Purpose:
1) To go beyond the course topics and focus on a specific issue which is of particular interest to you and which involves chemistry. You can focus on an issue not covered in class or discuss in greater depth a topic covered in class.
2) To become more familiar with sources of scientific information and methods of presenting scientific information.
3) To enhance your writing skills.
Assignment:
Write a 3 – 4 page typewritten report, double-spaced, on a topic of interest to you that involves chemistry (page limit does not include figures or bibliography). Assume that you are writing this report to someone who is not a scientist. Your report should include the following:
• introduction
• explanation of the issue and the chemistry
• incorporate into the report, your own perspective based on your major, hobbies, and/or experiences
• bibliography (use superscripted numbers in the text to reference the source of information in the numbered bibliography)
Topics:
Explore newspapers, magazines, and the internet for topics. An appropriate topic should be fairly narrow topic so that you can explore it in some depth in your report. Try to find a topic that is of particular interest to you. Here are a few examples:
• advantages or disadvantages of exercise
• lithium batteries (in ipods, cell phones, laptops, …)
• Southland lettuce contaminated with perchlorates
• effect of cooking on indoor air quality
• San Onofre nuclear power plant
• discuss a prescription drug that you take
• fuel cells to power cars
• how a specific metal ore is converted into a useful material (for example, the titanium in racing bikes, the zinc in sunblocks, …)
• genetically modified corn
• or any other topic that is of interest to you and which involves chemistry
Make sure your report includes some of the chemistry you’ve learned from this class:
• green chemistry (chapter 1 and in all chapters)
• atoms (chapter 2)
• atomic structure (chapter 3)
• nuclear chemistry (chapter 11)
• chemical bonds and intermolecular forces (chapter 4 & 6)
• chemical accounting (chapter 5 & 6)
• acids & bases (chapter 7)
• oxidation & reduction (chapter 8)
• polymers (chapter 10)
Writing, feedback, and the peer review process:
When a scientist writes a paper for publication, s/he usually goes through the following steps
1) write an outline
2) get the ideas down on paper (don’t worry about structure, grammar)
3) edit the paper, focusing on the overall ideas and structure (don’t worry about grammar)
4) edit the paper, focusing now on grammar
5) have coworkers review the paper
6)&nbs
p; revise the paper
p; revise the paper
7) have other colleagues review the paper
8) revise the paper
9) when everyone is happy with the paper, submit it for publication
10) the paper undergoes anonymous peer review
11) make final revisions and submit for publication
Scientists rely on their coworkers and colleagues to help them clearly and accurately convey their ideas in written and oral form. This is a win-win situation (similar to helping a classmate with his/her homework). Scientists control the accuracy and quality of published journal articles via anonymous peer reviews. Again, this is a win-win situation.
One of your classmates will provide you with feedback, similar to peer review. Being human, we sometimes get upset at the comments others makes when they critique our work. Keep in mind, that the goal of this process is to improve your report (so that you get a better grade). Consequently, the more comments you receive the better.
Grade evaluation:
Your rough draft and final draft will be graded upon the following:
• does the report contain chemistry from the class?
• does the report include chemistry/applications of chemistry that go beyond what was taught in the class?
• is the level appropriate?
• is the material accurate?
• did you include all of the points mentioned in the “assignment” section above?
• is the report clear, concise, and well organized?
• is the report written in an interesting manner?
• grammar and spelling
Your peer review will be graded upon the following: did you provide good suggestions for improving your peer’s report, based on the criteria in the previous paragraph?
