Materials Chemistry - CHEM6170GR

Each week you must choose a manuscript and write a critical review summarizing the importance of the findings and describing the value of the work to a broad audience. You are encouraged to use generative AI for this assignment. However, each week on Wednesday, one member of the class will be asked to describe the paper to the class and answer questions about it with the help of the figures from the manuscript.

Required Format: Your review must be formatted according to the rules below.

1" margins, 12 point font, Times New Roman, single-spaced. Do not use bulleted lists.

Page 1: Title page showing your name, the manuscript title, list of authors and their institution(s), and when available, the manuscripts abstract, copy and pasted from the online journal.

Page 2: Fill an entire page with text, but please do not exceed one page. Use the section headings below.

1. Significance Statement (100 words maximum, 10%): Describe the significance of the work written at a level that can be understood by a senior undergraduate science major (e.g. biology or physics).
2. Take-Home Message (30%): Using a narrative writing style, summarize the key messages of the work and the essential observations/proofs that support these messages. This might be presented as a list of overarching claims and the data that support these claims.
3. Critical Assessment of the Value (60%): Provide an in-depth critical analysis of the take-home messages. Defend and dismantle the quality of their experimental design and execution and the rigor of their arguments. Is the objective of their work meaningful? Were they successful and convincing? Articulate and defend your feelings about the value of the contribution.

Page 3: Append any relevant figures discussed in the text as a third page. You will use these figures to present the paper to the class on Wednesday. Avoid using a fourth page to attach additional figures, unless necessary.

Grading: Literature reviews are due each week on Monday (beginning 3/25) at the beginning of class. Assignments turned in one day late are assessed a 5 point penalty, two days late a 10 point penalty, and after two days the homework will be graded but no credit will be given. Grades will be assigned in three categories:

1. Relevance and Importance of the Manuscript (0-3 points to be awarded).
2. Depth of Analysis and Critical Insights (0-10 points to be awarded).
3. Quality of presentation and writing (0-7 points to be awarded).