discussion & essay

Requirements:

Associated Objectives

· Connect concepts within astronomy and cosmology to current scientific research and discovery

· Discuss the role of science and technology in our everyday lives 

· Identify the different branches of science and their applications 

Big Discoveries and Bright Ideas in Astronomy and Cosmology

In this discussion, you will be discussing currents events and recent research related to astronomy (the study of stars) or cosmology (the study of the origins of the universe).

Note that planets and solar systems (covered in a separate chapter of our textbook that is not included in this course) do not directly fall under the disciplines of astronomy or cosmology. Keep this in mind when choosing your essay topic!

The goal of this discussion is to connect science concepts to their application in the world around us, which is one of the main objectives of this course.

This discussion activity contains two separately scored parts:

1. Developing and posting an essay

2. Developing and posting an essay response

Essay Requirements

· Choose a science news article that highlights a current event or recent research related to either astronomy or cosmology. In searching for an appropriate article, the following online science news sources are suggested. (Do not use reference websites such as Wikipedia or Internet blogs as sources.)

· Science Daily (Links to an external site.)

· e! Science News  (Links to an external site.)

· Phys.org  (Links to an external site.)

· After reading and gaining a clear understanding of the article, construct an engaging three-paragraph essay that completely and concisely* fulfills the following requirements

· Paragraph 1 – develop a summary, in your own words, of the article's main points

· Paragraph 2 – outline, in your own words and ideas, direct and specific connections between the article and one or more specific concepts presented in this week’s readings and lesson material relevant to the topic

· Paragraph 3 – provide your perspective on the article’s importance, drawing on your own experiences as applicable

· Provide the exact web address that links directly to the article

Original work is expected. Write your essay and response primarily in your own words, using appropriate paraphrase, summary, and synthesis techniques when integrating information from course material, our textbook, or other sources. Reserve use of an author’s exact words only when the language is especially vivid, unique, or needed for technical accuracy.