The manuscript component of the final project is worth 15%. The projects will involve a literature review alone or an analysis and interpretation of factual, scientific data on a topic chosen by the student. Examples of topics are (but are not limited to these) water resources, drinking water, wastewater, eutrophication, harmful algal blooms, watershed management, surface or groundwater quality, coastal water quality, solid waste management, agriculture, and nutrition. Students may analyze data (research) and do an opinion paper or a scientific literature review. They may search the literature for technical aspects such as an alternative or novel technology. If a technological approach is chosen, the paper will describe that technology, which could be implemented for any of these purposes: To access water for a given use (e.g., drinking, agriculture, or industrial). To treat a specific type of wastewater (e.g., urban, agriculture, or industrial). To dispose of solid waste. To produce food sustainably. APA style and typed in 12-point font, the paper may extend up to 12 pages, 1.5 line space (including references and images). If it is a research paper, it must follow the format of a regular scientific research paper: Title, abstract, introduction, methods, results/discussion, and conclusions. Suppose it is a literature review or an opinion paper. In that case, you need to include more references than a research paper. Also, in that case, you don’t need to follow the format structure of a research paper, but you still need an abstract and conclusions. Students will turn in the paper portion of the project as digital files through Canvas. More details will be discussed in the next class session. Rubric: Project paper (Microsoft Word document) Abstract Short summary condensing the main components of the manuscript. It should clearly and concisely capture the main sections of the paper. 1 For instance, if it is a research manuscript, the abstract must synthesize in few lines the introduction, methodology, results and conclusions. Introduction Clearly stated issue to be analyzed (problem definition). Definition of the opportunity to solve the problem. 1 Objective: If the manuscript propose a solution to the problem then this section should include a definition of the solution proposed by the author (in the case of research papers and forums) or by others (in the case of a literature review paper). Otherwise, just define what the author seeks with this analysis. 1 Scope, range or extent to which this project is addressed (delimitation of the project defined). Who or what will receive benefit from this work and at what extent. 0.5 What other researchers have concluded from their studies on the same topic and what they are missing. 0.5 Methodology (This section may be called differently if you are doing a literature review) Description of how the student approached the problem, either by literature review or by data analysis 1 Outline of steps for organization of articles reviewed or data preparation (depending on the case) 1 Topics organized in a coherent sequence / description of analysis conducted (analytical or statistical methods, software used, techniques, etc.) 1 Results (This section could be joined with discussion- you can call this section with other name if you are doing a literature review) Accurate and concise descriptions of the status of your topic according to what you found in the literature reviewed or in the data analyzed. 1 Observations made from figures and tables are referring to figure and table numbers. 1 Discussion (This section could be joined with results- you can call this section with other name if you are doing a literature review) Interpretation of the results and recommendations 1 Suggestions for future work to remove limitations or expand the scope of analysis 1 Conclusion Well formulated conclusion 1 References All citations in the text included in the references 1 There is no limit for the number of references to use but at least 10 of them should be peer reviewed articles. 0.5 APA style or the format of the journal that you might have in mind for a potential submission. 0.5 Overall quality of the manuscript 1 Good grammar, good articulation of words and good flow throughout the entire manuscript. Total Paper: 15
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