Writing Assignment

Term Paper (60 pts) - choice:  write about 1) a technique, 2) a drug, or 3) a Nobel Laureate.  (~5 pages text plus relevant figures and tables with meaningful captions).

To earn an excellent grade on your reports, you must:

•  communicate clearly;

•  make it interesting and informative to the reader;

•  answer all listed questions, with your thinking clearly explained;

•  turn the report in on time;  turn the report in on time (late penalty - 4 pts/ first day + 2 pts/additional day; no credit after 10 days)

•  be neat, with few or no spelling or grammatical errors.

•  format for your reports:

  • use one and one-half spacing for the body of your text

  • use single spacing for figure captions and references

  • references: include at least 4 primary references (see below) in J Biol Chem style - place a number within the text (1) and then provide a list of references at the end, single spaced.  e.g., Borst, P., and Elferink, R. O. (2002) Annu. Rev. Biochem. 71, 537–592 .

  • references for non-scientific papers: MLA (Modern Language Association) style is most commonly used to write papers and cite sources within the liberal arts and humanities  (see Online Writing Lab - OWL link).

  • make sure that Figures included have a figure legend and Tables have a title or heading

  • make sure all required information is on your cover page

   EXAMPLE  OF  WC-2  (should not be this long, but this example is well done in style!)

Technique:  Choose a technique not covered in detail in this course or focus on an application of a technique covered, or not, in this course.  Write a brief ( 5 pages of text + figures + tables) report on the technique or an application of the technique that is of interest to you.  

Cover:  On the cover of your report include: 1) a title for your report, 2) your name, 3) the date and class, 4) the technique.  

Body: Organize your written presentation as you see fit, but do your best to make it interesting, informative, grammatically correct, and a pleasure to read.  You might start by providing a brief overview of the theory employed in the technique, what instruments are used, what are the advantages or disadvantages of this method or other methods that might be used.  

References:  see above

Grading - total 60 pts: (Points breakdown:   title page with information asked for (3), understanding and explanation of technique (12), applications of technique (10), advantages and disadvantages (5), tells a clear, interesting story (15), good use of tables and figures (5), references, number, type and style (5), and minimum of typos and errors (5) - may vary depending on approach taken.)

Drug:  Choose a drug (any drug).  Write a brief (5 pages text + figures + tables) report on an aspect of the drug that is of interest to you.   

Cover: Include: 1) a title for your report, 2) your name, 3) the date and class, 4) the drug.  

Body:  Organize your written presentation as you see fit, but do your best to make it interesting, informative, grammatically correct, and a pleasure to read.  For instance, you might describe its history.  How and when was it discovered?  What is it supposed to do?  Describe how it works, at the molecular level.  What proteins or pathways does it influence?  Is it a natural product?  If so, where does it originate.  Is it synthetic?  If so, how is it made.  Note what techniques were important in characterizing the drug.  You might find it most enriching to choose a drug with which you or a friend or family member have a personal experience.  Suggestions are anything you have recently taken yourself, aspirin, any antibiotic, an anti-depressant, any anti-cancer drug or therapeutic, any pain killer, etc, etc, etc.  Substances do not have to be FDA approved (i.e., St. John's wort is OK) or legal in the US, though you may want to choose something where there is some information about the mechanism by which it works.  

References:  see above

Grading - total 60 pts:  (Points breakdown:   title page with information asked for (3), history of drug (10), understanding of how it works (12), advantages and disadvantages (5), tells a clear, interesting story (15), good use of tables and figures (5), references, number, type and style (5), and minimum of typos and errors (5) - may vary depending on approach taken.) 

Nobel Laureate:  Scientist: Choose a Nobel Laureate or other scientist and write a biography or story about that person (5 pages text + figures + tables) that is of interest to you.  

Cover: Include: 1) a title for your report, 2) your name, 3) the date and class, 4) the name of person, 5) what did this person do that was notable .  

Body:  Organize your written presentation as you see fit, but do your best to make it interesting, informative, grammatically correct, and a pleasure to read.  For instance, you might describe a new method or major scientific discovery.  What led to the person making the major break through in light of where our understanding of the science was at that time.  

References:  see above

Grading - total 60 pts:  (Points breakdown:   title page with information asked for (3), biography or story on the person selected (15) and an understanding of their contributions (12), tells a clear, interesting story (15), good use of tables and figures (5), references, number, type and style (5), and minimum of typos and errors (5) - may vary depending on approach taken.)  

Regarding plagiarism:  Please be aware that plagiarism is considered to be ethically unacceptable. Here is a one suggestion as to how to avoid plagiarism: While reading the sources of information that you plan to use in preparing your assignment, take notes on the content, using your own words.  While preparing your paper, refer to your notes, rather than the original source.  If you feel the need to use a phrase from a source, be sure to put the phrase in quotes, and reference the source.  In these days of the internet, it is very easy to find material that can be easily be plagiarized. Be warned, however, that the existence of the internet makes it much easier than ever before to detect plagiarism.  If you plagiarize in writing assignments, you run a high risk of getting caught, and a high risk of failing the course.

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