Assignments

Graduate students
To receive graduate credit, you’ll write longer responses and a longer paper.

ASSIGNMENTS (clink links to see details below)	POINTS
8 blog posts and 8 comments (25 points each)	200 points
Paper outline and classmate feedback	25 points
Paper (academic or journalistic) or multimedia project	175 points
15-minute oral presentation (with handout)	50 points
Participation	50 points
Attendance
Total	500 points

ASSIGNMENTS	POINTS
8 blog posts and 8 comments (25 points each) For each week’s readings, please do the following by 3 p.m. Sunday: Post a 250-word response on our class website. (Graduate students, please write 350 words.) Discuss the main ideas in the readings. You might want to compare and contrast the various readings for that week or relate them to earlier assigned readings, guest speakers or activities. Include two questions at the end of the post that relate to the material you read. Comment on one of your classmate’s posts. To receive credit, your comment needs to be more thoughtful than a one-word “awesome” or “fascinating.”	200 points
Grading criteria: We’ll evaluate how well you demonstrate your understanding of the main concepts of each week’s readings, how clearly and succinctly you express them and how well you ask questions of the text. Points will be deducted for failing to include the two questions for discussion and/or to comment on one of your classmate’s posts. For details, see the rubric.
Paper (academic or journalistic) or multimedia project Your main project is an academic paper OR a journalistic story written for possible publication of 2,000 to 2,500 words (or longer with permission) OR a documentary or other multimedia project. (Graduate students, please write 2,500 to 3,500 words—or longer with permission.) Consider the issue’s socio-historical, economic and political aspects. We’ll give you feedback on your outline, first draft and final version before you turn in the revision for grading. We’ll upload the final papers and projects on our course website at the end of the semester.	200 points
Grading criteria: We’ll evaluate how well you focus, research, organize and write an academic paper or a journalistic story or produce a multimedia project.
15-minute oral presentation (with handout) Grad students:Present a lesson to the class about some aspect of science journalism, such as how to find sources using Twitter OR how to write a sidebar OR how to plan an attractive infographic. (You could pick one aspect of the possible topics at https://scicats1.wordpress.com/assignments/project-topics/) Keep the presentation to no more than 10 minutes so you have at least 5 minutes for discussion or an activity. Undergraduates: You may present a lesson to the class about some aspect of science journalism (see above) OR summarize and present the main points of your paper or multimedia project to the class. Keep the presentation to no more than 10 minutes so you have at least 5 minutes for discussion or an activity. Include at least one multimedia element that helps bring the ideas to life. This multimedia element could be anything from a YouTube video or short film clip to an example from a science website or an exercise you created for your classmates. Lastly, craft a one-page handout (and bring enough hard copies for each class member) that briefly outlines your main ideas. Include questions and ideas to stimulate class discussion, which you’ll lead. After the presentation, we’ll post your handout and links to any multimedia on the course website.	50 points
Grading criteria: We’ll look at how well you summarize and present the main points, provide a multimedia element for additional interest and motivate your classmates toward a good discussion.
Participation Completing readings in advance and discussing them in class is one example of participation we’ll assess. During class discussions, you’re encouraged to go beyond the responses you’ve written to add information you’ve gleaned from newspapers or magazines and seen on broadcasts or online sites. Keep track of sources and refer to them in class.	50 points
Grading criteria: We’ll evaluate your contributions to class discussions in quality and number (how frequently you add to the discussion). Asking questions is part of this.
Attendance See the attendance policy. Excused absences are granted only for valid, documented reasons. If you must miss class for a legitimate reason, you must let Carol know in advance—via e-mail or a phone call—and the reason why. If you have two unexcused absences, your grade will drop by one letter. After your third unexcused absence, you’ll be administratively dropped or, if the third absence is after the university drop deadline, you’ll fail the class (E).
Total	500 points