more work

I give AP an assignment where they pick a research related article from Science magazine and then write a summary based on questions I give them. They turned it in Monday and they were decent, but for the most part not exactly what I was looking for. So I get the bright idea to show them exactly what I want from their papers. I tell them I will do the assignment as a sample. I also say that to make it fair, they can pick the article I do. The idea behind that was so that they couldn't say that I had it easy because I already knew what the articles were about and therefor didn't have to struggle with reading or understanding.

The article the report they pick for me is "Deformation of (MgFe)SiO3 Post-Perovskite and D" Anisotropy" by Merkel et al. It took me forever to read the thing because I had to look up half the words. I think the target audience was only people with advanced degrees in earth or planetary science. Certainly not high school bio teachers with genetics degrees. On the plus side, I will be demonstrating to my students that when you don't know a word you look it up rather than using it in the paper and making it clear to your reader that you don't know what's going on. Also on the plus side (I suppose) I now have a better understanding of seismic activity in the deepest layer of the mantel. I also know what a diamond anvil cell is and how it works. The article is also an excellent example of how in science you sometimes do a lot of work just to come up with inconclusive results.

On the other hand when Mr. Weiderhold (the chemistry/physic teacher I share an office with)saw me working on it Friday, he told me I should never give myself extra work. He's a wise man.