GEOL 420 Environmental Geology
College: Geosciences
Department: Geology and Geophysics
Type: W
Status: Approved
REPORT ON RECERTIFICATION OF W COURSE: GEOL 420
CERTIFICATION PERIOD: 1/1/23 to 1/1/27
We recommend that GEOL 420 Environmental Geology be certified as a writing (W) course. We have reviewed a representative syllabus and have determined that the course meets or exceeds the following criteria: (1) 37.5% of the final grade is based on writing quality; (2) the total number of words is 3750; (3) the instructor to student ratio is 1:13; and (4) the assigned writing is appropriate to the major.
One graduate assistant is assigned to every three sections. Writing assignments include a comparison/contrast paper about a scientific controversy and a research paper. Practice comes through five in-class writing assignments that get peer review and graduate assistant feedback and that prepare students for the other required writing. They also get practice revising a conference abstract. The compare/contrast and research papers are reviewed in draft form before being submitted. Graduate assistants lead discussions based on required readings and work exercises in Writing Science in Plain English. Students also get individual coaching time for help developing their research papers.
CERTIFICATION PERIOD: 1/1/23 to 1/1/27
We recommend that GEOL 420 Environmental Geology be certified as a writing (W) course. We have reviewed a representative syllabus and have determined that the course meets or exceeds the following criteria: (1) 37.5% of the final grade is based on writing quality; (2) the total number of words is 3750; (3) the instructor to student ratio is 1:13; and (4) the assigned writing is appropriate to the major.
One graduate assistant is assigned to every three sections. Writing assignments include a comparison/contrast paper about a scientific controversy and a research paper. Practice comes through five in-class writing assignments that get peer review and graduate assistant feedback and that prepare students for the other required writing. They also get practice revising a conference abstract. The compare/contrast and research papers are reviewed in draft form before being submitted. Graduate assistants lead discussions based on required readings and work exercises in Writing Science in Plain English. Students also get individual coaching time for help developing their research papers.