EPS 115 Final Project Information (Fall 2003)
Updated: 27-Oct-2003

  UNDER CONSTRUCTION TODAY
EPS 115 website Research:
The standard geology search engine is GeoRef, accessible on the Berkeley campus or via proxy with your Cal-Net ID and password. Here is a brief guide from the UCB Library on how to use GeoRef.
Official Rock Paper Scissors Strategy Guide Library:
If you're photocopying a large amount of material, it will be cheaper to buy a copy card (10 cents/copy versus about 5 cents/copy). Purchase it at Room 145, Doe Library, near the south entance.
 

How to read a paper:
Not from front to back. Bad, bad ,bad. Personal opinion: Start with the introduction, then read the conclusion. The significance of a well written paper should be evident from these two sections. Flip through the figures, trying to understand them in the context of the introduction and conclusion.
Now read the paper. Mark it up, study it, circle words you don't understand. There should be highlighting, notes on the margins, big question marks, and arrows. If you're anal-rententive, get over it, and write all over your paper. Finally, read the abstract. The abstract is only useful if you're a specialist in the field and can decipher the jargon.

You can look up words in specialized geology dictionaries:
Dictionary of Earth Sciences QE5.D54 1999 Reference (shelved in reading room)
New Penguin Dictionary of Geology QE5.K42 2001 Reference (shelved in reading room)
Dictionary of Geology and Mineralogy QE5.M3654 2003 Reference (shelved behind desk)

  Your Paper:
The final project is to be submitted as a Geology-style manuscript (guidelines), limited to about 16 double-spaced pages, plus figures and references. Here's one of Walter's manuscripts in the Roman volcanic province to check for style (coming later today). You should flip through a recent issue of Geology to get a feel for the format of the journal. Find it in the reading room of the Earth Science Library.
 

How to write a paper:
Papers can be roughly divided up into abstract, introduction, previous works, main body, conclusions, acknowledgements, references cited.
  Abstract: Write this last. It should concisely summarize the paper.
  Introduction: Give general information about the field area you're dealing with. This is where you cite material that gives good background but you don't use
  Previous Works: This is the literature review part of your paper. It should summarize what others have done before you.
  Main Body: Self-explanatory. The meat of your paper.
  Conclusions: Summarizes your results.
  Acknowledgements: Thanks people who have helped out with this paper with data, discussion, or reviews. Also thank your funding source.
 

References Cited: Make sure your references are Geology style! This is a reference list, not a bibliography, so don't list works you didn't cite in the text or the figure captions.

  Other People's Projects:
Relationship of Sevier thrusting to foreland sedimentation (John, Matt)
Pebble provenance (Jacquie, Walt)
Navajo Sandstone limestones (Jesusa, Kelly, Alex)
Utah sandstones (Paul, Siddharth, Seth)
Petroglyphs and climate (Matt, Burcu)
Gilsonite (John)