These papers are to be done in lieu of attending field trips (or attending field trips while unconscious). Note: no paper if a field trip does not run because of bad weather or other reasons. Papers must be typed and must adhere to the following guidelines:
- Length: 5 pages, double spaced, minimum, excluding title page, graphs, drawings, tables of data, captions, and references.
- Page size: Standard 8.5 x 11 inch.
- Margins: 1 inch all around.
- Font size: 10 to 12 point.
- Paragraphs: Indent first line; no blank lines between paragraphs. No extra blank lines for section headings, if any, but make section headings bold.
- Figures: All must be cited in the text, numbered in order as Figure 1, Figure 2, etc.
- Tables: All must be cited in the text, numbered in order as Table 1, Table 2, etc.
- Photocopied figures are OK. Photocopied text, captions, and tables are forbidden. Write your own captions or type direct quotes into your paper. All must be properly cited, of course.
- References: All work and interpretations not your own MUST be appropriately cited using the format of the Geological Society of America Bulletin. As usual, the more references the better, but consider 5 citations a minimum. Your textbook and any Union College Petrology materials don't count!
- Binding: All pages stapled together in their proper order at the top left corner. No covers or paper clips!
- Grading: Grading will be based on scientific thoroughness and accuracy, writing quality, proper citation of references, and interesting insights.
- Due date: The papers will be due on the second Monday after the field trip missed.
The purpose of the paper is to make you look carefully at a petrologic topic that is related to the field trip that you missed, to help you understand the data involved, to help you interpret the data in terms of the geology, and to have you write about the topic in such a way that fellow scientists could easily understand the topic and what you learned about it. The papers should be descriptive and should generally have the following sequence: a description of the topic, a brief description of the regional geologic setting, and a thorough description of the topic in terms of its petrology, origin, and development, and brief conclusions. Your writing should make frequent reference to supporting data or other evidence.
To replace the Rt. 2 field trip: A paper on an aspect of the igneous or metamorphic geology of New England. Should focus on a particular igneous, metamorphic, geochemical, structural, or tectonic problem.
To replace the Adirondacks field trip: A paper on an aspect of the igneous or metamorphic geology of the Adirondacks or the adjacent Proterozoic Canadian Shield. Should focus on a particular igneous, metamorphic, geochemical, structural, or tectonic problem.
To replace the Mt. Monadnock field trip: A paper on an aspect of the igneous or metamorphic geology of any region of interest to you. Should focus on a particular igneous, metamorphic, geochemical, structural, or tectonic problem.
To help you on your way, use the search facilities available to you at the Schaffer Library, which include reference database searches.