NEEP533 Course Notes (Spring 1999)
Resources from Space

Style Sheet & Possible Topics for

NEEP-533/Geol-533/Astronomy-533/EMA-601

Term Papers

 

GRADING SCHEME FOR PAPERS/REPORTS

 

1. REFERENCES (15%)

THREE OR MORE SHOULD BE REPORTS IN REFEREED JOURNALS (see last page for list). You should start with review papers in non-refereed publications and work back to find key facts, etc. in refereed journals. Refereed journals contain papers that have been read and criticized by experts before acceptance in the journal, and usually are rewritten before publication based on the reviews (referees' comments). You can tell them because they carry the dates of both submission and acceptance for publication, and often have extensive reference lists. They are, however, likely to be more specialized than those in non-refereed publications.

 

2. FORM and MECHANICAL PRESENTATION (15%)

The paper should be nominally 20 pages long including figures, tables, and references. There should be a minimum of 15 pages of text and in no case should the total length of the paper exceed 30 pages. Use double spaced, 12-point type with 1-inch margins on the sides, top, and bottom. Refer to your illustrations in the text and cite their source in the figure caption.

 

3. LOGIC AND CONTENT (40%)

Think about considering multiple hypotheses, evaluating them as to likelihood of being correct, about methods of observation, including how the data were collected, possible errors, and how these influence conclusions.

 

4. ANALYSIS and CONCLUSION (30%)

Include the significance for the future, critical factors that are not known, and suggestions for research reflecting critical needs. "Further research is required" is not an acceptable conclusion without specifics. The synthesis should demonstrate your understanding of the vital factors. This is where you put it all together.

 

QUOTES AND REFERENCES

Quote and reference key facts and statements. Do not use the footnote reference style in scientific writing. Instead, indicate the ideas, statements, or facts that are not your own in one of two ways:

 

1. If you are QUOTING DIRECTLY, use quotation marks. At the end of the quote, in parentheses, write the last name of the author, year of publication, and page number. If the quote is 5 or more lines long, set it off by indentation, without quotation marks. For example:

The upper parts of ophiolite sequences, especially the
pillow lavas, host massive iron-copper-zinc sulfide
deposits. The deposits range from a few thousand
to 20 million tons of ore, containing 0.5 to 10 percent
copper, 0.5 to 3 percent zinc, and a few ounces of
gold and silver per ton. (Koski et al., 1982, p. 47)

 

2. If you are using someone else's thoughts or findings but stating them in your own words; do not use quotation marks. You still must acknowledge the source, however. For example:

The upper parts of the ophiolite sequences contain sulfide deposits that
have between a few thousand to 20 million tons of ore (Koski et al., 1982,
p. 47).
 
OR: Koski et al. (1982, p. 47) report that the upper parts...

 

REFERENCE LIST

Provide a reference list at the end of the paper, alphabetized by authors' last names. If you are quoting an article from a magazine, journal, or other collection, give the author(s), title of the article, and then the title of the publication (underlined):

Koski, R. A., W. R. Normark, J. L. Morton, and J. R. Delaney, 1982, Metal
sulfide deposits on the Juan de Fuca Ridge, Oceanus, vol. 25, no. 3, pp. 42-
48.

 

If the article is in a volume of collected papers (volume title underlined):

Henry, R. F., and T. S. Murty, 1982, Tides in the Bay of Bengal, in
Computational Methods and Experimental Measurements, G. A. Keramidas
and C. A. Brebbia (editors), pp. 44-67, Springer-Verlag Publ. Co., New York.

 

Reference for a book (title underlined):

David, E. D., 1982, The Geomorphology of the Great Barrier Reef: Quaternary
Development of Coral Reefs, New York: John Wiley & Sons, 453 pp.

