PROJECTS
Project | 01
Project | 01
What does it mean to think and write like a scientist?
Interview Paper 10%
Three Summary Essays 15%,
Literature Review Paper 15%
This assignment requires you to research and interview a Science faculty member at the College about it means to them to think and write like a Scientist. You will write a short paper about the faculty member’s background and explain what you have discovered about their views on science study and writing and their research areas of interest.
Secondly, you will carefully read and summarize three of their published articles. You will note their purpose/research question, methodology/ results and discussions and future plans or proposals.
Finally, you will write a 5-10 page literature review comparing and contrasting the three scientific papers by the faculty member you have chosen as your example and cited source.
Project | 02
Project | 02 Scientific Ethics
Tech Talks 15%
Scientific Ethics Research Paper 20%
TECH TALK
You will choose two topics to present to the class as 2 separate 10-20 minute Tech Talk about the ethical debate(s) related to the technology issue listed on the syllabus for your designated class day.
Although this is an in-class activity, you should do some outside research to do this competently.
You must develop and give a 5 question class quiz over the assigned reading and grade the class quizzes in a timely manner.
Next, you will present the major issues from the day's readings with a Prezi or Powerpoint for half the time (5-10 minutes), then offer 3-4 ethical questions which you will lead as a class discussion (5-10 minutes) .
Additional visual aids beyond your Prezi or PowerPoint are nice, but not required. This is not a chat: You must be the expert on this topic.
You should stay grounded in the readings the class has done and guide the discussion to the key issues that matter most connecting readings in a meaningful way.
The presentation should identify a central ethics based research question(s), explain a Pro and an equally rigorous Con position identifying ethical concepts or methodologies as needed, pose thoughtful relevant questions for at least ten minutes of class discussion, and be prepared for questions/rebuttal from me and your classmates during your presentation.
Be aware depending upon other activities, I may need to use some of your time for instruction so please be prepared to be flexible.
There is no way to make up this activity. If you are late or miss this class, you will fail this assignment.
Come see me in advance if you have any questions.
SCIENCE ETHICS PAPER
For your science ethics paper you will research and write a 4-6 page paper in which you explain the history, utility, and ethics of a recent (last five years) scientific innovation or technology.
In accordance with technical writing style, you should use these categories, and others as needed, as your main section headings: Abstract, Title Page, Table of Contents, Introduction, Analysis, Conclusions, and Bibliography.
INTRO: Get the reader’s attention, provide a basic definition of the technology and identify the moral question(s) and relevant stakeholders. Explain what is this and why should we care.
HISTORY: Your introduction should explain briefly how the technology developed and how it works including the following questions: When was this developed and by whom? How did this become important or ethically relevant? How does it work in detail ( show illustrations if necessary) ? What earlier technologies does it build upon? How much does it cost? Who uses it and why? Where is it used and when?
ANALYSIS: Your analysis section should give a balanced, fair, and unbiased review of 2-3 major arguments for and against this issue. You must provide equal research, length, and weight to each side of the issue.
You must develop and support your MAIN IDEAS with recent, reliable, relevant, peer reviewed sources. Each main idea should have one research source. Do not use quotes more than once or sources more than twice.
Be sure to state main ideas and explain source material in your own words and paraphrase and cite ethically using APA style: Smith (2002) argues, “xyz” (2). Some critics (Smith 2002) argue thus.
Be sure each position is both logically valid and avoids all the fallacies. Do not create strawmen arguments or focus on subpoints. Try to find valid and logical arguments on each side. The argument can be and likely should be a nuanced or qualified discussion in which people may not be strictly pro/con, but rather see the issue in different ways. For example, people opposed to breast cancer testing are not actually opposed to the test, but rather argue caution in testing because of the potential lifestyle consequences of false positives.
Plagiarism is an automatic fail.
CONCLUSION: Your conclusion should provide a general summary of the ethical positions on both sides and can, if you choose, make a recommendation for the position or policy that you feel is best. Do not provide new information in the conclusion.
