Because proposal and report writing are integral parts
of job assignments in many natural resource fields, the
masters project plays an important role in professional
education. The proposal and final report must be of professional
quality in their finished form. The student and the advisor
should work closely together to assure that the student
receives the greatest benefit from this aspect of the School's
professional degree programs.
The proposal and final report should be well written; errors
in spelling, grammar and typing are not acceptable. The
student will be responsible for the accuracy of both the
proposal and final report in content, format, grammar, style
of writing, and typing. The advisor will approve your work
based on a critical assessment of content, format and technical
quality. Your advisor may provide advice on presentation,
but should not be expected to serve as a copy editor. Content
must be revised and errors must be corrected before the
proposal is signed by the advisor. The corrected and signed
proposal must be submitted to the Dean's Office before the
deadline indicated.
HELP WITH WRITING
IS AVAILABLE FROM THESE SOURCES: DUKE
WRITING STUDIO, MODULES ON
WRITING AND PAID
WRITING CONSULTANTS.
Many good references are available both in the Biological
and Environmental Sciences Library and the University bookstore
to assist the writer with matters of format and style. The
following are particularly useful:
-
W. Strunk and E. B. White. The Elements of Style.
Macmillan Co., New York. (Available in paperback,an
invaluable personal reference for matters of concise
writing and grammar. It is easily readable.)
-
Kate L. Turabian. A Manual for Writers of Term Papers,
Theses and Dissertations. University of Chicago
Press, Chicago, IL. (Also a paperback, this is an indispensable
addition to the student's personal library.)
-
Council of Biology Editors Style Manual. American
Institute of Biological Sciences, Arlington, VA. (Particularly
good for arranging content of scientific papers, use
of terms and abbreviations in some fields of study.)
-
The Chicago Manual of Style. University of Chicago
Press, Chicago, IL.
S (Good sections on citing all types of references in
both the sciences and the humanities.)
Nicholas School students are also urged to take advantage
of the writing workshops offered as skills modules.
