Physics 3070, Fall '00 - Term Paper/Project information

An important requirement in this course is for you to prepare a term paper based on your own independent research on any issue you choose, directly related to energy and the environment (topic subject to my approval!)

Fri Oct 20: Written choice of topic (which I must approve). A line or two is fine.

Fri, Nov 10: Brief abstract and an outline (with at least 3 references).

Fri, Dec 1. Paper is due.

(Any missed deadlines => 15% penalty on the final paper grade per class day late.)

The paper should be betwen 5 and 8 pages, double spaced, normal font size, single sided.

In addition, please add a TITLE PAGE that has only your name, the date, the title, and a short ABSTRACT (< 100 words)

The text should start with an introduction which clearly outlines your topic. The body contains the relevant facts, information, and results, and your analysis/discussion, along with figures and/or tables. Finish with clear conclusion(s). You must include at least 8 references (at least 2 of which must come from somewhere besides the web) References should be clear and complete enough that I could look them up without any difficulty.

I will grade on content, organization, use of evidence/reference, logic, and clarity of presentation. (Please use a spell and grammar checker, help make it easy for me to read!)

The goal is not just to present a "book report" - but to demonstrate your ability to reason critically. Prove that you are a well informed citizen who presents your views based upon facts, calculations, and careful, balanced considerations. The quality and level of the paper should be acceptable as an editorial in a newspaper.

Presentations: You will also make a short (8 minute) presentation of your topic to the class, plus a few minutes for questions/discussion. We'll use class periods on Fri Dec 8 through Wed Dec 13, and ALSO Mon Dec 18 (7:30-10, our scheduled final exam period) for these presentations. Attendance at all presentations will be mandatory - although I won't grade your presentation, you will lose significant points on your term paper if you are not present and participating for the presentations of others (or your own, of course)

8 minutes is NOT enough time to fully present your term paper! You must summarize key points, the research and facts you found, and the results/analysis you made. You should plan to use overhead transparencies for your presentations. This kind of formal presentation is standard in business, politics, and academia - don't let it stress you out, you will not be formally graded on the presentation, consider it an opportunity for us all to learn something!

Possible topics - but don't restrict yourself to these! I encourage you to find and suggest your own ideas. Feel free to talk with me if you're not sure about a topic. This is just a few right off the top of my head... Pick something you're interested in. If you choose something controversial, great! (The grade is not based on whether I agree with your conclusions, only whether you present and argue them well! )

Pro's and cons of public transportation (or... of nuclear power, or of freon, or of recycling, or of wind energy, or whatever potentially controversial issue you're interested in..)

Energy use in underdeveloped countries - present and future.

Role of government in environmental protection, or more generally, contemporary politics of energy...

Future of cars (or of energy supplies) - e.g, "Energy use in 2050"

Cancer and the environment

Population growth, and the relation to energy consumption

Energy conservation in the home.

Innovations, novel technologies...

Nuclear safety issues (or nuclear waste disposal, or nuclear weapons proliferation...)

Future prospects of... you name it - fusion, solar, coal, ocean thermal conversion, batteries, ...

Hazardous waste issues.

CO2 emissions, global climate change.

"Voodoo Science" (title of a recent book by Bob Park, highly recommended - I'm quite certain you will enjoy it!) How do you make rational decisions about controversial issues, how do you decide if evidence is "scientific"? Following the example of Bob Park to analyze some other voodoo science he didn't have in his book would make a great paper.