You can improve your exam-based grade by reading and writing an essay on a book of your choice related to marine biology. Several books from which to choose are listed below. (Other books could be substituted only with my permission.)

Essay format:

Your write-up of the book should be in the format of an essay, with introduction of a theme, discussion of the theme, and a conclusion). Essays should be at least 6 typed pages (double spaced). Essays should demonstrate a thorough appreciation of the entire book, as well as

To receive full extra credit, essays must be well written, logical, and present a novel or interesting theme. The theme might be your synthesis of the main, over-arching message of the book. You might then want to develop and illustrate your theme with specific examples. One effective approach might be to delve more deeply into one particular example.

If you would like some feedback on your idea for the essay, please describe it to me or send me by e-mail a written description before you begin the writing.

Grading:

You are welcome to discuss the book with me or with fellow students. However, essays must be written individually. Each essay is worth up to 10% of the total points for the course. Grading criteria will include (1) breadth of understanding of the book overall, (2) the quality of the writing, and (3) the insightfulness, creativity, novelity, and development of your theme.

Book suggestions:

Rachel Carson. 1951. The Sea Around Us. Oxford University Press. This book will be the subject of a required essay. It was the winner of the National Book Award in 1952, The author is one of the first important writers about science and environmental awareness, and later author of "Silent Spring."

Steinbeck, John. 1941. The Log from the Sea of Cortez. Penguin Books. A classic about a trip to Baja California taken by Steinbeck with an eccentric California marine biologist (Ed Ricketts). Some biology and a great story.

Earle, Sylvia. 1995. Sea Change: A Message of the Oceans. Fawcett Columbine, New York. This book is an informative and authoritative account of marine biology, deep sea research, and the future of the oceans. It is written by a marine biologist who is a proponent of deep sea research and diving techniques. The book is also autobiographical.

Safina, Carl. 1997. Song for the Blue Ocean. Owl Books, Henry Holt. Dr. Safina is the head of the Living Ocean program at Audobon Society, a conservation group. This book is on the status and future of fish stocks in three parts of the world: the western Pacific tropical islands, the salmon of the northern Pacific, and the tunas of the Atlantic.

See also: Safina, Carl. 2002. Eye of the Albatross. Safina, Carl. 2006. Voyage of the Turtle.

Ellis, Richard. 2003. The Empty Ocean. Island Press. ISBN 1-55963-974-1. A book that describes conservation issues in fisheries, marine mammals, seabirds, sea turtles, and coral reefs. More extensive than the Safina book, and with the latest information, but less in-depth on the earlier Safina book.