This activity is designed for my Junior level Introduction to Hydrology course.

Skills needed to complete the research paper

1. have a knowledge of the library/databases
2. be able to find proper literature
3. know how to read and obtain primary info from literature
4. be able to outline a paper
5. be able to properly format a scientific paper
6. be able to write in a scientific manner

This research paper assignment is the final stand-alone assignment due in my class and students have all semester to work on it, allowing for time management skills to be developed also.

The primary goal of this project it to give my students practice in outlining, researching and writing a scientific publication, senior thesis or final report. I give the students a list of "hot topics" in hydrology to choose from at the beginning of the semester they have all semester to conduct their research and format their paper properly. Their is a second portion of the project that is an oral presentation over the students research. The oral portion of the project are pier graded, which has worked out very well.

This project makes my student think on a number of levels from formation of hypotheses, outlining of research, conducting of literature review, formatting of literature/writing and formatting of presentation.

A primary goal of this project is for my students to develop oral presentation skills and learn how to present yourself for a scientific presentation.

This research paper assignment is designed for my Junior level Hydrology course for majors. The intent of the project to to make sure my students can conduct literature reviews, outline a research project and obtain practice in formatting their work for publication. Getting my students prepared to enter the workforce and/or graduate school with these skill sets is imperative for their future success, since in the sciences we write more than we conduct research.

I personally read and edit every paper turned in for grammar, plagiarism, overall formatting of paper according to directions, and overall formatting of literature cited. I allow my student to turn in the paper ahead of the deadline for review if they like and I return them with suggestions prior to the final draft. The paper counts for 5% of the final class grade and the accompanying 20-minute oral presentation counts for 5% of the final grade. For the presentation each student is graded by their fellow students, I the average the class grade for the presentation; the final presentation grade if 50% of the class average and 50% of my personal grading.

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