GEOS 242 – Communication in the Earth Sciences, Spring 2016
Course website: Blackboard
Instructor:
Dr. Brittany Brand (please call me Brittany)
Office hours: Mondays 10:15 – 11:15 am or by appointment
Class Meetings:
ERB 2100
MoWe: 9– 10:15 am.
The classroom will be available as a working space Fridays between 9 – 10:15 am.
Final Exam: There is no final exam for this course.
COURSE DESCRIPTION: GEOS 242: Communications in the Earth Sciences satisfies three credits of the Foundational Studies Program's Communication in the Discipline (CID) requirement. This course supports the following University Learning Outcomes, along with a variety of other course-specific goals:
1. Write effectively in multiple contexts for a variety of audiences.
2. Communicate effectively as speaker and listener.
3. Engage in effective critical inquiry by defining problems, gathering and evaluating evidence.
4. Determine the adequacy of argumentative discourse.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: GEOS 242: Communications in the Earth Sciences is designed to help achieve the goals of the Foundational Studies Program by focusing on the following course learning outcomes. After successful completion of this course, you will be able to:
· Communicate effectively in a variety of common professional formats (written abstracts, reports, and papers; oral presentations).
· Communicate more clearly and accurately through improved organization, structure of paragraphs and sentences, grammar, and word choice.
· Use written and oral communication to convey concepts and ideas in Geosciences
· Distinguish between observations (data) and interpretations (ideas), and present them clearly in scientific communication
· Critically evaluate, edit, and revise drafts written by yourself and others to improve organization, logic, and clarity
· Search and engage existing scientific literature, and appropriately cite literature in your communications
· Listen effectively, analyze, discuss and respond thoughtfully to oral presentations of scientific material
COURSE OBJECTIVES: The main objective of the course is to give you the technical communication skills that geoscience employers want, and that are needed to succeed in geoscience research. GEOS 242 covers principles of organizing, developing, and writing geoscience information including abstracts, presentations, scientific articles, correspondence, proposals, and industry reports. The course includes oral and poster presentation skills, and touches on other media used by government agencies and industry.
PREREQUISITES: ENGL 102 and GEOS 100 or 101 and GEOS 200 or GEOS 212 or GEOPH 201 and declared major in Geoscience or Geophysics.
TEXTBOOK: The Craft of Scientific Writing, Third Edition, by Michael Alley. It is available in paper back or electronically. Grammar tips and quizzes are available online at: http://www.writing.engr.psu.edu/csw.html
GRADING POLICY:
Assignments will include in-class quizzes and exercises, and out-of-class assignments. We will often work in groups or pairs to perform “peer reviews” of each other’s work, but the work you turn in must be your own. The capstone project for the class is an individual research paper and presentation on environmental policy issue related to geoscience (e.g., energy or mineral resources). Formal rewrites of some assignments are required. Presentations will be given during the last week of class. We will not have a final exam.
15% Plagiarism and grammar tutorials (in class and/or online)
10% Quizzes on assigned reading
40% Assignments (in-class and homework)
25% Capstone writing project (individual related assignments are indicated on the Class Schedule)
10% Capstone oral presentation
Your attendance and participation each and every day is critical to everyone’s learning in this class. Class participation comprises a substantial percent of your grade, and includes in-class quizzes, assignments and discussions.
Turning assignments in on time is critical for learning. The syllabus is designed to give you frequent practice writing, reviewing, and re-writing. It is also designed to give the teaching staff enough time to provide you with constructive feedback on your work before the next assignment is due. On-time assignments are critical for successful in-class activities. Late assignments can directly and adversely impact learning for everyone in the class. This is why most assignments are due electronically, before the start of class (see Class Schedule below for details).
The general policy is that, unless you have a note from a doctor or other documented emergency, the penalty for late assignments is a 10% reduction in grade for 1 minute to 24 hours late, and an additional 10% reduction each additional 24 hours late. However, because even the best of us gets overwhelmed sometimes, you get one “freebie,” for which the assignment will be accepted without penalty up to one week late. However, if you turn in an assignment late, you forfeit the opportunity to receive feedback that may help you edit or rewrite your assignments (i.e., you will get a grade, but no detailed comments from instructors, peers or instructor).
OPTIONAL ‘FIELD TRIP’:
You are encouraged to attend one Geociences Seminar during this term (these are held Mondays at 3 pm in ENG103; http://earth.boisestate.edu/seminars/). If you have other classes scheduled at both of these times you may attend a different scientific lecture on campus, as long as the seminar is approved by the instructor. You will earn extra credit points for critiquing the title, abstract and oral presentation. Assignment requirements can be found on our course website.
ACADEMIC CONDUCT:
Plagiarism, cheating, and other misconduct are serious violations of the student conduct code and a sure way to sabotage your academic and professional career. You are expected to know and follow the Boise State University policies on cheating and plagiarism. Any suspected cases of academic misconduct will be handled according to BSU regulations.
More information, including definitions and examples, can be found in the Faculty Resource for Grading and the Student Conduct Code (WAC 478-120). Ignorance or running out of time on an assignment are not valid excuses for plagiarism/cheating.
If you plagiarize you will receive a zero on the assignment and be referred to the College Disciplinary Committee. The result in most cases is academic probation for the student involved.
Class Schedule (Spring 2016)
Links to readings and assignments and any changes in schedule will be updated on the class website. Assignments must be submitted electronically by the start of class on the due date unless otherwise indicated.
