Unit 5
Report Development
Environmental Research 401 DDE 2004
GEOG 401, 1-5 Credit
Instructor: Dr. M. Mustoe, Eastern Oregon University
This syllabus can be found at: http://www.eou.edu/~mmustoe/sgeog410.html
INSTRUCTOR CONTACT: My office is Zabel 203 GIS Lab. E-MAIL me at on internet at: mmustoe@eou.edu.
(EOU ACCOUNTS ONLY)
Telephone 541- WOodland-2 3502. Office Hours: 2:30- 4 PM Pacific Time, or by appointment.
Tap here for Geography In The EAO Catalog. In Class: EXAM SCHEDULES


Overview

A reiteration....

YOUR ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH REPORT
The title of this course, "environmental research" might suggest that what this course is about is, indeed, research on or about some aspect of the environment. In some respects the course does fulfill that aspect. However, the focus of this course is not about writing a report on the environment. The focus of this course is about the processes of research that are the foundation of any scientific geographic research. A better title for this course might be Geographic Research, because although that title might express the same thing on the surface in context the term "geographic" lends itself to a farther reaching scope of study than simply the environment. "Geographic" means spatial, and implies something that not only includes the environment but also perceptual interpretations of the space. Again, however, the structure is of this course is not on the writing of geographic reports, but rather an analysis of the process of doing geographic research. In order to accomplish this the student needs an exposure to the qualitative and quantitative processes of research methodology. Perhaps that's what this course should be titled, Geographic Research Methods. (but who would want to take a course named that?)

Thus, "the report" in this course will not be a re-hash of an environmental topic. Rather, this course will study the structure of the research surrounding specific geographic (environmental) questions and problems. In addition the first four units of this course should help you reach an understanding of what to look for in the context of your "report".

Reports should be both analytical and descriptive and should focus on a subject of interest to the student. The collection of primary based data is not necessary, however, it can be a part of the process of the report. The student is encouraged to evaluate the existing research base on the topic of choice. Care should be taken to structure the report in such a way that reflects the elements of either a normative, experimental or historical scientific investigation. Reiterating, this report is a heuristic attempt by the student to provide analysis of existing data and research in some field of interest. For an overview of report writing in general please see chapter 8 of the text, Introduction to Scientific Research. The proposal format for this report should entail the following:

Your initial proposal should be in the instructors office no later than 17 April.


(hand/mail these in using the GAP).

UNIT 5 READING
8. Writing Geographic Research Reports


Discussion

UNIT FIVE YOUR REPORT

By now you should have your proposal in. This is your time to consider your writing and production of your report. As suggested to you in the report outline and no doubt in the communications you and I have already had, your report is an analysis in itself. Look for the concepts you have studied in the core of this class and synthesize what you know about the scientific structure from the research you review.

Thank you for your effort.

END OF ASSIGNMENT