Projects and Due Dates
 HORT 225
Horticulture Learning Community

Writing Assignments
(See Essay Format for more detail)

Guidelines

  • Length: 200-500 words maximum (approx. 1/2 page)
  • Single spaced
  • 12 point font
  • Typed using a word processing program
Submission
  • Submit via E-mail as an attachment 
  • Name the file: last name and assignment number, e.g. reed1
  • E-mail to dwreed@tamu.edu
Written Reports will be Graded for
  • Does it incorporate information and comments synthesized from the lecture or field trip?
  • Does it address the topic or does it drift off topic?
  • Does it incorporate information from the lecture or field trip?
  • Is the writing concise and to the point?
  • Clarity of writing and readability
  • Spelling, grammar, and  punctuation
  • See Grading Rubric for more detail on grading
Suggestions to improve your writing
Assignment and Topic
Assignment Due
Assignment 1
Am I a Classical Millennial
Background:  In class, you completed a survey concerning your experiences and  characteristics.  Then we reviewed the experiences and characteristics of the Millennial Generation.
Writing Assignment: I would like for you do develop a three paragraph essay.  In the first paragraph address how you are similar to the stereotypical Millennial, in the second paragraph address how you differ from the stereotypical Millennial, and in the third and final paragraph conclude  whether you consider yourself a stereotypical Millennial or not.



Wednesday,
Sept. 5
5:00 pm
Assignment 2
Why I Chose Horticulture as a Major
Background:  In class, we discussed the handouts from the Writing Center listed above.
 
Writing Assignment:   The title of you writing assignment is: "Why I chose Horticulture as a Major."  This assignment will be informative essay as part of your college application; therefore, an academic advisor  or admissions staff is your target audience.

Wednesday,
Sept. 12
5:00 pm
Assignment 3
Determine your Learning Preference and Personality Temperament
Take the following On-Line Self Test 
Writing Assignment
  • Report your Learning Preference, and discuss whether you feel the  assessment is accurate or not.   Your audience is your academic mentor.
Optional For Your Own Interest




Monday,
Sept. 17
5:00 pm
Assignment 4
Teams versus Groups

Background:  In class, we experienced a team building exercise, and briefly discussed the major characteristics of a team.

Writing Assignment:  Pick a team of which you have been a member in the past.  Based our definition of a team, discuss whether or not you  your example was a "team" or a "group".  Your audience is the student newsletter of your former high school.


Monday,
Sept. 24
5:00 pm
Assignment 5
Stages of Team Development and Team Member Roles

Background:  In class, we compared and contrasted teams or groups we have been on in the past  to stages of team devlepment and team member roles.

Writing Assignment:  Using the team you discussed in last week's essay, develop an essay as to whether or not the team exhibited any or all of the Stages of Team Development discussed in today's class.  Also, conduct a self-analysis and somewhere in the essay indicate your Team Member Role on the team.  From the Grading  Rubric, I am going to place particular emphasis on Addresses topic/assignment and Facts/Data from lecture.


Monday,
Oct. 1
5:00 pm
Assignment 6
Identify a GMO or Transgenic Plant

Background:  In class, we discussed GMOs and transgenic plants.


Writing Assignment: 
Google GMO or transgenic plant.  Find a plant GMO or transgenic plant that has been produced.  This is not an essay.  You will simple list the following infromation about the GMO or transgenic plant selected.  You cannot use a GMO or transgenic plant listed in the handout.
Byline: Title = Name of the GMO, second line = your name.
Name of the gene:
Name of the organism from which the gene was obtained:
Name of the plant into which the gene was inserted to creat the GMO:
What characteristic, function or reason for creating the GMO:



Monday,
Oct. 8
5:00 pm
Assignment 6
Pros and  Cons of GMOs or Transgenic Plants

Background:  In class, we discussed many GMOs and transgenic plants, and Pros and Cons.  We separate the class into 2 groups:  Pro GMO Group and Con GMO Group..


Writing Assignment: 
The Pro and Con GMO groups will get together and develop a list of 6 to 10 arguments to support their case.  These two lists will form the basis of next week's debate. 
The Pro and Con lists will be turned-in at class time next week.


Turn-in at
class time
next week
Assignment 7
Develop Your Personal Philosophy on Plant GMOs

Background: For two weeks we discussed GMOs and debated their pros and cons.  By now you should have developed an opinion on where you stand on the issue of GMOs.

Writing Assignment

  • Contemplate the pros and cons and develop your philosophy relative to GMOs.
  • In your written essay:
    • develop a sentence or two that summarizes your philosophy on GMOs.
    • next present the major reasons for this philosophy.
    • your philosophy may be pro, con or a combination of the two


Monday,
Oct. 22
5:00 pm
Assignment 8
Create a Web Site for Your Electronic Portfolio
Background: We discussed how you can create your own web site on the TAMU server (instructions at http://people.tamu.edu/), and development of  ePortfilios, which are on-line resumes that cover the total person.  Fiinally, a brief overview of Dreamweaver (Create Your Own Web Site Using Dreamweaver) so you could create the initial stages of your ePortfilio.
.
Writting Assignment:  Your assignment is to create your  own web site on the TAMU server, and use it to begin developing your ePortfolio.  The minimum requirement be that it contains "something of substance".



E-mail to me the URL to your web site by:
Monday
Nov. 5
5:00 pm
Assignment 9 Optional
Grade Assignment 9 - Technical Newspaper Article on a Horticultural Topic
Background: Most newspapers have weekly articles on horticultural topics.  Some are authored by  extension specialist or trained master gardeners, but many are authored by horticultural experts, such as you will be once you graduate. In this assignment, you will prepare a newspaper article.  Your audience will be the general public.

This assignment is optional.  If you submit assignment 9, it will be graded, and you will receive 2 drop grades.  If you do not submit assignment 9, your writing grade will be based on assignments 1-8, and only 1 drop grade.
.
Writing Assignment: Your article can be on either of  our two field trips, Willamson Tree Farm or the Antique Rose Emporium.  The topic of the article will be informative, with the underlying context being a "neat place to visit" or take a club on a "guided tour". Describe the business and give a little about its background and origin (both have web sites to gather background), then high light interesting aspects about the business.





Wednesday,
Dec. 5th,
5:00 pm

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