27 - 31 August 2012

In class we created proper email signature blocks and activated the spell checker for JSC Web Mail.

All meetings of this class will be held in LLC 216 (the PLUIMMS computer lab).

I am looking forward to meeting with each of you, individually, over the next couple of days.

Please plan for the upcoming 104^th meeting of the New England Intercollegiate Geological Conference on 12 - 14 October 2012. We will depart from the campus of JSC very early Friday morning.

Assignment (due 29 August 2012 at 4:00 p.m.): Please send me an email that specifies your major, the state in which you were born, and the reason why you chose your major.

3 - 7 September 2012

Karen Madden, Director of Academic Support Services, provided guidance.

10 - 14 September 2012

Dr. Bacchus, and SGA Vice-president Collin Santee, provided guidance.

Dr. Kanat was unable to attend the previous two sessions of the START Seminar.

17 - 21 September 2012

Topics of discussion: i) participation in NEIGC and ii) pagination using Word.

In order to make it to our first NEIGC stop on time, we will be departing the campus of JSC at 6:30 a.m. on Friday, 12 October 2012 (to return on Sunday evening). We will camp at Sunapee State Park in NH.

Assignment (due 19 September 2012 at 4:00 p.m.): Please take the Grit Test and report your score to me in a properly written email. Please answer the online questions in ways that reflect who you are and how you act.

Assignment (due 19 September 2012 at 10:00 p.m.): Please submit a Word document that demonstrates control over sections and footers. Please submit the paper used in conjunction with the Current Topics in Science course. I will be looking at the document for appropriate embedded codes that control sections, footers, and page numbers. Submit the paper as an attachment to a properly written email.

Click here to purchase MS Office for your personal computer for $15; be sure to delete Office Starter and other partial issues of Office before installing the full version.

24 - 28 September 2012

Class discussion focused on i) the purpose and meaning of a thesis statement, and ii) proper methods for citing sources and thus avoiding plagiarism.

Assignment (due 27 September 2012 at 10:00 p.m.): Attach a Word document to a properly written email; the document should have the following characteristics:

• Date and your name.
• Short, relevant and informative title.
• Clearly state your thesis (use subheading: Thesis)
• Defend your thesis with at least two properly referenced statements.
• Include a reference list that starts on a separate page (use subheading: References).
• Be sure that the document has page numbers.

end of assignment

General commnets from the review of the 27 Sep 2012 assignment:

• Define acronym before first use.
• Avoid direct quotes.
• Force a new page with Ctrl-Enter.
• Alphabetize references.
• Use all references cited in the reference list; be sure all references cited in the text are in the reference list.
• Cite all statements of fact or idea that are not your own.
• Use a right-justified tab if necessary.
• Use the apostrophe to show possession. See examples in Strunk and White and in the Oxford Dictionaries. Use of an apostrophe with the word "it's" means "it is".

1 - 5 October 2012

Assignment (due 4 October 2012 at 10:00 p.m.): Attach a Word document to a properly written email; the document should have the following characteristics:

• All of the above (from the 27 Sep 2012 assignment).
• Title page with proper page numbering.
• Two properly cited figures, from distinct sources, that has text flowing around the figures.
• Use paragraphs.

end of assignment

8 - 12 October 2012

 Fall Break – please be careful.

15 - 19 October 2012

Discussion with Dr. Hans Haverkamp regarding the use of data for generating hypotheses.

22 - 26 October 2012

 Discussion with Dr. Elizabeth Dolci regarding biology, genetics and research.

Assignment (due 29 October 2012 at 4:00 p.m.): Please use the following guidelines:

• Describe the Human Microbiome Project and discuss its importance.
• Include a proper title page, use appropriate page numbering, and be sure to start the reference list on a new page.
• Use at least two properly cited references; one must be from either the journal Nature or the journal Science.
• Use paragraphs.
• Submit a stapled draft of your work.
• Attach the Word document to a properly written email.

end of assignment  

29 October - 2 November 2012

Discussion with Margo Warden, Director of the First Year Experience.

5 - 9 November 2012

Discussion with Ellen Hill, Director of Outreach Activities (and more).

12 - 16 November 2012

Assignment (due 26 Nov 2012.): Print a well-written and properly referenced document that describes President Murphy.

19 - 23 November 2012

Thanksgiving Holiday – be careful.

26 - 30 November 2012

Attend the "State of the College" address by President Murphy at 4:00 p.m. on Monday, 26 November 2012, in the Stearns Performance Space.

I will collect the assignments due on this date at this event.

General comments regarding the Human Microbiome assignment:

• An overarching statement that describes the Human Microbiome Project should be part of the paper. That statement should set the tone of the information to follow.
• Use subheadings to help the reader understand the format of the paper.
• Use proper referencing techniques for all citations (see guidelines) – all articles will have an author or an editor.
• Avoid direct quotes whenever possible – use your own words to summarize the content.
• Be sure to cite all ideas and statements that are not your own.
• Use page numbers.
• Avoid using 'etc.' – be specific and write what you know...
• Check spelling and grammar on a printed version – do not try to edit on the screen.

Assignment (due 3 December 2012 at 4:00 p.m.): Reference style.

• Re-submit the reference page for the Human Microbiome assignment (the one that has my comments) and staple that page to a revised version of the references (that must follow the guidelines).
• Be sure your name and date are typed on the top of the revised version of the references.
• If there are no comments on the original list of references (other than "this is good") then all you need to do is re-submit the original list because corrections are not required (be sure your name is on the page).

end of assignment

3 - 7 December 2012

Meet at 4:00 in WLLC 216; dinner to follow at 6:00 p.m. at President Murphy's home.