Tips for Writing your Wetland Field Trip Paper
Format Guidelines
- Your paper should be a minimum of 10-12 pages double spaced with an appropriate font. While you will not be penalized for going over 12 pages, I do not believe you can thoroughly address every item specified in the handout to receive full credit in less than 10 pages.
- Label pictures appropriately. For example, if you are required take a picture of a specific species of vegetation, your picture should clearly distinguish which plant you are referring to and label that plant. Do not provide a big picture of your vegetation and list all in the picture. There should be one picture per plant. Similar to how you have seen your vegetation pictures in your quizzes; your pictures should be clear so I know you know which plant is which.
- Make sure the work you turn in is your own and use citations when necessary. These papers will be submitted on Canvas and run through the TurnItIn.com system which will flag any instance of plagiarism.
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- An important skill to develop is clear communication of scientific concepts in writing. While you will mostly be graded on content, since this is a Capstone/4000 level course there are certain expectations regarding the overall clarity and format of your paper. As such we expect you to write at the level of a Junior/Senior in college. You should use this paper as an opportunity to practice clear scientific writing. A sample of scientific writing format is posted below. Another good resource can be found at https://cgi.duke.edu/web/sciwriting/
Sample Paragraph using Scientific Writing Format
“Geographically isolated wetlands may be naturally formed or be the result of human activities. Naturally occurring isolated wetlands are mainly represented by the following types: prairie pothole wetlands, playas, Nebraska’s Rainwater Basin and Sandhills wetlands, West Coast vernal pools, sinkhole wetlands, Carolina bays, interdunal and intradunal wetlands, desert springs, terminal basins in the Great Basin, and kettlehole, bogs in glaciated regions (Table 1). While most of these wetlands occur in depressions, some naturally isolated types form on broad flats and even on slopes. The predominant wetland types in many regions also include geographically isolated forms in closed basins.”
- Tiner, Ralph W. (2003) Geographically isolated wetlands of the United States. Wetlands, 23(3):494-516
Content Guidelines
- The purpose of this paper is for you to synthesize the materials presented in lecture into a real world application; meaning address each bullet point in the handout thoroughly. Do not just list items but provide justification to why you are arguing your point using the materials provided in lecture or outside resource (with citation). For example, if I ask you “do you think this meets the criteria for wetland hydrology?” do not just state “Yes” of “No” but also why or why not and justify your reasoning using the materials provided in lecture or outside resource with proper citation.
- Your pictures should be clear and enhance what you are trying to say in your paper. Provide enough pictures to clearly indicate what you are discussing but not so many that it detracts from your description. Make sure there is still enough depth in your writing; the pictures do not “just speak for themselves” it is your job to define and explain your pictures through writing as well. The following are a minimum number of pictures recommended per section
o 1 selfie of you with wetland o 1 big picture site
o 3+ pictures for vegetation o 1+ pictures of soil
o 1+ pictures of water
o 1+ pictures of surrounding area
- For the soils section of your paper, do not dig in the soil or disturb the site. Instead you’re your picture(s) and describe what indicators you should be looking for or what methods you may have used if you were to test the soil type.
- Note that you are required to follow the guidelines in the Cowardin et al. paper to classify your wetlands. It may be helpful for you to print this PDF out prior to your wetland visit to help you assist you on site. This handout is posted under the guidelines in the field trip module.