Science

Choose a specific science-related topic that has recently been in the news (in the last few years,

at least). You will research it and then write a paper about the scientific and societal aspects

critical to your topic. Discuss the physics, chemistry, biology, and geology relevant to the topic

and connect that science to how it affects and/or is affected by people.

In order to keep people from picking the same topic, COVID-

19/Coronavirus is not permitted as a topic for this paper. If you turn

in a paper on COVID-19, you will receive an F.

This paper is due Wednesday, June 22nd by 11:59 pm. Late papers

will not be accepted.

The paper will contain the following:

1. Title page:

a. Title (a creative one, not just “Paper on topic X”

b. Name

c. Date

d. Course number

2. Format

a. 4-5 double spaced pages of text (images do not count)

b. Times New Roman font

c. 12pt size

d. 1-inch margins

e. Page numbers on every page

3. Works cited for every reference you use. It doesn’t matter if you use APA or MLA

format, but each reference should be correct and consistent (all MLA, etc.)

4. Two relevant images, either made by you or used with citation.

a. Society related image (impact, etc.)

b. Science related image

Content that your text should include

1. Basic information about the topic

a. History

i. Discovery (when/how did it first come onto our radar?)

ii. Changes in its impact over the years (have we taken steps to combat it, or

has it gotten worse?)

iii. Geographic changes

iv. Major scientific breakthroughs over the years

b. Current impacts

c. Future plans

i. What research is being done?

ii. What needs to happen to solve or mitigate the issue?

2. Highlights from three of the four major science sections (physics, chemistry, biology, and

geology). There should be a minimum of two points related to each.

3. Controversy related to your topic. What do the groups opposed to tackling the issue say?

Are there controversies about the root cause? How important is it?

Economic/environmental tension?

4. Your position on the issue. How important is it to you? How does it impact your

community?

Grading criteria

You will be graded on four major criteria, as indicated by the rubric below. While this is not

an English/composition class, and I will not be grading hard on stylistic choices and

grammar, I do expect you to make an effort to use proper grammar and spelling. A few small

mistakes are fine, but you should still produce a document that flows and is readable without

too much strain.

Criterion A B C D/F

Content Content

indicates

synthesis of

ideas. Scientific

concepts are

explained

correctly and

are relevant to

the topic.

Content

indicates

original

thinking and

develops ideas

with sufficient

and firm

evidence. Minor

scientific

concept errors,

but not enough

to undermine

the point.

Content

indicates

thinking and

reasoning

applied with

original thought

on some, but

not all ideas.

Minor scientific

concept errors.

Shows some

thinking and

reasoning, but

most ideas are

underdeveloped

and unoriginal.

Major errors in

scientific

explanations.

Organization Writing shows

high degree of

attention to

logic and

reasoning of

points. Unity

clearly leads the

reader to the

conclusion and

stirs thought

regarding the

topic. Tells a

complete story.

Writing is

coherent and

logically

organized with

transitions used

between ideas

and paragraphs

to create

coherence.

Overall unity of

ideas is present.

Writing is

coherent and

logically

organized.

Some points

remain

misplaced and

stray from the

topic.

Transitions

evident but not

used throughout

essay.

Writing lacks

logical

organization. It

shows some

coherence but

ideas lack unity.

Serious errors.

Style and

Format

Shows

outstanding

style going

beyond usual

college level;

rhetorical

devices and

tone used

effectively;

creative use of

sentence

structure and

coordination.

Meets all

formal and

assignment

requirements

and evidences

attention to

detail; all

margins,

spacing and

indentations are

correct; essay is

neat and

correctly

assembled with

professional

look.

Attains college

level style; tone

is appropriate

and rhetorical

devices used to

enhance

content;

sentence variety

used

effectively.

Meets format

and assignment

requirements;

margins,

spacing, and

indentations are

correct; essay is

neat and

correctly

assembled.

Approaches

college level

usage of some

variety in

sentence

patterns,

diction, and

rhetorical

devices. Meets

format and

assignment

requirements;

generally

correct margins,

spacing, and

indentations;

essay is neat but

may have some

assembly errors.

Mostly in

elementary form

with little or no

variety in

sentence

structure,

diction,

rhetorical

devices or

emphasis. Fails

to follow format

and assignment

requirements;

incorrect

margins,

spacing and

indentation;

neatness of

essay needs

attention.

Grammar and

Mechanics

Essay is free of

distracting

spelling,

punctuation,

and

grammatical

errors; absent of

fragments,

comma splices,

and run-ons.

Essay has few

spelling,

punctuation,

and

grammatical

errors allowing

reader to follow

ideas clearly.

Very few

fragments or

run-ons.

Most spelling,

punctuation,

and grammar

correct allowing

reader to

progress though

essay. Some

errors remain.

Spelling,

punctuation, and

grammatical

errors create

distraction,

making reading

difficult;

fragments,

comma splices,

run-ons evident.

Errors are

frequent.