Writing Assignment #2: Human Population Growth

As you have probably figured out by now, I think that human population growth is one of the most interesting and most important topics that we will cover this semester. I am pleased the the rest of the scientific community shares my views. The July 29th edition of Science magazine (one of the most respected and influential scientific journals in the world) contains a special section on Population. This section contains 9 news articles and 8 review and analysis papers. You can find all of these articles online at http://www.sciencemag.org/site/special/population

Your Assignment: 1. Over the weekend take a look at this special section and choose three of these papers. 2. Read these papers carefully. 3. In your informal notes, summarize each of these articles. Be perpared to briefly discuss the paper you read. 4. For each paper prepare three questions that you think might generate some discussion in class. Be prepared to ask a question and lead any follow up discussion.

On Monday we will hold a class discussion on these articles. Be prepared to participate both as a participant and as a discussion leader.

Writing Assignment

For this assignment I would like you to choose an audience (parents or other family members, a friend or a group of friends, co-workers. fellow classmates, a ex or current teacher, readers of the Lubbock Avalanche Journal, random people that you meet in the mall, etc.) and then explain your views on human population growth.

These papers should have three parts.

1. A short paragraph describing the audience you have chosen to write for. Provide some background about their currrent knowledge and attitude about the topic and why you chose to communicate to this audience.

2. The main body of the paper where you should explain your views of human population growth to your audience.

3. References that you used to develop your ideas.

Length: The first two sections should be limited to a maximum of three double spaced pages. I suggest that you use Times New Roman 12 point font and normal margins. You may include your references on a separate page.

Rough draft of the papers are due next Friday and we will workshop the papers on Monday.