MARINE GEOLOGY (GEOL 257)

Guidelines for Dewees Island Survey Report

All photos, graphs, drawings, etc. are referred to as FIGURES. Each Figure must be on a single page. Do not insert Figures into the text, and do not have more than one Figure/page.

You MUST include the following Figures:

  • Figure 1. Map or Google Earth image of the location of Dewees Island on the SC coast. Be sure to label Dewees Island.
  • Figure 2. 2007 satellite image of Dewees Island (provided) showing location of the multiple transect lines you are discussing in your report.
  • Figure 3. Close-up of transect line locations (provided).
  • Figures 4, 5, and 6. For each transect location: Graph the 3 individual profiles (Jun ’05, Aug ’05, Sept ’05), using the format shown on page 2. You should devote one page per transect location, and each time-profile should be identified as three separate figures (A, B, C parts). USE THE SAME horizontal scale for all profiles at one location/transect. VERY important!
  • Figure 7. For each transect location: Construct a single graph that shows all 3 time-profiles on one x, y plot. These 3 graphs should be displayed as A, B, C on one Figure. For example, A is Transect 12 (all three time-profiles shown), B is Transect 25, C is Transect 42. See page 3 for an example of how one transect should be plotted, with all three time-profile lines included.
  • Figure 8. For each transect location: Construct a single graph that shows the starting and ending surveys of your data collection (e.g., June ’05 and Sept ’05). Shade areas on the profile that show accretion (blue) and erosion (red). As with the previous Figure, make 3 graphs (A, B, C) for one Figure.

Any other figures you wish to add (photographs of us surveying, other graphs, air photos, etc.) can certainly be added (recommended!), but the above 8 Figures MUST be included. You may insert these optional Figures, just renumber those Figures listed above.

NOTE: All photos, images, graphs, etc. that you personally did not generate, MUST have a credit or reference citation!!! Failure to give credit to the source of a Figure is plagiarism!

Other important information regarding Figures:

  • All profiles must be in black and white, using the format shown on page 2.
  • Be sure that the key, and axis labels with units (m) are included.
  • Avoid too much vertical exaggeration.
  • Each Figure must have a caption, (see format, page 2). Do NOT say, “This graph shows…”
  • Each Figure MUST be referred to sequentially within the text. Most figures will be introduced in the Introduction or Results sections.
  • Within the text, refer to Figures using the following format:
    “ The profile taken in August 2005 (Fig. 8b) shows that….”
    or “Figure 8b shows the profile taken in August 2005…”

You must also include a data Table for EACH of the three survey lines/transects (3 Tables). All 3 survey dates must be included. See the required Table format on page 5.

  • Tables also MUST be referred to within the text. Simply refer to them as Table 1, Table 2, and Table 3.


A

TRANSECT 12

B

TRANSECT 25

C

TRANSECT 42

Figure 7. Profiles of (A) Transect 12, (B) Transect 25, and (C) Transect 42 collected in June, August and September of 2005.

(For the above example, the same profile graphs were used, which of course, is not realistic!)

  • Tables do not have captions beneath, as with Figures. Instead, each Table should have a short, descriptive title (see the above example). This title does not have to be (and usually is not) a complete sentence.
  • Be sure that all data are shown carried out to the hundredths.
  • All data must be right-justified.
  • Data columns MUST include the units of measurement!!

Report Text

Write this report as if you’d been contracted to survey Dewees for the past year. You will be reporting your observations and interpretations, and recommending what steps should be taken next (in the conclusions).

The report must be double spaced, with 1” margins all around, with Times New Roman 12-point font. No exceptions. It should be approximately 4-5 double-spaced pages of text, with numerous pages of Figures and Tables, placed at the end.

The body of the report must have the sections listed below. Each section must have the header in bold, and left-justified. Remember to refer to Figures and Tables within the appropriate sections.Refer to “Guidelines for a Coastal Research Paper for GEOL 257” by E. Roe Zhunn for additional explanations.

Abstract

  • One paragraph: why, how, when, where; and state major conclusion. Imagine that this paragraph is all anyone will ever read about your work. Imagine you are submitting it to an international professional meeting….(that’s often the greatest purpose of abstracts!).

Introduction

  • The focus of your study and report. Why is the work necessary?
  • Where and when the study occurred.
  • Brief description of Dewees Island.
  • Explain when and why the long-term study began (refer to Betenbaugh).

Methods

  • Brief description of laser level survey. Do not include step-by-step details, just state the instruments used and the general set-up of the survey locations.

Results

  • These are your observations… = your data = your graphs and tables
  • Describe the changes that you observe, both temporal and spatial. Do NOT make interpretations yet!!
  • Focus on:
  • Changes in dunes
  • Changes in position of shoreline (0 elevation)
  • Approximate berm location if visible.
  • Identify the areas shown on your Figures (see Figure 8 on page 1 of this document) that illustrate net gain or loss of sand.

Discussion

  • Here is where you will state your interpretations. All interpretations MUST be supported by either your data (presented in the Results section).
  • If you want to include other observations, figures, or previous data, then you should introduce these items in the Discussion. (Only your results should be in the Results section.)

Conclusions

  • Briefly reiterate your overall interpretations of the changes that occurred over the study period examined.
  • State what are the next steps recommended to study the area further.

References Cited

  • Citing previously published work is a necessity! You must citeat least one journal article in your paper, and two additional citations (reports and other written documents).
  • NOTE: Only one URL can be included and it does NOT count as one of your three citations.
  • Use the attached sheet (“Reference citation guide”) as a guideline for writing your citations.

Tables

  • Refer to page 1 of this document.
  • Place all Tables and Figures at the END of the text (Tables first). This practice is common for theses and manuscript submissions, as the reviewer’s job is easier when the Tables and Figures are together.

Figures

  • Refer to page 1 of this document.

1

Revised 9/09