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  Home > JCE Print > Journal of Chemical Education > Issues > 1998  > November  >
In the Classroom
A Capstone Writing Experience in Polymer Chemistry: Writing a Proposal for an Instrument Purchase
Allen D. Hunter
Department of Chemistry, Youngstown State University, Youngstown, OH 44555-3663
Cover
November 1998
Vol. 75 No. 11
p. 1424
Abstract
A capstone writing experience for upper-level polymer chemistry is described in which students write a proposal to the management of a hypothetical company recommending for or against the purchase of a particular make and model of polymer characterization instrumentation. This project involves background research into the appropriate instrumental method, the collection of quotes and product information from instrumentation vendors, and the development of capital and operating budgets. The students evaluate this information and make value judgments as to whether any purchase is justified and, if so, they suggest which make and model should be purchased. The term papers are to be written for a nonspecialist audience, which forces the students to write the paper in terms that are accessible to the scientifically literate lay person. This exercise has value in its own right, produces an excellent assessment tool, and greatly helps the students once they proceed to permanent employment where such writing skills are highly valued.
Supplement
A student handout is available in the form of a PDF file, which requires Adobe Reader to view. The Microsoft Word document has also been compressed as sit and zip files.
*  Contents
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supp1424.sit

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*  Citation
 Hunter, Allen D. J. Chem. Educ. 1998 75 1424.
*  Keywords
 polymer chem, laboratory equipment, apparatus, writing in chem
*  History
 Created:
Last Updated:		 June 18, 1999
November 22, 2005
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