The term paper is a chance for you to bring the key points you learned in the course all together into one scientific argument.

The Perseverance Rover is hurtling itself towards Mars and is expected to arrive in February 2021.

Write an article  (at least 2000 words) that you think could feasibly be published once the early data come in from Perseverance. You can imagine it makes an early discovery of something the scientific team is hoping to find.

Your article should include:

What is the purpose of Perseverance?
What evidence do we have from past missions that show promise for this mission?
What types of instrumentation does Perseverance have to study Mars?
Describe the first locations Perseverance will study.
What is the nature of its early (imagined) discoveries?
What types of (past or present) life form might it find?
How would those lifeforms survive in the conditions on Mars?
What are the implications of this discovery on the search for life in the universe?

Please do your own work. All this information is available on websites such as NASA and many news outlets. You are to write the paper in your own interpretation of that information, not a direct copy. This will be strictly enforced.

All papers MUST follow this format or it risks getting a 0.

Criteria for a successful paper:

A successful paper will be at least 2000 words and will follow the format above. It will include:

A clear, accurate, and coherent scientific argument that uses scientifically valid information (from the Internet or journals) and many of the main concepts used in the course. Your paper should demonstrate your understanding of these concepts, not just the awareness of the terminology.
A clear organization and correct grammar to provide a readable and intelligent paper. It should be easy and pleasurable to read. This must include an introduction, conclusion, and the mandatory headers to help make clarify your argument.
Within this format, your paper should demonstrate individuality and creativity to show how you have digested and interpreted the information, and to show me it is your OWN work. Papers that read like a bunch of cut and paste text without any personality will be poorly graded.
A complete and consistent set of citations and references in APA, IEEE, or similar academic format. I don’t care which format you use, but be consistent and thorough.
Pride in your work. If you don’t love it, I won’t love it.

All papers must be received by midnight on the last night of the course.