Essay Length: 850 words (2 pages, NOT including the cover page and the reference page)
Style: APA
Goals: Your task is to write a critical analysis or reflective short paper about the scientific article (main article) that you select from the list below (articles are free available online through the MDC library): I. When Did Photosynthesis Emerge on Earth? Des Marais, J.D. Science 2000:289(5485) pp.1703-1705. DOI: 10.1126/science.289.5485.1703 II. On the Origin of Photosynthesis. Leslie M. Science (2009) 323():1286-1287. [DOI:10.1126/science.323.5919.1286] III. Marine Bugs and Carbon Flow. Fenchel T. Science 29 June 2001: 2444-2445. [DOI:10.1126/science.1062799] IV. Contemplating the First Plantae. Frederick W. Spiegel. Science 17 February 2012: 809- 810. [DOI:10.1126/science.1218515 Format: You should do a critical reading of the selected article, integrating the basic concepts described in Chapter 8 Photosynthesis, Biology: A Guide to the Natural World (5th Edition) Krogh, D. This essay is a systematic evaluation that should include a fair and accurate summary of the selected paper’s text and a statement of your OWN assumptions (that is, your opinion and comprehension about the findings). Use the following format: 1. Title: Select a title for your essay; be original! Include also your complete name, class, date, term, instructor name, and the assignment type (Photosynthesis Essay). All this information should be in the cover page. 2. Summary: Summarize the author’s main points (optional) 3. Introduction: Name the paper you selected for this analytical essay and the corresponding author. State the author’s main argument and the points you intend to make about it. End the introduction with a brief description of your statement with respect to the text, giving a sense of the purpose of your analysis. 4. Analysis: Evaluate the author’s article based on your comprehension and knowledge of the topic as acquired by carefully reading the corresponding Chapter in the Textbook. Discuss your points. You can use additional sources of information for your analysis, including any of the satellite articles provide at the end of this document. 5. Conclusion: State your conclusions about the importance and implication of the selected article. 6. References: Citation sources in an independent page. Photosynthesis MDC West 2015-1 TR 825 BSC1005 2 Satellite articles: The following links contain additional information that you could use to discuss the article (please, notice that these other articles (links) are NOT the ones that you must discuss in this essay!). You could also use other resources available in the library. (a) Solar-Powered Sea Slug http://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/episode/solar-powered-seaslug-08-12-01/ (b) First Evidence Found for Photosynthesis in Insects http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/first-evidence-found-insectphotosynthesis/ (c) It’s Not That Easy Being Green, but Many Would Like to Be http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/guest-blog/2011/09/01/its-not-thateasy-being-green-but-many-would-like-to-be/ (d) Origin of land plants: Do conjugating green algae hold the key? http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2148/11/104 (e) Local Color: Plants under Alien Suns Could Come in a Variety of Hues http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/local-color-plants-under-aliensuns-come-in-variety-of-hues/ (f) The Colors of Plants in Other Worlds. http://www.ebscohost.com/uploads/imported/thisTopic-dbTopic-1033.pdf (g) Alien Planets May Thrive on Many Wavelengths of Light http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/alien-planets-may-thrive-manywavelengths-light (h) How the First Plant Came to Be http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-first-plant-evolved
