Instructions for the Debate Papers

Papers must be turned in within 3 or 4 days after your presentation is
done. The time depends on the day you presented. If you present on
Tuesday, then your paper must be in by 5pm Friday. If you present on
Thursday, then your paper is due no later than 10 a.m. on the following
Monday. So if you present on a Tuesday, your written paper will be due
not later than 5 p.m. on Thursday. Papers turned in after the deadline
will lose 10% a day (including weekends) for each day after the
deadline that they are late. Hence papers turned in at 5:05 p.m. on Thursday will
lose 10%. Get the papers in on time.

• The paper should be in font size 11 or 12, single-spaced, with 1 inch margins. It must be
  word-processed. Papers that are hand written will not be accepted.
  

• You must have a title page that contains a statement of the debate/presentation
  question that you are addressing, your name, and the team (A or B) that you worked with.
  

• The content section must be at least 2 pages in length but no more that 3 pages total.
  It should start by restating the the debate/presentation question and then indicate what
  position you have taken on this question. After this "intro", you can begin to summarize
  the sceintific points and information that you feel support your position. I do expect that
  you will use mathematics, if needed, in your paper. Some topics will require this type
  of treatment. You may also include sociological, historical or other perspectives if
  they help you present your point of view. Remember though that this is primarily a scientific
  report so don't forget the science! And if it helps you defend or present your position,
  you may point out arguments that the other side might present and discuss their validity.
  Whether you need to do this or not, depends on the questions that you have chosen to present.
  

• The last page is your bibliography. You must include references in your papers for any information
  or opinions you get from outside sources, and give complete citations in the bibliography section.
  A minimum of 4 different reference sources is required, at least 2 of which are non-web sources.
  For example, you might cite evidence from 3 different pages of the Kaufmann and Freedman textbook
  in 3 places in your paper, but they would count as only one (1) single reference source.
  

• An example of complete citations and references is given below. There are many styles for
  referencing which present the same information. You may choose the style in which you want to do it as
  long as you do it and make it clear where your information comes from. The writing center or I
  can assist you with matters of citation and referencing.
  

  In the body of an example paper ...
  
  Mercury is a hot, rocky, heavily cratered planet (1) which is classified as
  a terrestrial body (2). I have seen eerie lights moving around this planet,
  and as Mercury has no atmosphere (3) in which glowing clouds of swamp-gas
  or lightning phenomenna might occur, I conclude that there is alien life either
  orbiting the planet in powerful flying sausers, or living on the surface in habitats
  with outdoor lighting that goes off and on. Many other people report seeing similar
  unexplained blinking lights on or around Mercury (4).
  
  References

  1. Kaufmann, W.J., and Freedman, R., 1998, in Universe 5th ed., W.H. Freeman
     and Company, New York, p. 250.
     

  2. Kaufmann, W.J., and Freedman, R., 1998, in Universe 5th ed., W.H. Freeman
     and Company, New York, p. 164.
     

  3. Curley, A., Moe, A., and Larry, A., Sept. 1996, Sky and Telescope,
     Vol. 42, p. 42.
     

  4. Alien abuduction web page. URL: http://aliens.aol.com/bob/abductions/roswell.html

  ---

• Plagiarism is a violation of the honor code and that means that you must paraphrase
  any work that you use from another person, or you must quote it. In either case there
  must be a reference as to who did the original work. Remember, paraphrasing does
  not mean taking the original and rearranging or changing a few words. It means read
  the original piece, and then put the original work aside. Then you write your interpretation
  of what you just read in your own words! Violations of the honor code are taken
  very seriously. Your paper must be your own work. The team may not submit one paper.
  Each person on the team must write their own paper and bring their own perspective
  and thoughts to this projects. If you have questions about this matter please come
  and see me. If you need to you may want to review the CC honor code web pages.
  
  Check out these webs pages on pliagarism and how to avoid plagiarizing in your papers.
  • Link to the What is Plagiarism page.
  • Link to the Plagiarism: What is it and how to recognize and avoid it page put out by faculty members at Indiania University.

Send questions and comments to Doc Brown.