ASSIGNMENT 4 Instructions

Assigned:  September 25, 2006.
Due:  Submit as an email attachment, or to my office mailbox, no later than 4:30 pm Wednesday October 4, 2006.

        The fourth assignment has two parts. Part one requires you to read the following articles:
(1) Glennon, A., and Groves, C. (2002). An Examination of Perennial Stream Drainage Patterns within the Mammoth Cave Watershed, Kentucky. Journal of Cave and Karst Studies, 64(1): 82-91. Available online as an Adobe file or in the library.
(2) Meiman, J. et al. (2001). In-Cave Dye Tracing and Drainage Basin Divides in Mammoth Cave Karst Aquifer, Kentucky, pp. 179-185 in E.L. Kuniansky (ed.) U.S.G.S. Karst Interest Group Proceedings, Water-Resources Investigations Report 01-4011. Available on the Web, or available online as an Adobe file.
NOTE: If you have trouble finding Journals in the periodicals section of the library, it probably means that they're sitting in a "reshelf" area because somebody has just used them. Make sure you check with one of your student colleagues, as you can probably make a xerox copy of their copy.

After reading the articles, prepare a 3-page analysis and critique (typed, one-inch margins all around, double-spaced, 12 CPI font Times Roman, numbered pages, with the articles cited correctly in a bibliography at the end of the paper - doesn't need to be on a separate page) of the articles' content, theory, and presentation. Address the following issues:
        (a) What was the main theoretical and empirical thrust of the articles? On what existing concept or theory did the authors base their analysis?
        (b) What was the working hypothesis in the articles and how was it presented?
        (c) What was the key "so what" rationale that drives these articles? Did the authors make a convincing "scientific" argument to support the hypothesis?
        (d) What did YOU think of the articles, their presentation, and findings? Were any biases or persuasive elements evident in the articles?
        (e) What do YOU think the articles suggest about the challenges ahead for geoscientists?

Be brief, yet concise. Analyze and critique the articles. Do not just repeat what you have read. I want to hear YOUR opinions. Be prepared to discuss your critique at our meeting on Wednesday October 2, 2006.

Part Two of this assignment requires you to continue to refine your research proposal. You should incorporate all the comments and corrections from the draft you completed for assignment #3.
This third draft should be a minimum of 5 pages in length (typed, one-inch margins all around, double-spaced, 12 CPI font, pages numbered), should utilize the bibliography developed for assignments #1-3, and should have a clearly stated purpose and hypothesis.
Over the course of the semester and as you proceed with your research, your literature review and bibliography will continue to expand and develop as you continue to refine your research strategy.

For help on this assignment, call (270) 745 4555, or e-mail david.keeling@wku.edu.

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Last updated on September 26, 2006
Department of Geography and Geology, Western Kentucky University
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