NATS 101  Sect. 31

Writing Requirements


            Clear and informative writing is an important part of any discipline. Writing also helps develop your critical and analytical thinking skills and helps you to understand new and confusing concepts.  The written work required in this class falls into two categories:

1a. Experiment Report
            Observation and measurement are an essential part of scientific study and discovery. Four simple “take home” experiments have been developed for this NATS course. An additional experiment may be developed during the semester.   At some point during the semester you should check out one of the sets of materials, perform the associated experiment, and write an experiment report. Experiment instructions and a more detailed description of the report format will be distributed with the experiment kits.

 The four experiments and tentative due dates are listed below:

Experiment
 Title or Topic
 Report Due Date
#1
 Measuring the Percentage Oxygen Concentration in Air
 Tue., Sep. 18
#2
 Measuring the Latent Heat of Fusion of Ice (the energy needed to melt ice)
 Tue., Oct. 9
#3
 Measuring the Solar Irradiance (the energy in sunlight)
 Tue., Oct. 30
#4
 Using Archimedes Law to determine the number of ball bearings hidden inside an object
 Thu., Nov. 15



1b. Report on a Scientific Paper

            At least one scientific paper has been identified that relates to and expands on material that will be covered in class. If you select this option you will need to read and then prepare a summary report on the paper.  Detailed instructions will be distributed with copies of the report.


1c. Report on a Book
            A very limited number of books that touch on weather-related topics are available for checkout. The expectation here will be that you read an entire book or a significant portion of a book and report on what you have learned. A list of titles is available on the class website. More information on the report format will be distributed as books are checked out.  A due date will be assigned when you check out a book.  You will have approximately 3 weeks to read the book and complete your report.

 

NOTE 

            You will need to select one of the three options above (just one, not all three).  In each case you will be allowed to revise and resubmit your original report.   Most students should plan on performing and reporting on one of the experiments. Because of limited amounts of experiment materials and in order to avoid a flood of reports at the end of the semester, students will be assigned to a particular experiment (or to one of the other options) during the first week or two of class.
 

2. One Side of One Page Writing Assignments

            The object of the one side of one page (1S1P) assignments is to have you read and learn more about material in the textbook or readily available source.

 

            Periodically during the semester a list of topics will be posted on the 1S1P Report Assignments and Topics link on the class web page. After selecting a topic, but before you actually begin reading, ask yourself what you already know about the subject and try to imagine what you will find in the textbook.  As you read about the topic in the textbook create a brief outline. What were the main points, the key concepts or principles? This outline can serve as the foundation for your report. Once you have a relatively clear idea of what you want to say in your report, you may refer back to the textbook for help with filling in any missing details and clearing up any misunderstanding. Your report should be written in your own words; it should be your understanding and explanation of the material. You shouldn’t just “copy and paste” portions of the text into your report or paraphrase the text.

 

            Reports should be prepared on 8.5 x 11 inch paper. Typed reports must be double spaced and use 11 pt font or larger. A one side of one page limit will be strictly enforced. Reports may be handwritten, but your writing must be legible and the one page limit will still apply. The one page limit will require that you condense, abridge, and even leave out material covered in the textbook.  Try to identify and explain the main points, you don't need to include every detail.  In many cases a drawing or figure might be appropriate and might save considerable written explanation (you may refer to figures in the textbook by number rather than trying to reproduce them in your report). Your report will be graded on quality and clarity of writing, organization, and information content.  Sample 1S1P report.

 

 Overall Writing Percentage Grade

You may earn up to 40 points on Part 1 (Experiment or Book Report) and up to a maximum of 45 points on Part 2 (1S1P reports). A writing percentage grade will be computed as follows:

 

                                    % grade = 100% x (report grade + 1S1P points)

                                                                                   80

 

            The writing percentage grade computed above will have the same weight as one quiz grade (the writing grade, however, will not be dropped even if it is lower than all your quiz grades).  Note that it is possible for the writing percentage grade to be over 100%.