TERM PAPER AND PRESENTATION REQUIREMENTS

Term Paper Requirements

The purpose of the term paper is to give the student the opportunity to explore topics in the course subject area at a greater depth than what is covered in the lecture and textbook.  Because of this, the term paper will not be just a review of topical areas covered in lecture or discussed in the textbook.  It must be more detailed in its treatment of the subject.  The paper also gives the student the chance to develop important communication skills that they will need in their professional career.  

1) Due dates for the paper must be adhered to. No incomplete grade will be given on the basis of an unfinished term paper except under exceptional circumstances.

2) The paper must be typed (12 point) and proof-read. There is no reason why a term paper should be submitted containing mistakes attributed to spelling and grammar. Students are encouraged to utilize the services of the writing center in the preparation of their paper. Two copies of the paper shall be submitted -- one for retention by the instructor.

3) The paper must have a cover sheet that contains the title of the term paper, student's name, and class in which the student is submitting the paper. The paper shall have a Table of Contents and an Abstract. The headings within the Table of Contents will be used within the body of the paper. Pages will be numbered cosecutively, beginning with the first page of the paper. Figures and tables will also be consecutively numbered as they appear in the text. Figures and tables must be referenced to within the body of the paper. All papers shall have an introduction, body, and conclusion with references.

4) Cite all references in full: author, journal, book title, issue, year, source, etc. While no standard form is required, it is essential that there be enough information for the reader to find the reference. Citations to works on the world wide web must include the URL (or comparable notation) and modification date, or no date is present then the date the site was accessed. Example citations include:

• Burtch, Robert. A Short History of Photogrammetry. Internet WWW page, at URL:http://ferris.edu/burtchr/sure340/history.html (version current at 6 March 1997)

The paper MUST contain AT LEAST TWO JOURNAL REFERENCES. Trade magazines, such as POB and the Professional Surveyor, are not journals.  References must be used within the paper, not just a list of papers "read" for background for the paper.

5) Illustrations may be helpful and should be used whenever they clarify the ideas being presented in the body of the paper. If the material is not original (i.e., Xerox or scanned copies) the source must be given along with the illustration. Numbering of figures should be logical (e.g., begin at 1 and increase sequentially).

6) There are no requirements as to the minimum number of pages, although most papers will be about ten pages double spaced without illustrations. Remember, quality is preferred over quantity. The length of the paper is directly dependent upon the subject and the approach being used.

7) If the information given is derived from the bibliography, it must be referenced at the point concerned. In other words, acknowledge your sources when the material is used in the paper. If the information is taken directly it must be placed in quotes. Material of this type should be kept to a minimum. DO NOT PLAGIARIZE.

8) When using applications within the paper to illustrate concepts, make sure that the examples are the same and not just filler material.  The paper should not be a larger compilation of article reviews but show some relevance to the topic.

9) Start you work early and maintain a pace throughout the semester.

Student Presentation Requirements

Student Presentation requirements:  In terms of evaluation, students will be graded based on the following data:

1) Students are expected to dress professionally, in a manner consistent to that of an interview.

2) The presentations are restricted to 5 - 6 minutes in length with penalties if the speech is too long or too short.  Time evaluation is worth 5 points and one point is removed for every minute (or fraction thereof) over 6 minutes or every 30 seconds (or fraction thereof) less than 5 minutes.

3) Each presentation must include a handout of the presentation to the complete audience.  If you are providing copies of a PowerPoint presentation then print it at 4 slides per page.

4) Students are encouraged to use presentation aides, such as PowerPoint.  An electronic copy will also be presented to the instructor.

5) The speech does not need to cover the entire paper.  Instead of covering material discussed in the lectures, the student is to present only that part that offers the audience new information or a new slant on information that has already been presented.

6) Evaluation is based on the following criteria:  Time, Overall presentation, Poise as a speaker, Speaker was prepared, Presentation was orderly and understandable, Speaker maintained eye contact with audience, Used presentation aides effectively, Speaker appearance neat and orderly.