There are two deadlines for the essay:

1. Monday, Oct. 6:    The essay topic and an abstract are due in class.  Download a  sample abstract .


2. Monday, Nov. 24: The final double-spaced typed essay is due in class (about 3-5 pages, including abstract page).

You have the following choices:

1)    Essay:   Turn in an original, 500-750 word typed essay. Choose your topic as you wish, but make sure it has some aspect of physics in it (check with the professor if in doubt).  For  possible topics see the suggestions for topics below. I will take longer essays than 750 words, and I have to say that you can't really say all that much in 500 words unless you are REALLY  concise and precise, so I expect most of the essays to be around 700 words.  For writing help see http://www.wisc.edu/writing/index.html.  Make sure to proof read your essays for grammar mistakes and spelling errors.  It is often useful to have a friend or classmate proof read for you.

2)    Project or Presentation:  All presentations will be showcased to your discussion section and should be around 10 minutes long.  Choose a topic from the Topic List below, or have your topic explicitly approved by the instructor.  If you are working in pairs make sure that I can tell that both people contributed.  If you have a PowerPoint, I will need a copy of it via e-mail sometime on the day you give the talk.  If it is some other type of presentation, I would like a detailed outline of what you'll be discussing.

1. Structure:  It must be well-organized and coherent.  Make sure that you are clear about the point of the essay or project. It always helps to narrow your focus rather than to write about a broad and general topic. If you haven't written many essays, it may be useful to google "5 paragraph essay".  This is a generic structure that is often a great starting point, especially for a research based essay like this one.  (But by no means should you feel limited to this structure.)
2. Science:  Make sure you get the details right!
3. Analysis:    Think about how this applies to your life, or the world in general.  Also, if you are taking a stance on an issue (ie, Global Warming) remember that your opinion means nothing unless you can adequately address the arguments that the other side is making.
4. Style:   Make sure you have a clear and concise writing style.
5. Originality:    Remember that I'm grading  85 of these, so try to be original or take an unusual position.

Topics

1. If you are looking for a topic consider the following subjects: Cosmology, astrophysics, global warming, quantum computing, nanotechnology, biophysics, fusion, or elementary particle physics. What are the major achievements of the last 50 years? Focus on at least one major discovery and explain its importance. What is likely to be discovered in the next 50 years? Read and summarize one original published article pertaining to to the subject. What associated technologies might affect our daily lives?
   Ref: Annual Reviews, Reviews of Modern Physics, IoP)
   
2. Choose a winner of the Nobel Prize in physics. Describe the work and importance recognized by the award. Read and summarize at least one original published science article by the physicist. Ref: Nobel Prize.com, Nobel museum

Structure of an Essay

1. Title page   (title,  your name + date + section number,  abstract consisting of  3-4 sentences)

2. Main Text   (2-3 pages or more, double-spaced 12-point font)       
   2A) Motivation / History     (make sure you state the question that the essay will address)  
   2B) Facts / Observations / Findings   (1-2 figures optional, each with a figure caption, makes the essay more interesting)
   2C) Conclusions / Consequences / Outlook

3. Bibliography   (2-4 references, at least one from a scientific journal or book, for the citation format see the sample abstract)
   Take advantage of the Physics library on the 4th floor of Chamberlin Hall.