Final Paper Guidelines

(papers are due by the last day of finals)

For your final papers I would like to see the following:

1. Papers should be around 5-7 pages double-spaced (I'm not particularly fussy about length so use this only as a guide).

2. I expect to see some library research (not just use of the Internet, unless that is the only resource available for your project). Please reference your sources appropriately, using either a scientific convention

EX. Mount St. Helens erupted on May 18, 1980 (Mullineaux et al., 1981)

or footnotes. All sources should be listed in a Bibliography at the end of the paper. When listing web sites, give the complete URL address in addition to the name of the site.

3. I would like to see some logical organization. Start with an Introduction that clearly states the topic of your research, why you were interested in it, the context, etc. Summarize the information that you found, including figures or tables where appropriate. Include a discussion of your own that analyzes the data in some way (i.e. I want to see your thoughts here). Then finish with a concluding paragraph that refers back to the stated purpose in the Introduction.

Grades will based on 4 categories:

(1) Introduction - how well the purpose of the paper is stated (10 pts)

(2) Data - both research and writing (particularly organization of the material; 50 pts.)

(3) Analysis - personal thought/input/analysis of the data (30 pts.)

(4) Presentation details - use of references and/or figures (10 pts.)