MSCI 301 Term Paper  -  Spring 2004

Purpose:  
•	To provide experience in studying a technical subject in depth and in the absence of strict guidelines. 
•	To develop skills in technical writing beyond routine lab reports. 
•	To learn more about the selection, processing, structure, properties, performance and cost of a particular material of interest in one or more specific applications.

Topics:
•	Students will choose a topic based on their own interests.
•	Examples of some potential topics were mentioned in class by the instructor. 
•	The topic will have to be approved by the instructor.  Students will submit a brief description of the topic and brief outline of the paper to the instructor by Monday Feb. 9, 2004. 

Format:
•	The report will be written from the perspective of a MSCI 301 student who, a few years after graduation from Rice, is employed in industry or other institution involved in design or manufacturing.
•	The report is written (for example to one’s supervisor) to address difficulties with an existing material application or a need to select material for a new application or new product.
•	Although the paper’s introduction may include some background information, the paper should not be mainly historical.
•	Length will be approximately 12 pages, double spaced, 12 point font.  
•	The paper is not to be written in the form of a laboratory report (hypothesis, procedure, observations, etc.)
•	 The use of graphs, tables and diagrams is encouraged, however these should not be any larger than necessary for clarity and readability.  These should not constitute a majority of the paper’s length.

Due Date:
•	The final paper must be turned in by the end of our class on Wed. April 14, 2004.
•	If any student completes their paper and  turns it in by Wed. Mar. 10, the instructor will review the paper, make some limited suggestions and corrections, and return the paper to the student ungraded, giving the student a few weeks to make improvements before the final due date.

References:
•	A majority of references should come from technical journals and library books.  A smaller, limited number of references from the textbooks, internet, and encyclopedias is OK.
•	References must be connected with specific statements or specific data in the paper, rather than being of a general nature. 
•	Any phrases, sentences or other  information used verbatim from any source must be in quotation marks and a proper reference must be given.

Honor Code:
•	Students must do their own work.
•	The Rice Honor Code must be included on the first page and must be signed by the student’s own hand.
•	If any individuals are consulted, their names must be listed as references.  Library personnel and faculty members may be consulted.  
•	Ph.D. candidate graduate students may be consulted, but only in areas closely related to their thesis topic.  Other students may not be consulted.
•	Any use of unpublished papers by other students or use of unreferenced papers found on the internet is expressly forbidden.

Grading:
•	As shown in the class syllabus, this paper amounts of 25% of the final class grade. 
•	The grade on this paper will be based on:   (a) completeness, (b) correctness, (c) organization and clarity of expression, (d) style, spelling & grammar, (e) general appearance of the paper. 

                                                                                                                               F.R.B. Nov.2000,  revised P.J.L. Jan.2004