Introduction

Due: May 21st , 2013 1:30 PM in the 2013 Ocean 220 CollectIt

(Catalyst.uw.edu)

“The purpose of the Introduction should be to supply sufficient background information to allow the reader to understand and evaluate the results of the present study without needing to refer to previous publications on the topic. [It] should also provide the rationale for the present study…. [S]tate briefly and clearly our purpose in writing the paper.”

Day, R.A. 1998. How to Write & Publish a Scientific Paper, 5th ed. Oryx.

Introduction

• You should be answering the following questions:– What was I studying?– Why is it important?– What was known about this topic before my

study?– What will my study contribute to our

understanding of the region/problem?

Important Components• Structure = Funnel - Start with the most general

information and focus towards your specific study• Begin by clearly identifying the subject area of the study

(geographic or process)• Provide a brief and balanced review of the published

literature to establish context– Summarize results of relevant published research articles and

cite them– You will read more papers, book chapters, websites than you

will cite

• Clearly state the purpose or hypothesis that you are investigating

• Provide an overview of how you approached the problem

Annotated Bibliography

In this assignment, you are to prepare an annotated reference list relevant to your research topic that contains at least three references. An annotated reference list differs from the Reference section in that you have provided an additional description (i.e. annotation) for each source. Generally annotations are 4-6 sentences long that include the main focus of the paper and its relevance to your research topic. It should include the important conclusions or findings of the authors. You could also include your own evaluation of their findings.

We expect you to format your references in the L&O style and include the annotation below the reference.

For example:

Cannon, G. A. 1975. Observations of bottom-water flushing in a fjord-like estuary. Estuar. Coast. Mar. Sci., 3, 95-102.

Cannon investigated the deep circulation in Port Susan with a combination of hydrographic measurements and current meter deployments. He found that there are short episodic events where water behind the deep sill is replaced by inflowing denser water. The result of this flushing is a mid-depth minimum in dissolved oxygen concentrations within Port Susan. Cannon also included hydrographic sections in Saratoga Passage in July and August 1970, as well as a figure with a record of the temperature, salinity, and dissolved oxygen over the course of 1970 that might be useful for comparison to my data.

Jon Morgan Jimmy Kehoe Robert Daniels Alexandra Russell Rika

Teos Bisbee Colton Skavicus Julie Ann Koehlinger Colin Katagiri OSB 425

Una Miller Claire Knox Heather Eberhart Madison Shipley Evan

Matt Morris Ben Pelle Haley Smith Brendan Pratt OSB 410

Paul Russell

Christina Ramirez Katrina H. Gabby Fraser Audrey Furlong Mark

Elizabeth Allen Kecen Zhou Dylan Jessum BethElLee Hermann OSB 310

Jessie Kimber

Mixed Group Meetings

• Provide an opportunity for you to explain your project to other students and faculty (good practice for your final oral presentation)

• An opportunity to think about how your study be related to those from other groups