An important part of this course is a term paper/project
based on your independent research on any issue you choose, directly related to
energy and the environment (topic subject to my approval) This project is to be
done collaboratively. You must have
at least one partner, but no more than 4 people in a team.
The more people you have - the more ambitious of a project you can
undertake, and the higher a standard I will set for grading! The total
number of hours YOU will invest should be the same no matter how many
partners you have, so a project with 4 people could (and should) do
something 4 times bigger than a single person could alone.
The purpose of this project is to give
you a chance to dive into a topic of direct personal interest to you, and to
take advantage of the scientific reasoning skills emphasized this semester. I
realize that it is challenging to work in groups, but the benefits are
correspondingly high. Collaboration is an essential skill - because of it,
these projects can (and should!) be much richer than individual term papers
would be. Although the default is
to write a paper, there is some flexibility here - if you have an idea that
doesn't fit in the strict guidelines outlined here, TALK TO ME before the first deadline with your ideas! I want to make this project
something worthwhile and valuable to you, not busywork or something to do
"because you have to".
Time schedule:
Fri Feb 4: Written choice of topic (which I must approve). A line or two is fine, along with names of all groupmembers! If you plan on doing anything besides a straight paper, let me know here.
Fri Mar 4: Abstract (a paragraph) and an outline of your project with at least 3 references. Your outline should clearly indicate what specific role each one of you in your team will have in this project!
You must indicate whether you intend to present your project to the class here, so we can schedule them.
Fri Apr 1: Paper/project is due.
Last 2 weeks of class: Optional brief presentations to the class. (See below)
If you wish, after getting back your final graded project, you may redo it. The rewrite due date is Fri Apr. 15. (This has been put off to Wed Apr 20) If you do this, I'll average the grade you had Apr 1 with the final Apr. 20 one. grade. Please be aware that all deadlines are strict. The max value of the paper is 24 points (of 100) I subtract 4 per day late on any of the deadlines. (Ouch! PLEASE don't be late, it's the quickest way to hurt your grade)
I expect that groups will write a (single) joint paper, but if you have a different idea for a project (and a means to "present it") by all means talk to me. I want this to be meaningful and valuable to you. Bear in mind this project is 1/4 of your course grade - it's a big fraction of this course! If you do write a paper, keep it under 10 pages please ( double spaced, normal font, single sided.)
IMPORTANT: ALL PROJECTS must
add a TITLE PAGE with names, date, title,
and a short ABSTRACT (<100 words) Then, you should briefly explain what each of you was
responsible for.
Lastly, I want you to grade yourselves - a letter grade for each of you, with an explanation (see below!)
For papers: the text should start
with an introduction clearly outlining your topic. The body contains relevant
facts, information, and results, and your analysis/discussion, along with
figures and/or tables. Finish with clear conclusion(s). Include at least 8
references (at least 1 of which must be from somewhere besides the web or your
text) References should be clear and complete so I can easily look them up.
Some suggestions for how to approach an "analysis" paper:
Stay away from phrases like
``...I think...'' or ``...it seems to me...''. Cite evidence for any position
you take. Stay away from secondary literature (e.g. web sites, newspapers) as
much as possible, try to find primary sources to support your position.
The essential idea is NOT to repeat what the articles you have read
say, but to summarize and analyze them - e.g., what is the central
issue you are concerned with? How does it relate to class? Why should your
fellow classmates care? What are societal or economic impacts? Did the
literature come to conclusions you disagree with? Why? What essential facts
are left out, are the sources balanced? biased? Do solutions exist, are there
competing considerations? Can you add something constructive ? Perhaps the
most significant thing to consider is what sort of quantitative analysis
you can do to sharpen you arguments, or draw conclusions.
Presentations: I strongly encourage your group to make a short (<10 min.) presentation to the class, including a few minutes for questions. We'll use class periods during the last 2 or 3 weeks of class. Presentations are "extra credit": it can boost your project grade by up to a full letter grade, but can't hurt it. (Attendance at all presentations will be mandatory. You will lose significant points on your project if you are not present for, and participating in, the presentations of others)
8 minutes is NOT enough time to fully present your project! You must summarize the key research you did, and the results/analysis you made. You might plan to use overhead transparencies or powerpoint. This kind of formal presentation is standard in business, politics, and academia -consider it an opportunity for us all to learn something! It will also probably help your grade :-) NOTE: if not all members of your group participate, I will need clear explanation of why the non-participants deserve to share in the extra credit. It's certainly possible that you might want just one or two people to present even though everyone has worked on it, you just have to explain it to me.
Grading: I will grade on content, organization, use of evidence/reference, logic, originality, and clarity of presentation. (Please use a spell and grammar checker, make it easy for me to read!) The grade is not based on whether I agree with your conclusions, only whether you present and argue them well. The goal is not to give a "book report", but to demonstrate your ability to do original research, and to reason critically. Prove that you are a well informed, scientifically literate and numerate citizen who presents your views based upon facts, calculations, and careful, balanced considerations. The quality and level of the paper should be acceptable as, e.g. an article in a good science magazine. Indeed, your textbook serves as perhaps the ideal example of the level and style you should aim for - notice how they combine facts, commentary, and calculations in every section. Imagine you were collaborating with Ristinen and Kraushaar to contribute an extra section or two of the next edition of their book!
I will be grading these papers strictly. Yes, I'm going to be a toughie here and say that C is an average grade on this. An A paper would be truly outstanding, demonstrating critical scientific thought and originality. It should be publishable! B papers are very strong: well written, creative, making use of good clear scientific argument. They represent a considerable amount of effort. C papers are average, they are decent. They have some weaknesses here and there, but represent good, basic, honest work. You have followed the rules (but gone no farther.) D papers are sub-standard in some way. You have made some mistakes, or have not demonstrated original thinking or research skills, maybe have not put in an effort commensurate with a quarter of an entire course, or otherwise basically missed the boat. An F paper would be reserved for disasters (e.g. more than 5 days late, or that involve plagiarism.)
Bear in mind that you will get feedback and have an opportunity to improve this "tough" grade with a rewrite! In addition, a strong presentation could raise your grade by another half to a full letter grade!
Internal evaluation: On the title page, I asked you to grade yourselves.
This is an unusual request, but one you need to take very seriously. You can
assign different grades to different people in the group. If someone was not
contributing much, this is a way to let me know, and we can more fairly
distribute grades. If one individual took the lead and put in significantly
more work than others, this would also be a way of letting me know. Reread the
paragraph above - if you all just give yourself an A without
strong reasons, I am likely to grade your project especially critically! If you
have difficulties with this (e.g. if you think someone deserves a lower grade
but you aren't comfortable saying so, or if the rest of the group wants you to get a lower grade you don't think you deserve)
then of course let me know privately. I'l be happy to evaluate your
circumstance and want this to be fair and productive! Please, try your best to make this internal grade a part of
your collaborative effort. Come to consensus in your group about it!