Writing Assignments

 Table of Contents:

Add active learning to large classes

Using the Web to teach science

TA resources

Teaching links

Biology links

Writing links

Tips for designing a WIM course

Course syllabi

Writing assignment ideas

Peer review

Responses to student writing

Tips on leading stimulating discussions

Alternatives to large group discussions

Reading lists

Study questions

Exam questions

General Ecology- UNH

Read the following assignments with an eye for how they can be modified for use in your own courses. Try including a mix of both formal and informal assignments.

 

NOTE: Some links are PDF documents and require Adobe acrobat reader to access them.

 

Informal writing assignments

The magic of assigning writing that you don't grade is that students often feel more free to express their own voice. Students also get the message that writing is a great a tool for working through muddy ideas.

Journals

Thought paragraphs

Study site assignments- Check out this set of assignments if you are looking for a way to encourage students to integrate what they are learning in class with real world situations.

Study site exercise

Study site journals

Study site criteria

Winter journal

 

Writing on fundamentals

#1 Evolution Spring 1998

 

Formal writing assignments

REVISION, REVISION REVISION. Whatever you choose for your repetoire of wriitng assignments - be sure to include ample time/guidance for revision!

Letters

Global warming - 2 audiences

Kansas Board of Education letter

Letters- biodiversity

Ithaca Times letter

Short (under 4 pages, double spaced)

Sexual selection/species concept

Refuting argument

What is ecology?

Implications of global warming for forest ecosystems paper

Hypothesis development

Seminar report

Science "box"

Position paper

Hypothesis testing

Research topic blurb

"Nothing in biology" essay

Long

Fictional species by Jessica Bolker, UNH

Communicating evolutionary concepts by Jessica Bolker, UNH

Ecological research question

Choice paper

Human mate choice research paper 

Several stage research proposal:

Proposal idea

Research proposal: library assignment

Rationale for several stage proposal

Potential topics for evolution papers

Natural selection topics

Animal behavior topic ideas

Conservation/Finger Lakes Land Trust

Phylogeny paper

Phenetic analysis

Scientific paper- Kin recognition

Integrated Pest Management essay

Student's choice paper

 

 

 

Last updated September 26, 2001
Comments, questions or new links? Contact Anne at astork@cisunix.unh.edu