Biology debate paper

Biol 100

Instructions for the Final Paper

You will submit your bib via email, but your draft, outline and final papers must be submitted on paper.

These due dates are firm – extensions will not be made.

Due Friday, Oct 26th: A 3-source References page featuring three papers or sources you have tracked down. Two of these must be peer-reviewed, while the other may be another legitimate source (a government paper, as opposed to the Washington Post, for example). You will use CSE format. You must include three .pdf attachments or working links (your sources) for credit. You will email this to your TA and cc your professor.

Rubric for the Bib:

3 points: Title included. Excellent sources, contain scientific data in support of position from agencies or groups that are credible (example: scholarly journals, US Forest Service, the Lands Council, WA Department of Ecology, etc.) Format correct.

2.5 points: Same as above, but “References” title lacking. Format correct.

2 points: Not as good of sources as above, but directly support topic; lack quantity and quality of scientific data. Format correct.

1.5 points: Not as good of sources as above, but directly support topic; lack quantity and quality of scientific data and/or format is not correct.

1 point: Generally on topic, but little or no scientific data. Format is not correct.

0 points: pdfs not provided by student, or broken links are provided.

Don’t know how to add a pdf to a Word doc? Google “how to attach a pdf to a word doc.”

Due IN LAB, ON PAPER, Friday, Nov 9th: an outline of your paper. This will be reviewed by your TA.

Rubric for the outline:

2 points: includes an appropriate title, background, body paragraphs, and conclusion have been well thought out.

1 point: outline attempted, but title is missing or little effort is apparent.

0 points: outline is a generic outline from the internet, and does not appear to reflect the topic at hand.

Due IN LAB, ON PAPER, Friday Nov 17th: Rough Draft of Final Paper. The rough draft is worth 5 points. This will be reviewed by both your TA unless the draft reflects poor effort; in which case it will be reviewed by me.

There is a 1000 word minimum, and your paper must be double-spaced. Please use 1-inch margins and Times New Roman font.

Rubric for the draft:

5 points: Solid title, Well-developed explanation of the topics and subtopics at hand, supported by data, has appropriately named bibliography, and in-text citations that match.

4 .5 points: Title poor or lacking, well-developed explanation of the topics and subtopics at hand, supported by data, correct bibliography, and in-text citations that match.

4 points: Title poor or lacking, some development needed for topic, supported by data, correct bibliography, and in-text citations that match.

3 points:: Title poor or lacking, lots of development needed for topic, supported by data, correct bibliography, and in-text citations that match.

2 points: Title poor or lacking, lots of development needed for topic, and problems with supportive data, bibliography, and/or in-text citations.

0-1 points: TA can’t make sense of your draft, draft referred to instructor.

Due IN LAB, ON PAPER, Friday Nov 30th: The Final Position Paper at the time of the Final Debate (the last lab). The final paper is worth 8 points, and is part of your Lecture and Participation grade. You will be submitting a paper copy at the beginning of the hour- late papers will not be accepted.

Rubric for the final: separate document. You will print and submit the rubric with your final paper.

There is a 1000 word minimum, and your paper must be double-spaced.

Please use 1-inch margins and Times New Roman font,* and abstain from the use of “filler” sentences; they will be noticed and graded accordingly.

* Attempts to bump paper “length” by using cute fonts or larger-than-one-inch margins will be rewarded by the subtraction of 20% of your total grade.

The Debate, when you will explain and defend a topic from your paper, will occur Friday November 30th (a required lab) and is worth 5 points. Note that the Debate is part of your lab grade, and missing the final debate will be counted as a lab absence.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q: Is this an annotated bib?

A: No.

Q: Does my references page count toward my total word count?

A: Not in college.

Q: I am an excellent researcher, and I have many great sources. Should I include them all in the bib?

A: No. I would like your TA to grade 3 sources. You may use 300 sources on your draft and final, if you like.

Q: I don’t know what CSE format is. Can I just make it up as I go?

A: Nope – have a look at the CSE pdf that I’ve uploaded.

Q: I have a newspaper article I want to use. How many points is this usually worth for the bib?

A: Use the article to find out which studies, papers, or government docs are being referred to, and go track down those studies, papers, or docs. Submit those instead.

Q: I found my scholarly articles on the Internet. Does that mean they’ve come from websites, and I can only use one?!?

A: No. Most scholarly articles you’ll encounter you’ll find on EBSCOhost, Web of Science, Wiley Online, etc. If the articles are peer-reviewed and on-topic, you may absolutely use them. You’d only want to use one online article from the Lands Council, however, as this is not a peer-reviewed scientific journal.

Q: Should I type this, or can I turn it in on college-lined paper?

A: Any paper assigned at the college level will be typed, unless you’re taking a handwriting course. This is not a handwriting course.

Q: I need you/my TA to double check a source for me. Should this 40-page article down and bring it to you?

A: No. You may send a link, and I/your TA will tell you if it is peer reviewed or not.

Q: Where can I get help?

A: First, your TA. Second, the EWU Writer’s Center at the library. They will not write your paper for you, but they will make it better.*

*Your writing coach may encourage you to frame direct quotes within quotation marks. Do not do this – the sciences do not include direct quotes in writing. Paraphrase, paraphrase, paraphrase – and don’t forget your in-text citation!