SAS 004: Water in Popular Culture


Study Guide:

DUE Wednesday, December 12th, 8:30 p.m. (at final exam)

Whereas the first writing assignment due earlier in the quarter involved researching a science question related in some way to one of the first four movies addressed in the course, this second writing assignment focuses on a blend of the science and cultural aspects of a movie. Form a 2-person team with one other student in your discussion section. Pick one of the films shown in the class and produce a 5-10 page study guide that could be used to help high school students understand the movie and its water-related themes. For in-class discussions, we have been using 7 topics to characterize a movie- history, environmental setting, science, characters, theme, symbols, and other movie examples of a similar situation. Your study guide could use those same topics and/or others. An example professional study-guide such as "Rabbit-Proof Fence: A Study Guide" by G. Carrodus, L. Tudball, and T. Walsh may be used as a template or guide to help you, though yours need not be this sophisticated.

It is very important that you read several sources of information before you start your study guide. Sources should include a combination of books, journal articles, newspaper articles, and web pages. There should be a minimum of 8 references listed in your bibliography at the end of your study guide, and at least 1 source has to be a serious book or essay from the library or a scientific journal. One good on-line reference database you can use is the Science Citation Index, which can be found on the Web of Science web page. In the body of your study guide, use citations from your sources to back up facts and examples you state based on your sources. To reduce clutter in the body of the essay, cite your references by reference number, such as "[1]", such that the number corresponds to its order in the reference list at the end of the guide. In the reference list, order references according to their order of appearance in the essay. use a format such as "Author. Year. Title. Publishing information. Page number". Essays lacking adequate citations and citation formatting will be penalized.

An excellent study guide is one that addresses the topic clearly, demonstrates a thorough critical understanding of the movie, explores the topics thoughtfully and in depth within the allotted space, is coherently organized with ideas supported by apt reasons and well-chosen examples, has an effective, fluent style marked by syntactic variety and a clear command of language, and is generally free from errors in grammar, usage, and mechanics.

Extra credit is possible for additional supporting materials (not words!) that improve the quality of the study guide, at the discretion of the professor. The sources of any additional materials should be properly cited.

The due date for this assignment is given at the top of this page. No late assignments will be accepted, due to the university's requirement of submitting final course grades shortly thereafter. Exceptions require either prior approval or doctor-validated medical excuse.