

Identify the topic.   Post your topic and thesis questions that you'll be exploring in a short note to the discussion board   Also, read and respond to the posts of others in class, about what they are researching.  Comment on their thesis questions and suggest some of your own.  If I find that more than one student has selected a similar topic, I'll ask the student posting later on Bb to revise their topic - so make your choice early!

Topics could include things like:

• Fuel Cell cars, and how they might help or hurt the fight against global warming

• Uncertainty in measurements of CO2 levels around the globe

• Measuring CO2 with ice-core samples

• Climate Models predicting elimination of the North polar ice

Thesis questions are the questions you will be answering in your paper.  The standard questions include who, what, when, why, where, and how.  For example, if your topic was to research current amounts of CO2 being measured in our atmosphere this year, you might ask:

• Who is doing the measuring?  (What teams are involved?  What is their background and qualifications?)

• What equipment are they using?  What are their uncertainties? 

• Where and why have they been monitoring the CO2?

• How is the monitoring done?

• Why do they feel this particular strategy is appropriate?

By Sunday, 11/23:    Bibliography   

Submit your bibliography for your topic, with at least 5 sources outside of the textbook, and of which at least 2 must be in print, or online versions of in-print resources.  Sources should be current - certainly no more than 1-2 years old if they are referring to data or models about global warming. Aim for scholarly sources, and even better, journal articles that were peer-reviewed.  Magazine articles are OK, but short and general articles will not give you much information.  You can use Wikipedia to help you, but that cannot be one of your primary five sources.  (It can be a sixth!)

You can use Chabot College Library's online database search for journals if you want, and if you haven't done this before, please give it a try and I'll be happy to assist.   Some are available directly, linked from http://aq9vq9yg2x.search.serialssolutions.com/ .  Other college databases require access via a userid and password, including the EBSCO or LexisNexis databases.  Be sure you read how to access journals off-site using your college W number and standard pre-set password.

Post your bibliography online in Blackboard by Sunday 11/23, and then read and explore the sites listed for others in their papers.  Comment upon one or two that you find to be interesting.  As usual, you may also ask questions from the quiz material or reading.  But take the time to learn from others.

By Sunday, 11/30:    Write the Draft

I would suggest you get the draft done by the Thanksgiving weekend, so that you can let me know if you have any questions before it is to be submitted.
 

By Wednesday, 12/3 or Thursday, 12/4: Make a short oral presentation of your topic

The presentation should be planned to last 5-10 minutes; you can use websites or Powerpoint or even just the chalkboard or overhead transparencies.  In the past students have created their research presentations online or brought them in on jump(thumb) drives. 

Please create and have copies available for other students a one-page summary that includes:

• Your Name

• The topic

• The key ideas you'll share as either an agenda, or a set of bullets.  These could be your thesis questions, or whatever you want to share.

• The best (2) or (3) references or websites you found that others might want to visit to learn more.

By Thursday, 12/4:    Submit the Draft

The draft is due to be published online, in Blackboard.  A draft of a scientific paper is:

• Completely finished (in other words, it is not missing introductions, conclusions, or sections.  It is in fact "done."

• Spell-checked and Grammar-checked

• Including references within the paper either cited using footnotes or endnotes, with the authors of the papers cited included in parentheses; e.g. (Hildreth, 2008)

• Accompanied by a Bibliography, which includes all of your references that you consulted as well as the works you cite within the paper, organized alphabetically by author.

I'll review the drafts, and get you feedback; you'll have until the end of the term to submit a revised draft that addresses any mistakes or questions.

How will the paper be evaluated?  (80% of the credit for this assignment)

1. Timeliness, making all of the deadlines above.

2. Scholarship, including selection of a valid research question, creation of good thesis questions asked and answered in your paper, and good research

3. Professionalism, including clear writing, citations, spell checking, grammar, and flow

How will the presentation be evaluated?  (20% of the credit for this assignment)

1. Preparation, including creation of visuals, identification of good websites, Powerpoint, or other means of presenting the material

2. Presentation, including relating to your audience, answering questions, managing time, delivering content clearly in an organized fashion

3. Professionalism, including supplying a handout as well as conveying mastery of the material.