RESEARCH PROPOSAL PREPARATION IN THE ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES

Spring 2015

Instructor:

Peter R. Bannon

521 Walker Building
Email: [email protected]
Office hours: Th 4:00-5:00 p.m., by appointment, or whenever the door is open
Classes: Thursdays 2:30-3:45 PM; Room 110 Walker Building

Brief course description from the University Bulletin:

This course familiarizes graduate students with research rigor, proposals, and processes. The focus of these topics is upon research proposal preparation, research literature surveys, preparing a research proposal, and verbally defending the written
research proposal in an oral presentation type setting.

Meteo 592 is a one-credit discussion and practice course in which students will participate in discussions of the skills needed for research and then use those skills to develop a short research proposal that has all of the elements of a typical proposal. Students will review other student’s short proposal for content and clarity.

Prerequisites and concurrent courses: Graduate status
Required textbooks: None
Recommended textbooks: on reserve at the EMS Library

The Elements of Style by Strunk and White
Eloquent Science by Schultz
Reserve materials, including location: None
Internet materials and links: ANGEL: http://cms.psu.edu

Course objectives/outcomes:

• Students will understand and be able to apply research rigor to their projects.
• Students will be able to select problems wisely and justify their decisions.
• Students will be able to develop and articulate testable hypotheses.
• Students will be able to assess the merits of theoretical, observational, and modeling approaches to their problem.
• Students will be able to conduct a thorough literature survey on their chosen approach.
• Students will be able to select appropriate methods, data, instruments/models, analysis tools and techniques for research problems.
• Students will be able to build teams to address more complex problems.
  

Course Expectations:

All students will come to class prepared to discuss the topic for the week and to present and discuss his/her written section of the proposal appropriate for that week. Each student should work alone on his/her proposal and proposal presentation, although
discussion about the proposal and presentation is encouraged.

Assessment Policy:
Required Written/Oral Assignments:

The grade for this course will be based on:

• classroom participation 20%
• the written proposal 40%
• the proposal reviewing 20%
• and the oral proposal presentation 20%

Class participation and written proposal development will be on-going activities throughout the semester; proposal reviewing and oral proposal presentation will be in the latter half of the semester.

Examination Policy:

There are no quizzes or exams for this course.

Grading Policy:

There will be no grade curving. Students must stay current on course discussion topics to earn fully all class participation points. Students must meet the deadlines for the written proposal, for the reviewing of other student’s proposals, and for the presenting of their proposal orally, otherwise the class cannot function. Gross negligence in meeting these deadlines will cause a loss of points because it will prevent a student from participating in some graded activities.

Course Content

1. Introduction
2. Writing Science
3. Scientific Ethics
4. Outlining a Research Proposal
5. Literature Survey
6. Scientific Presentations
7. Research Budgets
8. Examples of Scientific Proposals
9. Peer Review Process
   

Accommodations for students with disabilities:

The Office of Disability Services at http://equity.psu.edu/ods/ requests and maintains disability-related documents; certifies eligibility for services; determines academic adjustments, auxiliary aids, and/or services; and develops plans for the provision of academic adjustments, auxiliary aids, and/or services as mandated under Title II of the ADA Amendments Act (ADAAA) of 2008 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.  A list of these ADA List of Services is provided at http://equity.psu.edu/ods/current-students.

Academic integrity:

For information about the EMS Integrity Policy, which this course adopts, see:
http://www.ems.psu.edu/current_undergrad_students/academics/integrity_policy

Here’s a brief interpretation of that integrity policy, as it applies specifically to this course:  You may never copy answers from another person and present them as your own.  This applies to quizzes, exams, and problem sets.  You are allowed to discuss the problem sets with other students, but the work you turn in must be your own, in your own words.  Suspicion of copying on problem sets will result in an immediate 50% reduction for the first offense, and an F for the course on the second offense.  Cheating on exams or quizzes will result in an immediate F for the course.

Accommodations for students with disabilities:

The Office of Disability Services at http://equity.psu.edu/ods/ requests and maintains disability-related documents; certifies eligibility for services; determines academic adjustments, auxiliary aids, and/or services; and develops plans for the provision of academic adjustments, auxiliary aids, and/or services as mandated under Title II of the ADA Amendments Act (ADAAA) of 2008 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.  A list of these ADA List of Services is provided at http://equity.psu.edu/ods/current-students.

Cancellations and delays. 

Campus emergencies, including weather delays, are announced on Penn State Live at http://live.psu.edu/ and communicated to cellphones, email, the Penn State Facebook page, and Twitter via PSUTXT sign up at http://live.psu.edu/psutxt .

Enrollment policy. 

Students who do not meet the prerequisites may be dis-enrolled during the first 10-day free add-drop period after being informed in writing by the instructor (see: PSU Enrollment Policy at http://www.psu.edu/dept/oue/aappm/C-5.html).  If you have not completed the listed prerequisites, then consult with the instructor.  Students who re-enroll after being dis-enrolled according to this policy are in violation of the Student Code of Conduct (http://studentaffairs.psu.edu/conduct/codeofconduct/).

Penn State E-mail Accounts

All official communications from Penn State are sent to students' Penn State e-mail accounts. Be sure to check your Penn State account regularly, or forward your Penn State e-mail to your preferred e-mail account, so you don't miss any important information.

Deferred Grades

If you are prevented from completing this course within the prescribed amount of time, it is possible to have the grade deferred with the concurrence of the instructor. To seek a deferred grade, you must submit a written request (by e-mail or U.S. post) to your instructor describing the reason(s) for the request. It is up to your instructor to determine whether or not you will be permitted to receive a deferred grade. If, for any reason, the course work for the deferred grade is not complete by the assigned time, a grade of "F" will be automatically entered on your transcript.

Military Personnel

Veterans and currently serving military personnel and/or spouses with unique circumstances (e.g., upcoming deployments, drill/duty requirements, disabilities, VA appointments, etc.) are welcome and encouraged to communicate these, in advance if possible, to the instructor in the case that special arrangements need to be made.

Technical Requirements

For this course, we recommend the minimum technical requirements outlined on the Dutton Institute Technical Requirements page (https://www.eeducation.psu.edu/techspecs), including the requirements listed for same-time, synchronous  communications. If you need technical assistance at any point during the course, please contact the ITS Help Desk  (http://helpdesk.psu.edu/).

Netiquette

The term "Netiquette" refers to the etiquette guidelines for electronic communications, such as e-mail and bulletin board postings. Netiquette covers not only rules to maintain civility in discussions, but also special guidelines unique to the electronic nature of forum messages. Please review Virginia Shea's "The Core Rules of Netiquette" (http://www.albion.com/netiquette/corerules.html) for general guidelines that should be followed when communicating in this course.

Assistance with Textbooks

Penn State honors and values the socioeconomic diversity of our students. If you require assistance with the costs of textbooks for this course, contact the Office of Student and Family Services (120 Boucke Building, 863-4926, http://studentaffairs.psu.edu/familyservices/). For additional need related to socioeconomic status please visit  http://sites.psu.edu/projectcahir.

Disclaimer Statement

Please note that the specifics of this Course Syllabus can be changed at any time, and you will be responsible for abiding by any such changes. Changes will be posted to the course discussion forum.