PHS100 Portfolio Item #3
For this portfolio item, select ONE of the options below, and follow the instructions associated with that option.
Option 1: Physical Sciences in our everyday lives
Option 2: Physical Sciences and society
Option 3: Physical Sciences and the movies
INSTRUCTIONS FOR OPTION 1
This option is very similar to portfolio 2—you need to pick a topic from life outside of class and apply the concepts of the physical sciences to it. It’s sort of like a mini paper on the way something works. Choose a topic to which you can apply concepts from this unit of the course: gravity, energy, temperature, thermodynamics, etc. Some ideas of appropriate topics include amusement parks, satellites, the orbits of planets and moons, weathering of rocks, climate change, ocean ice, geothermal energy generation, anything related to the weather…..the list goes on and on. Feel free to choose a topic that you know something about, but also feel free to choose something that you don’t know much about but interests you!
General organization of this portfolio item
The portfolio item should have the following sections:
-Topic (one paragraph maximum)
-Background concepts (150-300 words)
-Application of PHS100 concepts (include some diagrams if appropriate; 300-400 words)
-Works cited in APA format (and cited in-text throughout the portfolio)
Topic
Choose a topic as described in the above paragraph. Be sure it’s related to the physical sciences, and to the concepts we’re learning about during this unit. In a brief paragraph, tell me what your topic is, and maybe why you chose it.
Background Concepts
In several paragraphs, discuss the physical science concepts that you’ll be applying to your topic. Think about all of the concepts we’ve covered that apply to your topic, and write several paragraphs about them in general—without yet applying those concepts to your topic. Use your notes, lectures, and the textbook. If an online source helps you explain the concept, feel free to use that too—but be sure to cite it appropriately.
Application
Now take those physical science concepts and write 300-400 words about how they apply to your topic. Try to think through these yourself before looking up specifics, but feel free to use additional sources, being sure to cite them appropriately. This is the largest and most important section of the portfolio item, and should be thoughtful and well-written. This is where you tell me how the physical sciences relate to your topic. Make sure to relate every concept that you discussed in the background section to your topic.
Works cited
This is a brief section where you include all of the sources you cited, in proper APA format. Make sure you have at least two outside sources; you can also use class notes and your textbook if you'd like. If you don’t know APA format, there are a bazillion online tutorials, and even programs that will do it for you.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR OPTION 2
For this option, pick a topic related to the physical sciences that affects society in some way. Then explain the science behind it. There are lots of options here—some popular ones include alternative energy (e.g. solar or wind power), climate change, or electric cars. This does not have to be directly related to the current unit.
General organization of this portfolio item
The portfolio item should have the following sections:
-Topic (one paragraph)
-Background concepts (150-300 words)
-Application of PHS100 concepts (include some diagrams if appropriate; 300-400 words)
-Works cited in APA format (and cited in-text throughout the portfolio)
Topic
In about a paragraph, summarize the topic you’ve selected. Be sure to indicate which general topics in the physical sciences apply to your topic, and why you chose it.
Background Concepts
In several paragraphs, discuss the physical science concepts that are pertinent to your topic. For example, if you select solar panels, discuss the concepts of photons, energy, energy transformations, electricity, and electron transfer. Think about all of the concepts we’ve covered that apply to your topic, and write several paragraphs about them in general—without yet applying those concepts to your topic. Use your notes, lectures, and the textbook. If an online source helps you explain the concept, feel free to use that too—but be sure to cite it appropriately.
Application
Now take those physical science concepts and write 300-400 words about how they apply to your topic. Try to think through these yourself before looking up specifics, but feel free to use additional sources, being sure to cite them appropriately. This is the largest and most important section of the portfolio item, and should be thoughtful and well-written. This is where you tell me how the physical sciences relate to your topic, and show me why this was a good topic to choose for the assignment. Make sure to relate every concept that you discussed in the background section to your topic.
Works cited
This is a brief section where you include all of the sources you cited, in proper APA format. Make sure you have at least two outside sources; you can also use class notes and your textbook if you'd like. If you don’t know APA format, there are a bazillion online tutorials, and even programs that will do it for you.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR OPTION 3
For this option, find a movie that portrays some aspect of the physical sciences. It doesn’t have to be the main plot of the movie, but you need to be sure you have enough to write a good portfolio item. If you need to discuss two or three different scenes in the movie to have enough material, definitely do that. This one needs to be pretty specific, and is probably the hardest portfolio item to write.
General organization of this portfolio item
The portfolio item should have the following sections:
-Movie summary (one paragraph)
-Background concepts (150-300 words)
-Application of PHS100 concepts (include some diagrams if appropriate; 300-400 words)
-Works cited in APA format (and cited in-text throughout the portfolio)
Movie Summary
In about a paragraph, summarize the movie as a whole. If you’re using multiple different scenes, make sure to focus on those so I know what you’ll be discussing.
Background Concepts
In several paragraphs, discuss the physical science concepts that are pertinent to the movie. Think about all of the concepts we’ve covered that apply to your topic, and write several paragraphs about them in general—without yet applying those concepts to your topic. Use your notes, lectures, and the textbook. If an online source helps you explain the concept, feel free to use that too—but be sure to cite it appropriately.
Application
Now take those physical science concepts and write 300-400 words about how they apply to your movie. Try to think through these yourself before looking up specifics, but feel free to use additional sources, being sure to cite them appropriately. This is the largest and most important section of the portfolio item, and should be thoughtful and well-written. This is where you tell me how the physical sciences relate to your movie, and show me why this was a good movie to choose for the assignment. Make sure to relate every concept that you discussed in the background section to your topic.
