Use References!
For each homework assignment you will be asked to use at least two non-encyclopedia (including web encyclopedias like Encarda and Wikipedia) sources. You can use web sites, but be sure you use at least two different web sites. Using more than two sources is encouraged. Be sure to check the urls if you use web sites. Many web sites look different but are the same source (they will have same beginning part of their url).
For example information at "http://www.uky.edu/AS/Geology/greb/130/index.html" and "http://www.uky.edu/AS/Geology/introduction/index.html" are both from the University of Kentucky (uky) and are treated as different pages of the same website.
You can use class notes as a reference, and should reference them as used, but they do not count as one of your sources. For the topics assigned, there should be plenty of information readily available, so you should not have to use the notes as a source.
In science you are encouraged to use multiple references in order to get multiple view points. Using multiple references will help you to understand if a concept or idea is widely accepted, or if different views are being debated. Do not use one reference per question, or one reference for a whole paragraph. I want you to check multiple sources for your work. These should follow any information that is not common knowledge.
Homework Must be your Own Work
Read the University definition and guidelines for avoiding plagiarism and the section on academic integrity and cheating in the Grading section of this syllabus. The University guidelines is a short document and it gives suggestions for proper and improper paraphrasing. DO NOT CUT AND PASTE FROM THE INTERNET. Cutting and pasting is plagiarism. You can use exact quotes if you put those in quotations and reference the quote, but the paper should not be composed of 3 or 4 exact quotes! If you must use exact quotes they should only consist of a line or two in your homework. Most of the paper should be your own writing.
Any specific material that you paraphrase or rewrite should end with a source in parentheses cited in the text. Consider this to be any material that is not common knowledge. Any picture or image you use that you did not draw or photograph needs to be cited (Don’t use pictures or images unless its necessary for your answer). If you do not cite work that is not your own you are plagiarizing and you will receive a zero for the paper. If excessive, further disciplinary action may be taken.
REFERENCING FORMATS
Since this is a science class, you can cite references as would be done in a scientific publication, or you can use MLA style. Whichever, you use, be consistent. It should be clear what information is being cited. Whole pages and long paragraphs should not be cited to a single source. Use multiple sources where appropriate. This is a science class. In scientific writing it is common to use multiple sources in a string of citations to show that an idea or concept has been written about by multiple authors. Also, make sure that the citation in the text can easily be matched to the complete reference on the references cited page. In science, it is important for the reader to understand where information in a paper was obtained.
Reference in text vs on the references cited page
Citations in the text should be in parentheses and should be short. Last name, followed by date is common. Then on the references cited page each short name and date (or other formats used) should be spelled out with the complete citation. Author, date, title, publisher, page number, etc. If using a web source , then write out the complete url so that I can go to that page and see where you got your info. Do not write out long urls in the body of the text.
Example, in text:
“…using this page to understand the homework style used in class (Greb, 2010).”
You’d have a short name or website in parentheses, and then on the References Cited page you’d need the complete reference
Greb, S.F., 2010, GLY 130 dinosaurs and disasters-Homework format/style and submission: Kentucky Geological Survey Website, http://www.uky.edu/KGS/education/gly130/homework.htm, accessed date
If it’s a web page, get into the habit of adding the date you accessed the page, since web pages change.
You would not have:
“…some sentence...( http://www.uky.edu/KGS/education/gly130/homework.htm)
with a long url in the body of the text, or multiple long urls.
Don’t write a long paragraph or whole page with only 1 reference source!
Just getting the answer to a question from the first source you see on the internet is lazy and could lead to a wrong answer. Cross check the information from multiple sources. There is a lot of material on the web concerning dinosaurs. Some of it is good, some is wrong. Checking multiple sources and using reputable sources will help you to correctly answer questions posed in homework assignments. Then show that you used multiple sources by using them in the text.
Use reputable references
Be sure that the sources you use in written assignments are reputable. Sources at national science institutions, museums, universities and research centers are usually good sources for science information. When viewing a webpage ask yourself what credentials or expertise the author(s) or organization(s) has about the topic. There are a lot of well-meaning websites by non-scientists that have errant information. Use good judgement. This is another reason to check multiple sources. You can see if multiple people share same opinion or not.
What should I reference?
Not all material needs to be referenced. If it is common, publicly well-known information a citation is not needed. For example; T-rex is a dinosaur. Or; T-rex was a meat eater. Everyone knows this, so you don’t need any citations. However, any quantitative or detailed description should be cited. For example; The latest T-rex from Montana is estimated to have been 48 ft long. This would require a reference; essentially it begs the question, who estimated it? Another example; In July of 2007 a new T-rex fossil was found 15 miles north of Rapid City, South Dakota. This should have a reference. It specific information. When trying to decide whether to have a reference or not, read what you’ve written and ask yourself (1) is this common knowledge?, (2) Can Dr. Greb or the TA tell the differences between material I’m summarizing from other sources and material that is my own thoughts and ideas.
Also, watch making statements that require references. If you write “many scientists” or “the majority of scientists” or a statement that suggests many different pieces of research or viewpoints, you should follow that statement with a string of multiple references to show that many feel this way…or a single reference if that reference is where you found the claim concerning a majority view or many pieces of research.
Understand the material you are referencing
Sometimes when you are looking up material to help you answer homeworks you will come across terms or concepts you don’t understand or are unfamiliar with. Look up the words you don’t know. If you hand in a homework assignment in your own words, I assume you understand what you have written. Chances are that if it’s a concept you are unfamiliar with, you are going to need a reference.
References Cited page
At the end of your text you include a References Cited page. This page should include complete references for the sources you cited. Each should be complete enough so that I can check the source if I need to.
a. For a text source use this format or something like it:
Author name, date, title of manuscript or book: publisher, page numbers
b. For a web site: give me the complete url so that the site can be checked if needed.
If there are any questions, ask Dr. Greb or the TA during normal office hours.
When is homework due?
Homework is due at the beginning of class the following week (5:35 pm). For most assignments, your work will be brought to the front of the classroom where you will hand in your work alphabetically (there will be a spot to put papers if your last name begins with A-C, D-F, etc.) before class begins. It is your responsibility to come to class on time and hand in your homework before class begins. I will usually say “are all homeworks in,” and then the TA will collect the homeworks. After that, homework is considered late and points will be subtracted for each day late.
Submitting homework
On the class day homeworks are due, there will be a table in the front of class with letters of the alphabet layed out. Please put your homework in the stack by your last name. At 5:40 pm the TA will pick up the papers and any paper submitted after that will be considered late. If you have a prearranged absence you may email your homework to the TA. Emailed homework should be in word format (.doc), or if that is not possible, copy your paper into the body of the email. With numerous students, the TA should not have to spend time converting file formats.
Getting your grades:
Written assignments and graded exams will be reviewed the week after they are due in the beginning of the next class period. They will either be handed out before class starts, during a break, or at the end of class. It is your responsibility to attend class to receive your grades. If you do not show up to class to pick up your exam or homework grades, then you must see Dr. Greb or the TA during their office hours to get your grades. DO NOT email me or the TA with questions about grades. With 300 students, email grade questions after exams are like spam. Grades WILL NOT be given out over the phone or by email. Any questions concerning grades on exams should be discussed as soon as possible after we go over the exam. I will be available after class if you have specific questions or concerns. Do not wait until the end of the semester to find out your scores, or to discuss the grades on a previous assignment or test. By the end of class it is too late to do anything about the grade or help you prepare better for the next graded assignment or exam.
Dr. Greb’s email: greb@uky.edu
Dr. Greb’s phone: 323-0542
Back to EES 130 home page
Back to Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences