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Research
an Episode and Write the Draft
Review the points below as you research and write a draft of an Episode, and
then send me an email as described below.
1. Review the Research
tips, particularly the guidelines for evaluating
reliable secondary sources.
2. Study the Episode
Content Requirements.
Remember that each episode must contain a citation or link to a reliable
secondary source, a citation or link to a primary source, and an interpretation,
as well as a title and bibliography. Just like the sequence of assignments you
follow each week in class, each Episode must somehow incorporate background
context, a primary source, and your own interpretation.
You will explain your use of sources in four Notes,
including a bibliography. (Review Episode
Content Requirements.)
Note: When you publish your Episode next week, you will also need to include
Image Information
for the images you use to illustrate the Episode; you must use at least one
image as an illustration. The image does not need to be selected or prepared
as part of this assignment.
3. Write a draft of your Episode.
Your draft should be written in complete sentences, with correct spelling
and grammar (see Writing
tips). Grammar and spelling will be graded. The text of your Episode is
called a "draft" -- but "draft" does not mean it
may be rough and unfinished. Rather, it is a "draft" because
you will constantly make revisions throughout the semester as you receive feedback
each week from your fellow students.
Notes:
- Next week, when you publish the episode, you will focus on the overall presenation
of the episode. For example, next week you will have time to find and process
images and to refine your web page layout and design. You do not need to include
images at this time, but if they are integrated with your content, feel free
to describe them, include a caption and/or citation, and even to send them
along in the email.
- I encourage you to write your draft in the writing style you plan for the
episode, since content and style are interrelated. However, you may change
your writing style from this week to next. For example, if you write in an
analytical style this week, you are free to convert it to a dialogue form
next week. But keep in mind that form and content are so closely related that
it will probably save you lots of time to choose your writing style this week
and complete your draft in the style that you plan to use.
- Do not write your draft in Word. If you write in Word,
and then paste the text from Word into Composer or some other html editor
when you publish the draft next week, you'll end up with a lot of junk code.
You will then probably have to retype your Episode from scratch. See Web
Project warnings.
4. Some tips to keep in mind when writing your episodes:
- Choose an engaging style. It's far easier to avoid just
repeating sources and recycling stock phrases if you do something original
and creative with the writing style or setting.
- Keep episodes focused. Don't try to survey a large topic
in an episode, or you'll have to keep it too shallow. Dive deep into something
specific. Go beyond the level of detail offered by the textbooks and assigned
readings.
- It's a good idea to find and select an interesting primary source before
you choose your Episode topic. Plan the Episode around a great primary
source, rather than vice-versa.
- Remember to cite all relevant places in the required textbooks and assigned
readings, including Exhibits Online, the course website, and Wikipedia.
- Talk with others who are interested in the same topics you are. Link to
each other's projects.
- Re-read the requirements
for episodes.
- Make sure you have at least one secondary source that meets the criteria
for reliability (like the DSB,
Encyclopedia of Women in Science, etc.).
- Make sure you explore at least one primary source per episode. You can
do this by quoting a historical text or by paraphrasing it, but be sure to
indicate in the Primary Source Note exactly how you relied
upon it (by indicating the passage that you are paraphrasing, for instance).
- Make your project something that shows what you think is really interesting
about the history of science. If you enjoy it, chances are your fellow students
will enjoy reading it, too.
- Proofread! Don't forget to spellcheck
and proofread
every Web Project assignment! Spelling and grammar count as part of the grade;
see Writing Tips.
Uncertain about anything? Write me for suggestions, or if you want informal
feedback!
5. When you are done:
- When completed, your draft should be at least 800-1500 words
in length. (These are strict limits: your Episode, not counting bibliography
and other notes, should not be less than 800 nor more than 1500 words
long!)
- Make sure that you have proofread
the assignment and run a spellcheck
and a word count.
(I will be checking these.)
- Your pledge to avoid plagiarism
is part of the Honor
Code.
- Email the
draft to the instructor in an email.
- If you have questions about the draft, please write those questions
at the top of the message area.
- Your classmates will help you improve the draft, so do not expect feedback
from me until near the end of the semester. I will skim most of the episode
drafts turned in each week, and I may refer back to them later in the
semester to see how they have been revised according to the feedback you
receive from others, but I will not reply to your episode unless you have
questions at the top of the email, before the text of your episode.
- Please give the email a subject line that says "3013-WebProject-Week#"
(insert the Week number at the end of the subject line).
- Do not send a document attachment. Just cut-and-paste
the assignment into the message body of the email. I will delete attached
Word documents without reading them.
- There is no Desire2Learn gradebook declaration for this assignment. Rather,
I will record grades for researching and publishing Episodes near the end
of the semester. Just make sure that the email to me contains your draft and
is dated before the assignment deadline.
6. How the research episode assignments are graded:
The Episodes will be graded near the end of the semester, after all episodes
have been published. Meanwhile, with help from your fellow students, continue
to revise and improve your episodes!
Content points: The most important part of the grade for researching
an episode is the content. The quality, depth and reliability of your research
will be graded on a scale of 1-5, and count as half of the research episode
grade. Unlike the other assignments for this class, where it is very easy to
decide whether you did the assignment correctly or not, the Web Project assignments
are graded carefully, not just on effort. You will earn every one of these five
content points.
Requirements points: The other 5 points are earned automatically so
long as all required components are present and there are no mistakes in spelling,
grammar or word-count. Remember that you are expected to do your
best on these assignments. If you do not follow the instructions,
forget to proofread, do not use the spellchecker, etc., then you will lose points
on the assignment. Requirements points will be deducted for mistakes in spelling,
grammar, or word count (see word count requirements above). If any parts of
the required components are missing, 1 requirements point will be taken
off for each omission until a maximum of 5 points have been deducted (required
components include Title; Secondary source; Primary source; Interpretation;
Bibliography; Primary Source note, Secondary Source Note, and Image Information).
When you provide feedback to other students' episodes, you can do them a favor
by pointing out any of these that are deficient!
"Opportunity
is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work."
--Thomas Edison