 

Anonymous reports from government offices, research lab, private business, etc.:

National Academy of Sciences, 1980, The International Mussel Watch,
Washington, DC, 104 p. 22

 

LIBRARIES - there are many and a few are listed below:

Memorial (MEM)
College (COLL, H. C. White)
Geology and Geophysics (GEOL, 4th floor Weeks)
Geography (GEOG, Science Hall, 2nd floor)
Biology (BIOL, B164 Birge Hall)
Steenbock-Agriculture (AGR, 550 Babcock Dr.)
Engineering (ENGR, 1st fl, current periodicals; 4th fl,
   periodicals more than 10 years old)
Physics (PHYS, 4220 Chamberlin)
Health Sciences (HEAL, 1305 Linden Dr.)
Marine Studies Center Reading Room (12th fl. Meteorology & Space Science)

 

INDEXES. The librarians can help you locate these. Most index by subject as well as by author (separately). N. B.: "Networks" below are accessible in the Geology Library and most other libraries.

Readers' Guide to Periodical Literature (MEM, COLL, ENGR-1971 to present).
   Now on CD ROM on Memorial network.
General Science Index. Now on CD-ROM on Memorial network.
Bibliography and Index of Geology (research papers) (GEOL). Now
   on CD- ROM, i.e., in computer form in Geology Library.
Biological Abstracts (BIOL, AGR). Now on CD-ROM on Steenbock network.
Deep-Sea Research, Pt. B: Ocean Literature Review (Abstracts), GEOL.
New York Times Index (COLL and MEM). NY Times has its own staff of science writers
   and good articles on recent events (e.g., volcanoes) and
   issues (e.g., Law of the Sea).

 

Campus card catalogues (books and journal titles) are now computer-accessible from 1976 or earlier.

Some PUBLICATIONS you might use:

NON-REFEREED PUBLICATIONS. (These can be of crucial importance in gettingstarted and for getting an overview of your subject.)

Science News, PHYS, MEM, COLL
Oceanus (recommended) GEOL, COLL
Sea Frontiers, GEOL, COLL
Scientific American, most libraries
Geotimes, GEOL, GEOG
EOS, Trans. Am. Geophysical Union, GEOL
Newsweek, Time, etc., COLL, MEM
New York Times, MEM
National Geographic, COLL, MEM
Audubon, BIOL, COLL
National Wildlife, AGR, COLL
Popular Science, MEM, ENGR
Smithsonian, COLL, MEM
American Scientist, BIOL, COLL, MEM, PHYS
New Scientist, COLL, MEM, PHYS
Natural History, COLL, BIOL, MEM, AGR
  

REFEREED JOURNALS. (The word "referee" is pronounced like the official at a ballgame and in many ways means the same.)

Am. Meteorological Soc. Bull, ENGR, GEOG
Geophysical Journal, GEOL
Nature, Science, BIOL, COLL, ENGR, GEOL, GEOG, MEM, AGR (only
articles that show bibliographies and submitted and accepted dates;
other valuable articles are by staff writers, but these are not refereed)
Jour. of Geophysical Research, GEOL
Geological Soc. of Am. Bull, GEOL
Jour. of Marine Research, BIOL
Quarterly Review of Biology, BIOL
Limnology and Oceanography, BIOL, GEOL
Biological Bulletin, AGR, BIOL
Jour. of Geology, GEOL
Jour. of Physical Oceanography, ENGR, GEOL
Deep-Sea Research, Pt. A: Oceanog. Res. papers, GEOL
Geology, GEOL
Marine Geology, GEOL
 
  

TERM PAPER POSSIBILITIES

 

Elemental Suites

Theme
H, N, Si, Au 3He, O, Al, Ag 4He, C, Fe, Pt

How were the elements formed before and during the formation of the Solar System?

Category I

Category I

Category I

How did the elements get to where we found them on the Moon, Mars, or Asteroids?

How would these elements be used by travelers and residents in Space?

Category II

Category II

Category II

What is the current value of these elements in Space (assuming Space settlements existed now) and on the Earth?
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