Psychological focus on motivation and a "how to" style guid for getting both motivated and fit.
Please follow the direction of my research proposal, but
... [Show More] you can expand it. Not to focus on my own experiences in fitness too much, but could be about people with more expertise.
For our final writing assignment this semester, you will write an in-depth and thoroughly
researched article about a science topic for an intelligent and curious but non-specialized public –
one you might find in a popular science magazine. It can be an argument-driven or informative
piece, an inquiry essay (with or without fieldwork), or a feature story (a researched narrative,
profile, and/or human-interest piece). What matters is that: one, it’s intelligent and well-
researched, and two, it’s engaging. Magazine editors look for material to grab readers’
attention and keep it. It’s your job to provide that material.
You need to:
• Choose a science topic and/or issue. It should be something that is of great interest to
you and to your readers.
• Choose an angle with which to shape the article and guide your research. What do you
want your paper to accomplish? Why will it matter to your reader?
Purposes:
To consider how we think, research, and write about the things that matter to us.
To consider a variety of contexts, including social, historical, political, economic, etc.
To refine one’s understanding of research and the writing process.
To better understand common organizational strategies, and to demonstrate the ability to
successfully employ those strategies in original writing.
You’re welcome to explore physical sciences (physics, chemistry); life sciences (biology, ecology,
neurology); social sciences (psychology, sociology); technology and computer science; architecture,
design and engineering, etc. I’m also willing to entertain ideas that are not strictly considered
science but can be approached from a scientific perspective. For instance, music, drama, and
literature are not often engaged with through a scientific lens, but certain scientists might have
something interesting to say about how and why certain people or peoples produce these works,
how audiences react to them, or how they’re distributed to and consumed by the public. Be
creative.
For sources and inspiration, check out Discovery Magazine, Wired Magazine, National Geographic,
Scientific American, etc. Most large newspapers have online science sections, too.
The Researched Article
This paper should be a thorough, informative treatment of your chosen subject; you should write
as an expert, sharing your knowledge of and critical perspective on the topic. You will submit a
rough draft for review, followed by a final, polished copy for evaluation.
Format and Content Requirements
• The article must be in MLA or APA style.
• The article must be at least 2,300 words (7-8 pages).
• The article must use and cite at least 8 sources
o 2 of these sources should be academic or professional journal articles.
Assessment and Evaluation Criteria
Your writing in each part of this assignment should be thoughtful and thorough. I will be
evaluating your work based not only on the quality of its content but also on the attention paid to
formatting and editing concerns. Sloppy, careless work reflects badly on you, no matter how
brilliant your writing’s content.
Evaluation Criteria:
These are the questions I will ask as I evaluate your article:
• How clearly is the paper’s subject identified? • How purposefully is the paper organized? Does the paper’s content fulfill specific functions
that contribute to its success (hook, case study, historical illustration or example, introductory/
guiding question or idea, critical reflection/analysis, etc.)?
• Is the paper’s organization compelling? Is it clearly focused? Does it propel me forward as I
read?
• How effectively is research incorporated into the paper? How well does the research fit into
the paper’s overall flow and support or inform its main idea/argument? • Does the paper fulfill the minimum length and source requirements?
• How polished is the paper? Is it cohesive, well organized, and neatly edited?
• Is the writing style formally conversational? • Is the paper formatted correctly? (MLA or APA Style)
• Does the paper exhibit proper grammar and punctuation? [Show Less]