Writing Assignment: Misconceptions in Astronomy

Write a 4 to 6 pages paper (typed, double-spaced, with opportunity for revision) about misconceptions in astronomy. Submitted in MS-WORD or PDF format. Below you will find three multiple-choice questions that exemplify typical misconceptions in astronomy. The paper should be based on the discussion of these questions.

The paper must have the following structure:

- Introduction (at least one paragraph, 3 points)

- Discussion of question 1 (three paragraphs, 5 points)

- Discussion of question 2 (three paragraphs, 5 points)

- Discussion of question 3 (three paragraphs, 5 points)

- Summary/conclusion (at least one paragraph, 2 points)

For each question write three paragraphs containing:

The question asked. Indicate the correct answer and explain why it is correct (1 point).

The wrong answers. For each of the incorrect options explain in detail why they are incorrect (3 points).

A 200 words discussion of why students and general public have difficulties answering the question. Mention explicitly which is the answer that most people are likely to choose (1 point).

The paper must be written as a single essay, with introduction and conclusion paragraphs (-2 points in these instructions are not followed). Your paper will be checked for plagiarism, make sure you submit original material, if you are going to use a reference (e.g., the book) make sure you include appropriate citation (APA style is appropriate, but you are allowed to use a different citation style), and include quoted statements in quotation marks.

Question 1:

When will an upright flagpole cast no shadow in Chicago because the Sun is directly above the flagpole?

A) Every day at noon.

B) Only on the first day of summer.

C) On the first day of Spring and Fall.

D) Never.

Question 2:

Astronauts inside the Space Shuttle float around as it orbits the Earth because:

A) there is no gravity in space.

B) they are falling in the same way as the Space Shuttle.

C) they are above the Earth's atmosphere.

D) there is less gravity inside the Space Shuttle than outside.

Question 3:

Imagine that the Earth's orbit were changed to be a perfect circle about the Sun so that the distance to the Sun never changed. How would this affect the seasons?

A) We would no longer experience a difference between the seasons.

B) We would still experience seasons, but the difference would be much less noticeable.

C) We would still experience seasons, but the difference would be much more noticeable.

D) We would continue to experience seasons in the same way we do now.

Writing Assignment: Misconceptions in Astronomy Write a 4 to 6 p...