Everyone
taking GEOL/HYDR 564 must complete a term project. The final product of
this project will be a written paper with ~10-15 pages of written
text plus figures, tables and references. The project must consist
of original work and can take the form of:
1) a report on a research project conducted as part of a thesis or
job
2) an in-depth critical review of the literature of a
topic related to the course content
3) a report on original field-based, theoretical or experimental
research undertaken solely for this course
4) a well-researched and documented proposal for a research project
In
any form, the paper must utilize knowledge and techniques learned
in the course, e.g., solubility calculations, construction of pe-pH
or activity-activity diagrams, etc.
A
high-school style term paper in which you simply regurgitate a
bunch of facts or other people's opinions will not be acceptable.
You must employ quantitative, analytical thinking and solid
geochemical principles in your paper.
The
paper will include an abstract, briefly summarizing the chief
findings of your paper. Statements, data, figures, and ideas
taken from other sources should be properly referenced using the
format of journal of your choice. Direct quotations should be used
only sparingly, enclosed in quotation marks and referenced
accordingly. All other writing should be in your own words. Plagiarism
is a serious offense and will result in failure of the course.
If you are unsure what constitutes plagiarism, check with me or
some other trusted source. If necessary, I would rather struggle
with reading a student's own imperfect words than see perfectly
written sentences lifted from a book or journal or website.
The paper should follow the overall format of a scientific journal
of your choice such as Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, Chemical
Geology, Environmental Science and Technology, Applied
Geochemistry etc.