Date / In Class Objectives / Measures of Success / Required Reading1/11 / Syllabus; Importance of scientific communication; discussion of key principles; Plagiarism;
Elevator pitch introduction
Email introduction assignment and in class critique example emails / Prepare elevator pitch for in 1/13
Screen capture of completed plagiarism tutorial (submitted online) – due by 5 pm on Jan. 15th:
http://library.boisestate.edu/plagiarism/start.htm
Screen capture of completed tutorial – due by 5 pm, Jan. 15th
Correspondence
Email Introduction (due Tuesday, Jan. 19th – bring copy to class AND submit online) / Ch 1 Introduction;
Ch 12 correspondence; Alley correspondence exercises online.
Other (optional) reading on technical writing, grammar and style: http://www.sportsci.org/jour/9901/wghstyle.html
1/13 / Quiz on Chapter 12
Elevator Pitch
1/20 / Remaining Elevator Pitches
Peer review email introductions / Email due electronically by 9 am on 1/19.
Bring a hard copy of your email introduction to class on 1/20. / Ch 16 dressing documents for success
1/25 / Quiz on Chapter 16
Introduce cover letter and resume assignment
In class grammar tutorial:
Parts of Speech (1); Parts of Speech (2)
Grammar #1: Run-Ons and Fragments (Basic)
Grammar #2: Modifiers, Pronouns, and Parallelism
Grammar #3: Run-Ons and Fragments (Advanced)
(Finish what we don’t get through as homework) / Revised email introductions due by 9 am (submit online only) / Ch 2 and 3 (structure)
1/27 / Quiz on Chapters 2 and 3
Discussion on the structure of scientific writing, how to read a paper
Ivory billed woodpecker exercise
Short-read exercise – Geology Paper / Work on cover letter and resume assignment!
2/1 / In class peer-review of cover letters and CV/Resume
Introduction to class capstone project / Cover letter and Resume due by 9 am. Submit on line AND bring a hard copy to class. / Ch 17 (Actually sitting down to write)
2/3 / Quiz on Ch. 17
Introduce and work on science in the media assignment / Revised cover letters and CV/Resume – due by 9 am (submit online only)
Homework grammar exercise due by 9 am
Grammar #4: Advanced Grammar
Punctuation #1: Commas
Punctuation #2: Colons and Semicolons
2/8 / Exercises on being precise and word choice
Time for writing science in the media assignment or researching literature on your topic / Final revision of your email letter due by 9 am
Pre-session Library Video Tutorials due by 9 am
http://guides.boisestate.edu/GEOS242\
Think about topic for your proposal or persuasive paper
2/10 / (MEET IN LIBRARY)
Library Field Trip – Searching and identifying credible data / Science in the media exercise due by 9 am. Submit online only.
Topic chosen for proposal or persuasive paper (turn in to instructor by end of class) / Ch 4
2/17 / Quiz on Ch 4
In class time for capstone research project
Develop thesis statements / Final revision to resume and cover letter due by 9 am.
Homework grammar exercise due by 9 am
Usage #4: Word Choice (Advanced) / Ch 5
2/22 / Quiz on Ch 5
Peer review of thesis statement
Exercises on being clear
Introduction to prospectus / Thesis statement and reference list for capstone project due by 9 am.
Submit all online, bring a hard copy of thesis statement to class. / Ch 6 and 7
2/24 / Quiz on Ch 6 and 7
Exercises on tone and choosing strong nouns and verbs
Exercises on language: being familiar / Revised thesis statement for capstone
project due by 9 am (submit online only)
Work on Prospectus!! / Ch 8
2/29 / Quiz on Ch 8
Exercises on being concise!!!
Discuss in groups your strategies for critiquing and editing written work
Develop guide for editing writing / Work on Prospectus!!
3/2 / Peer review and editing practice – Use guide to critique a provided written piece of work. / Editing guide for critiquing written work due by 9 am. Submit online AND bring a hard copy to class. / Ch 13 – Writing proposals
3/7 / Prospectus peer-review and discussion.
Bring computers to class to work on revisions. / Prospectus due by 9 am. Submit online AND bring a hard copy to class.
Work on revisions to your science in the media essay
3/9 / Quiz on Ch 13
Proposal Writing Exercise (in class).
Finish exercise for homework if not completed in class. / Revised Prospectus due by 5 pm on Friday, March 11th (submit online) / Ch 15 Preparing Presentation
Poster presentations
(http://library.buffalo.edu/libraries/asl/guides/bio/posters.html)
3/14 / Quiz Ch 15 and poster presentation guide
Presentation Styles – in class poster presentation exercise / Revised Science in the Media assignment due by 9 am / Alley Ch 10-11 (Illustration)
Effective presentations (http://www.kumc.edu/SAH/OTEd/jradel/effective.html)
3/16 / Quiz on Ch. 10 and 11
Oral Presentation – video
Presentation Styles – in class oral presentation demonstration
Introduce 3 minute oral presentation assignment / Work on capstone paper!
3/28 / Time for working on capstone paper (bring computers to class)
Quiz on youtube video regarding effective presentations - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=meBXuTIPJQk
3/30 / 3 minute oral presentations / 3 minute oral presentations (PPT) due (TURN IN BY MIDNIGHT on 3/27)
4/4 / 3 minute oral presentations
4/6 / Peer review of capstone paper / First draft of capstone papers due by 9 am (submit online AND bring to class)
4/11 / Work on oral presentations / Revised capstone paper due (submit online)
4/13 / Work on oral presentations
4/18 / Capstone papers returned – time for revisions and working on oral presentations / Work on capstone paper revisions!
4/20 / Practice oral presentations (bring your computer) / Finish first draft of oral presentation by 9 am (bring to class only)
4/25 / Oral Presentations
4/27 / Oral Presentations
5/2 / Oral Presentations during Exam Period – Note time change -- 10 am – 12 pm
REVISED CAPSTONE PAPER, RESPONSE TO REVIEW AND REFLECTION EXERCISE DUE BY MIDNIGHT ON 5/2
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