Dear participants,
This week, you all must be busy in writing your final assignment. I am sure you all are working hard, but you must remember a few things while writing the assignment.
First of all, you must choose a topic out of the four options given to you. Once you select an option, carefully read the description given for that option, so that you clearly understand what is intended to be written in the assignment.
I request all of you to once again go through the "final assignment description" which I am reproducing below.
For your final assignment, imagine that you have been asked to provide a clear and concise report to your organisation on one of the following topics. Please make this 1500-2000 words in length. Feel free to include figures, sketches as appropriate. All work for this assignment should be original for this course and done individually.
Option A)
Describe a modeling project. Do you use distributed modeling, or lumped, or some other variation? Do you produce an ensemble of output? Is your modeling approach different depending on the watershed focus?
Option B)
The Dams and Dam Failure lesson showed statistics of dams (type and age) in the United States. Prepare a report that describes the dams in your area, the primary use of those dams, and the biggest challenges. If you are in an area where Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) are possible, does your knowledge of dam failure enhance your understanding or effect your ability to analyze GLOF's?
Option C)
Perform a verification study using model forecast results and data from your region. Describe the data available for verifying your current hydrologic forecasts. Use at least two verification scores and explain your results. What are the strengths and weaknesses of your model?
Option D)
Describe the impacts, variability, and uncertainty regarding precipitation in your area associated with climate cycles such as El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO), or seasonal monsoons. What are trends and future projections? Week 5 modules in option 2 and or 3 will assist with this written assignment.
Please write your assignment in a structured way, first Introduction, then main sections and finally summary or conclusion. Please make liberal use of maps, sketches, tables, figures, photographs etc. to make your assignment look nice and easy to comprehend.Please follow the word limit of 1500-2000 words. Too short to long assignments will receive less marks.
Your assignment will be graded based on certain criteria. The criteria and its weightage are reproduced here, for your ready reference.
There are five criteria, each worth up to 20 points.
1. Length :
The assignment ideally should have 1500 to 2000 words
This participant who stays within the word count receives the full 20 points. Lesser words will reduce the grade proportionally. Extra count will also reduce the grade unless the extra material is clear and adding value to the discussion.
2. Addressed options: Original content
Participants who identify the option ( one out of three options given) well in advance and then write an original report will receive the full 20 points. The options for the written assignments are detailed on the course website. Participants submitting almost same wording as another participant ( indicating that they copied from each other or from a manual ) will get lesser grades.
3. Organized and easy to follow; includes summary
The assignment containing following in a well-organized format will get maximum 20 points.
- A title page with her/his name and location
- a brief introduction explaining what she/he is writing about
- a discussion of data and results
- a summary of the main points in the report.
4. Used graphics and visual aids as appropriate
Simple graphics, sketches, figure are very helpful at communicating some of the important points, especially when language barriers exist. The participant who uses visual aids to assist the person reading her/his assignments will receive the full 20 points. It doesn’t have to be a too much of graphics either. A simple map of the local geography, climate, and instrumentation can also be helpful.
5. Refer to topics in the course
It is expected that the participants refer the course modules while writing the assignment. The participant who refers to lessons from at least one of the required modules will receive the full 20 points.
Please note: All work for this assignment should be original for this course and done individually.
Please follow the above criteria while writing assignment so that you can get full marks. Some of you might have done some reports earlier. Our request would be not to use them as final writing assignment as it is. You must restructure, reformat, and re-word your existing report ( if any) so as to fit in the grading criteria as well as assignment description given for this DL program to make it a original report.All the best.
Dattakumar