Academic Writing

INSTRUCTIONS Your project must be at least 18 pages. The cover page and bibliography page do not count toward the 18-page requirement. Figures are not counted in the 18-page requirement. A report that is less than 18 full pages automatically will lose 25% of the grade. Your report will use Times Roman, 12pt font, standard page margins, spacing 1.15. Anything that is not normally used in report formatting will have points deducted from the grade. Bibliography and in-text referencing will use the Harvard style, which I had added in the blackboard. Failure to follow this style will result in 15% reduction in the report’s grade. GRADING SCHEME COVER PAGE: 5% ABSTRACT (OR EXECUTIVE SUMMARY) maximum 300 words: 10% BIBLIOGRAPHY AND IN-TEXT REFERENCING: 15% COMPLETENESS OF CONCLUSIONS: 10% DEPTH OF COVERAGE OF THE TOPIC (INTRODUCTION AND BODY OF REPORT): 60% NOTICE THAT IF IT BECOMES OBVIOUS THAT YOU DID NOT USE THE WORD SPELLER IN YOUR REPORT AUTOMATICALLY 20% WILL BE DEDUCTED FROM YOUR GRADE. Anything that is not covered in this description the students are welcome to contact me for clarifications. Potential Projects: This is a list of possible topics. Students can work on topics different from those listed after discussion and approval by the instructor of the class Each Report will cover all items included in the description of the project below 1. Incineration of solid waste: technologies used, parts of an incineration plant, filters, chemical that come out, costs 2. Regulations about incineration: USA and European Union: comparison of the regulations, health problems from real case studies of incineration plants, what is done with the ash? 3. Landfills: components of a landfill, what is their function, how long do they last, problems with different components of a landfill, how do you find an appropriate location 4. Landfills: regulations in USA and European Union: Comparison of regulations, pollution problems (case studies), how often and remediation costs 5. Hazardous and toxic waste: how are they treated, regulations in USA about hazardous waste, safety measures, pollution problems (real case studies), remediation technologies 6. Port dredging: technologies used, USA regulations, potential problems, application in Al Bateen marina 7. UAE aquifers: what are the most important aquifers in UAE, description of the hydrogeologic layers, quality of water in aquifers, use of the groundwater, pollution problems, protection measures. These all should be specific to UAE: so when we say for example pollution problems we mean pollution problems of aquifers in UAE, etc. 8. Renewable energy sources 9. Groundwater clean-up technologies 10. Climate change: global circulation models (what they are), indications, controversies, etc.