Compose a summary (600-900 words long) of a scientific article of your choice. Aim your summary at a popular audience.
The article you choose should be about primary scientific research, although it does not have to be about biology. The article must be written by the scientist(s) who conducted the original research, but it need not necessarily be published in a professional scientific journal. Articles in Scientific American, for example, may be acceptable. An article written by a journalist who is reporting on someone else's scientific research is, however, not acceptable. The article must also be more than 3 pages long -- no exceptions.
Be sure that your summary makes an argument. You will summarize the original article, but your paper should itself make the argument that the original article makes. So, think about all the strategies for making an argument that you've learned in class. What evidence are you going to provide to support your claim and warrant? What evidence did the original article provide? Do you need to provide more or different evidence for a popular audience?
Be very clear about what comes from the original article and what comes from you. Use attributive tags (see Writing Arguments, pp. 399-400). Avoid plagiarism; write in your own words. You may quote the original, but don't quote extensively -- only when absolutely necessary. In fact, try to avoid quoting entirely. Avoid jargon and technical terminology; your audience is the general public.
You are required to give me a printed copy of the complete article you're summarizing when you submit your paper.
Keep in mind that your paper will be graded based on my usual grading criteria for papers.
I recommend that all students take advantage of the free tutoring services available through the Tutoring & Academic Enhancement Center. Click here to go to the Center's homepage for more information. For online assistance, go to the OWL (Online Writing Lab) at http://owl.department.tcnj.edu/.
Present the argument that you will be making in PAPER 3 to your classmates and your professor in a speech of 5-8 minutes. Remember to make the argument of the scientific article you're summarizing (with a claim, reasons, and evidence), but present it as if for a popular audience. Avoid jargon, and don't plagiarize the original article. Be creative, but don't sacrifice substance.
Keep in mind that your speech will be graded based on my usual grading criteria for speeches.
Click here to go to the course syllabus.