Writing Project-
Nats101 Intro to Global Change (Spring 2006)
February 27
(Monday)
Topics
are posted on course web site. You will
investigate your assigned problem/issue to learn about the
issues involved, different perspectives, and the negative (if any) and positive
(if any) aspects of the “problem” or issue.
Your ultimate goal is to write a narrative that reads like a Chamber of
Commerce brochure and makes your ASSIGNED specific advocacy seem attractive,
i.e., you will write a well-crafted, interesting, rosy, and plausible-as-possible
description/advertisement that will “sell” your advocacy,
using whatever real facts or “spinned” facts that
support your view (your strong command of global change topics can really help
you in this, BUT YOU CANNOT “MAKE UP” FACTS).
Pretend that you have been paid big bucks (money) by a big multi-national
conglomerate to write it, and that your life to this point has been one
non-stop barrage of advertisements and commercials to sell you toys, fast food,
clothes, jewelry, cars, houses, soft drinks, and all kinds of other things without
which they make you think you cannot live.
An “A” paper will make the presented advocacy the greatest thing since
sliced bread. [It may be possible to change topic to the opposite of the assigned
advocacy, but only if you meet with Prof. Leavitt in his office prior to
March 22
(Wednesday)
Turn
in (due by class time) a typewritten
(1) list of at least 4 RELEVANT* references
from web, books, journals, magazines that you have found that describe the
scientific topic (for web sources, give full web address that would allow
others to find it exactly). [*RELEVANT web references are needed, not
superfluous references with little or no content] Properly formatted, of course!
(2) imaginative and compelling title
of your paper
(3) brief outline (3 or 4 points
that reveal your approach and emphasis are sufficient)
April 5 (Wednesday)
Turn
in (due by class time):
A. Lists
of legitimate and accurate facts/aspects of your problem/issue; make 2 columns,
one with positive and one with negative aspects (use successive columns if you
cannot do side-by-side columns)
B. Typewritten
polished draft of paper (including Bibliography or “Literature Consulted”):
(1) Two typewritten pages of text
introduced with your title and followed by bibliography
(2) Double-spaced (not 2
1/2- or triple spacing); 12-point type; 1-inch margins all around.
C. Separate
paragraph explaining the major flaws/weaknesses/drawbacks in your advocacy.
Paper
will be reviewed and later returned to you with comments to guide your revision
April 19 (Wednesday)
Your
polished draft will be returned to you in
class from instructor/TAs with review comments; You
will then begin final revision of
your paper
April 26 (Wednesday)
Turn
in (due by class time)
(1) your first typewritten draft
with instructor/TA comments (title;text;bibliography;+s/−s)
(2) your final typewritten paper
with all parts and revisions (title;text;bibliography;+s/−s)