Project | 03
ePortfolio Project | My Science Future Paper
Part I:
An ePortfolio is a dynamic online archive of artifacts like writing samples, videos, and photos that illustrate your academic and professional experiences. Employers and scholarship committees love them because they are visual and engaging as well as informative.
This assignment requires you to create one (I recommend wix, which I use here, or wordpress, what the College uses). Your Home page must include your name, email, resume link, an image, an About Me link, and links to at least two (for example Education and Experience) and no more than five categories/links/pages.
Grading Criteria
___Technology
You should use a platform like Wix, Weebly, or WordPress that allows for some customization and yet offers a polished look. It should also allow you to add multiple file formats and links and set privacy filters.
___Audience
Remember your audience is a future employer or scholarship committee. It should be professional even when it is personal.
___Safety
You should remove all personal info beyond name, college, and email and set privacy filters to your public comfort level. You must send me a link to your published portfolio even if you make it private. (Dr Dotson’s fun digital alter ego also suggests you set high privacy filters on all your social media and switch to a name that cannot be clearly identified as you.)
___Design
You should have a consistent design theme. Design choices (colors, fonts, background, borders, images and layout) should reflect a professional message. You should follow design principles of contrast, repetition, alignment, proximity and simplicity. Your site should be eye catching, uncluttered, and easily readable with full vivid legal images and minimal text.
___Visuals
Images must match the theme or message of the site. The adobe color wheel can help you find color palates https://color.adobe.com/create/color-wheel/ and you can find great open source images at https://pixabay.com/ and https://www.pexels.com/ and https://creativecommons.org/use-remix/
___Artifacts
Artifacts should be samples of your best work (reports, essays, pics, art, videos) and chosen to illustrate specific abilities for that page. You should have a short (two-three max) sentence description of your artifact and what is shows about you as a heading for the artifact.
___Text
Text must be a sanserif font with high contrast background, well edited, written with a clear purpose, and minimal.
___Home
Your Home page must include your name, email, resume link, an image, an About Me link, and links to at least two (for example Education and Experience) and no more than five categories/links/pages.
___About Me
Your About Me page should include at minimum an image, a short bio, a statement about your future plans or goals.
___Legal
You must have the legal right to use text, images, and fonts and cite as required.
___Logic
There should be a logical flow to information and visual flow (left to right) with subject headings that accurately reflect content and easy back links within and between pages.
___Navigation
Every link and attachment must work. You must use file formats that are accessible on multiple platforms: All documents should be PDFs. Images should be JPGs. Link videos as YouTube or Vimeo uploads. Link a PowerPoints as a Slideboom URL.
___Perfection
Proof read everything twice and double check page check formatting. Professional samples should be your best work and should represent your skills.
Examples:
LSU: https://sites01.lsu.edu/wp/cxc/digital-portfolio-examples/
Auburn: http://wp.auburn.edu/writing/eportfolio-project/eportfolio-examples/
Post your completed ePortfolio on the ePortfolio Tab.
Part II:
Then, you will write a paper explaining what interests you in Science and what you feel you need to do between now and graduation to reach your career goals in Science. In addition to the 2-3 page paper, you will create and present a professional CV with a professional heading, and at least three sections: Education, Experience and/or Special Skills, and Honors and Achievements sections.
Sample CV and Graduate School Tips
Don't Forget!
Daily Deliverables 15%
Daily deliverables are a variety of smaller tasks and assignments that are required to complete readings, hold discussions, or prepare for larger writing projects. For example, you will have quizzes and do regular short writings in and out of class that are graded check, check plus and check minus. In addition, this includes the expectation that you will speak up regularly (at least once a week), are prepared for class, meet minor deadlines, attend conferences, and are an active part of all class activities, writing workshops, etc, and/or do not miss more than six classes for excused, unexcused or any combination of the two reasons.