Geology 6900, Spring 2008

GEOLOGICAL MANUSCRIPTS

INSTRUCTOR

COURSE STRUCTURE

This course will be conducted in a combined lecture/discussion/laboratory format. We will meet once a week: Tuesdays from 6:30 until 9:30 p.m. The Schedule of Topics, Assignments, and Writing Deadlines will be strictly adhered to throughout the semester. Your attendance at every session is expected, as is your participation in discussions and group projects. Your grade will be based on your writing assignments, your class participation, and your reviews of other students' work. The document "Understanding Grades" explains the grading philosophy used in this course.

SUGGESTED TEXTS

  • Cochran, W. and Fenner P., 1984 (or later), Geowriting
  • Bates, R. L., 1988 (or later), Writing in Earth Science
  • Bates, R. L. and Jackson, J. A., 1984 (or later), Dictionary of Geologic Terms
  • Strunk, W. and White, E. B., 1979 (or later), The Elements of Style

OTHER USEFUL REFERENCES (LOOK FOR THESE AND SIMILAR TITLES IN THE LIBRARY OR ONLINE)

  • Booth, V., 1987, Communicating in science: Writing and Speech
  • Hacker, D., 1988, Rules for Writers
  • Malde, H. E., 1986, Guidelines for reviewers of Geological Manuscripts
  • North American Commission on Stratigraphic Nomenclature, 1983, North American Stratigraphic Code
  • USGS, 1986 (or later), Suggestions to Authors, USGS Profession Paper # ?
  • Wing Books, NY, 1986, Manual of Style, A Guide to the Basics of Good Writing prepared by the US

Goverment Printing Office

  • This site's "links" page

IMPORTANT GEOLOGICAL JOURNALS

The journals listed below are considered standards in their disciplines. I urge you to become familiar with all of them, particularly those in your own field of interest. All articles written in this class will be written in the format and style of the journal (from this list) most appropriate to the article's subject -- papers will be written as if to be submitted for publication.

American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin (devoted to all aspects of basin research: sedimentology, geochemistry, etc.)

Geochemica Cosmochemica Acta (devoted to the science of geochemistry)

Geological Society of America Bulletin (articles of a regional or topical nature; almost all subdisciplines of geology are covered)

Geology (short, topical articles in all subdisciplines)

Ground Water (articles on both scientific and engineering aspects of hydrology)

The Holocene (focuses on environmental change over the last 10,000 years)

Journal of Geophysical Research -- Solid Earth (articles on the physics and chemistry of the solid Earth and the liquid core, includes reports on geophysics, volcanology, gravity, tectonics, paleomagnetism, etc.)

Journal of Sedimentary Research (formerly Journal of Sedimentary Petrology; now published in two parts (A and B); articles concerning all aspects of sedimentology and sedimentary petrology)

Marine Geology (articles concerning all aspects of marine geology)

Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology (devoted to the study of paleo-environmental geology)

Quaternary Research (interdisciplinary articles dealing with the last 2 million years of Earth history)

Water Resources Research (articles on both the social and natural sciences of water)

WRITING ASSIGNMENTS

The total amount of finished copy (final draft) expected from each student is approximately 20 to 30 pages. Students will read each other's first drafts and write commentary; I will read and comment on second drafts; third drafts will be placed together with the first two in a portfolio to be submitted at the end of the semester. The portfolio will include all work done during the semester:

  • Abstract (250 words or less)
  • Proposal for research (3 to 10 pages; absolute maximum = 10 pages; may use departmental, Sigma Xi, or GSA format)
  • Two short articles of publication quality (7 to 10 pages plus abstract and diagrams)
  • Editorial commentary on classmates' work

All writing must be based on recent or ongoing scientific research. If you are currently involved in an independent study project, if you are doing (or have done) a small-scale research project for another class, or if you are working on a master's thesis, you may use your own research as topics. Otherwise you must come up with appropriate, small-scale projects for your papers. These projects may involve laboratory research or field work (for example, 1/2 to 1 day of field work on a local outcrop could be used to write a short paper on the depositional environments of a formation), they may use previously gathered data as a basis for new interpretations (for example, a grain-size analysis of a beach profile from already sieved materials -- you describe the methodology, do some statistics, write up the results, etc.), or they may be based on data you are collecting (or have collected) in another class. Library research reports and descriptions of other researchers' work will not be accepted. All drafts of the reports and the proposal must include a list of references.

PHYSICAL FORMAT OF ALL COPY

All work (except in-class editorial comments) must be produced using MS Word, and proofed. Your documents should have no spelling errors, nor should it exhibit problems in punctuation or other writing mechanics. Such care ensures that your work will receive the best possible reading.

First and second drafts of all work will be submitted as Word document files via electronic mail to the appropriate editors and to Rigsby or FTP. If you submit via FTP, you must also e-mail your editors and Rigsby to alert them that the file is available.

Use the following convention for file names: AssignmentName_DraftNumber_YourLastName.doc. For example, John Doe's second draft of Article 1 would be named Article1_Draft2_Doe.doc. All students are expected to be familiar with the procedures for naming, sending, and receiving electronic files. To this end, you are encouraged to send me test files via both e-mail and FTP before our 2nd class meeting.

The drafts will be peer-reviewed and returned to the author.

Final drafts will be submitted as printed manuscripts only. The final portfolio will contain printed copies of all written material (including commentary and reviews) prepared during the semester.

How your copy looks can be as important as how it reads and as the quality of the science therein. For final drafts, make sure that your printer prints black, clean letters and that margins and spacing are consistent. The physical layout of your paper (margins, spacing, referencing style, etc.) will be dependent on the journal you choose. Be sure to follow the journal's guidelines carefully.

Print your name and address (the ECU address is appropriate here), the name of the journal you are writing for, and the date submitted on the title page. Do not include the name of the course or the instructor. Remember, you are to format the papers as you would if you were submitting them to a professional journal.

Always retain a copy of everything you submit, including commentary.

After submitted work is returned, retain all copies (including editorial comments and reviewed copy) so that you can include them in your portfolio.

You'll probably find yourself using lots of paper, both for drafts and commentary. Although submitted work must be on clean paper, please make an attempt to use scratch paper when you can. Used printer paper (with only one side printed) is usually available in the geology computer lab -- please use it whenever possible.

BOTTOM LINE

Writing deadlines are not negotiable. Neither are the obligations to attend class regularly, be prompt and punctual, and be consistently prepared. The old adage about getting back what you put forth is true. If you don't enthusiastically contribute to the class, you -- and the rest of the class -- suffer.


Date last revised: 1:21 PM 01/13/2008
http://core.ecu.edu/geology/rigsbyc/rigsby/Manuscripts/prospectus.html