CFR 590 is identical in every way to CFR 250, with one exception.

CFR 590 students will need to prepare a 6 to 10 page (double-spaced) paper.

Due Date: Same as final assignment. Submit using Catalyst (as 590_paper).

You have 2 choices for the topic of the paper

1. A description of how GIS can or will be used in your own research
   The paper should include some of the following topics, where applicable:
   • An brief overview of your research.
   • How GIS ties in with your research in a general sense, in other words, why GIS is an important or indispensable tool in the project.
   • What specific functionalities of GIS you will use in this research. Speak in general, theoretical GIS terms, rather than in ArcView 3.x specific command or menu terms.
   • If your research will be data-intensive, what specific data sets you will need, including, but not necessarily limited to (where applicable):
     • data sources (where you know them to exist or how you intend to find them),
     • data projection and coordinate system (and the benefits of this specific system compared to another).
   • What your outputs or deliverables will be.
   
   
   
2. A critical review of a current (less than 2years old) scientific paper from a peer-reviewed journal in your field of study
   The paper should include GIS as an indispensable part of the methods.
   Review the papers based on criteria such as:
   
   
   • Scientific merit: how does the research make a unique or original contribution to the field?
   • Support of conclusions: do the methods and results support the conclusions of the research? Are the references in the paper also valid in support of the research?
   • GIS use: how does the use of GIS support the research? Were any mistakes made? Could the application of GIS technology have been performed in a different way?

    

The paper is informal, meaning you do not need to perform library research or make citations, unless research or citations are important for a particular purpose.

This paper will not contribute to the grade for the course, but will be a pass/fail. The paper will need a passing score in order for you to pass the course. The paper should conform to a high standard of quality in terms of both content and style.