2. Research paper & symposium presentation

25%

- Instead of a final, you will complete a research paper on a topic related to the course material and give an oral presentation to the class at the end of the semester (specific instructions will be made available at a later date). As with other assignments, the goal of this research is to encourage you to learn more about reefs while developing valuable thinking, writing, and speaking skills that will be critical in any career you choose to pursue. Papers will be graded on scientific content and accuracy, organization, and careful presentation of material. You are strongly encouraged to have one or more of your colleagues review and edit your paper before you hand it in. Careful proofreading will be critical as correct grammar and spelling, etc., will count most definitely in your favor when evaluating your paper!

3. Detailed outline of final research paper

10%

- Due shortly after spring break, this annotated, 2-paged, typed outline will ensure that you have at least a half-semester start on your final research topic. Please include a minimum of 5 non-web, current and up-to-date, primary references. Note that a hasty (e.g., shoddy) outline will have a negative impact on the final grade for your paper.

4. Participation in discussions

15%

- Active participation in discussions involving all aspects of the course is encouraged. Be prepared to ask and answer questions, debate issues, contribute information from assigned articles and individual research, offer opposing points of view, and generate opinions on discussion topics.

5. Annotated bibliography of assigned readings

15%

- I will use an informal grading system to check your written notes of each week's assigned articles: + (supersatisfactory); (satisfactory); - (unsatisfactory). Your notes should include and emphasize the following: complete citation of article; major points of the article; author's major conclusions; relevance and appropriateness of evidence cited to support conclusions; new geologic ideas/concepts/information not encountered by you before; major unanswered questions or questions resolved; and relevance to broader topic being discussed. Turn in a xerox copy of your notes at the beginning of each class for me to "grade"; keep a copy for you to refer to during seminar discussions.

6. Response essay, peer interview, and Environmental Review assignment

10%

- To emphasize the importance of making science accessible to the general public, each of you will compose a response essay to a reef video and also produce an informational article, poem, short story, play, interactive exercise (for school children or college students), video, etc. about reefs. Your goal is to craft something in a special, creative way that will educate the general public about the importance and value of reefs in human society. This will require you to extract and judiciously use information from everything you have learned in the first part of the semester, including interviews with your peers about their research. The class will decide which of these to submit for possible publication in Colgate's annual Environmental Review.

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