In this project, between 3-5 students (a self-selected group) will collaborate as a team to research a topic, select and develop figures/tables, and to identify the 15 literature citations. Each group of students will submit a single paper (and receive the same score).
The objective of this assignment is to produce an interesting and informative synthesis on aspects of natural vegetation or of a specific species found on campus or nearby in the Wasatch Mountains. Once a topic is selected, then the objective is to relate aspects of that species (or its biome) to either the ecology of the biome or to global changes currently underway. This provides a fair amount of latitude for groups to develop their synthesis paper. As you may know, the University serves as the State Arboretum and there are more than 13,000 trees on campus. The University's Grounds staff work hard to achieve a broad diversity of plants for us to enjoy, with hundreds of shrub and grass species. Within this assignment, you are to inform and educate your reader about your selected topic. Creativity, clear and organized writing, synthesis, informative figures, and the use of appropriate scientific literature citations are essential elements of this assignment. The walking tours during the first five weeks will introduce you to broad categories of plants on campus.
Think broadly about topics and link them to vegetation on campus. For instance, you may be very interested in avalanche ecology. As your entry point, consider that both willows and aspens are often found in avalanche chutes and these trees are also found on campus; that is one possible way to eatablish a link.
Click here to see the document preparation guidelines and the grading instructions for this assignment.
References in your papers must follow the Ecology style format.
Your graded paper will include detailed feedback documenting your score and listing the ways in which the paper could be improved. If your score is less than 90, then you can revise and resubmit the paper within one week after receiving the graded paper, addressing the constructive comments for an improved score.
The objective of this assignment is to produce an interesting and informative synthesis on aspects of natural vegetation or of a specific species found on campus or nearby in the Wasatch Mountains. Once a topic is selected, then the objective is to relate aspects of that species (or its biome) to either the ecology of the biome or to global changes currently underway. This provides a fair amount of latitude for groups to develop their synthesis paper. As you may know, the University serves as the State Arboretum and there are more than 13,000 trees on campus. The University's Grounds staff work hard to achieve a broad diversity of plants for us to enjoy, with hundreds of shrub and grass species. Within this assignment, you are to inform and educate your reader about your selected topic. Creativity, clear and organized writing, synthesis, informative figures, and the use of appropriate scientific literature citations are essential elements of this assignment. The walking tours during the first five weeks will introduce you to broad categories of plants on campus.
Think broadly about topics and link them to vegetation on campus. For instance, you may be very interested in avalanche ecology. As your entry point, consider that both willows and aspens are often found in avalanche chutes and these trees are also found on campus; that is one possible way to eatablish a link.
Click here to see the document preparation guidelines and the grading instructions for this assignment.
References in your papers must follow the Ecology style format.
- Click here to get full details on the Ecology style format.
- Click here for examples using the Ecology style format
Your graded paper will include detailed feedback documenting your score and listing the ways in which the paper could be improved. If your score is less than 90, then you can revise and resubmit the paper within one week after receiving the graded paper, addressing the constructive comments for an improved score.