A recent book by Ward and Brownlee entitled Rare Earth (2000, Copernicus/Springer-Verlag, New York) argues that there are few life-favorable environments (like Earth) in our Galaxy, and consequently, we are unlikely to ever encounter alien complex life forms. A number of the their arguments are debated in a series of five articles published on the Web by space.com and Astrobiology Magazine. Your assignment is to read one of these based on the last digit of your student number:
0 or 1 HOSTILE UNIVERSE (www.space.com/scienceastronomy/rare_earth_1_020715.html)
2 or 3 ALIEN PROXIMITY (www.space.com/scienceastronomy/rare_earth_2_020717.html)
4 or 5 COMPLEX LIFE (www.space.com/scienceastronomy/rare_earth_3_020722.html)
6 or 7 AVOIDING DOOM (www.space.com/scienceastronomy/rare_earth_4_020724.html)
8 or 9 ELUSIVE ET (www.space.com/scienceastronomy/rare_earth_5_020729.html)

You should read the particular debate, links, and appropriate sections in our textbook, and then write a brief critical review of the issues that are discussed. Your essay should include a summary of the issues, how they relate to topics in this course, and your own opinion of the arguments presented. Also add a short biographical statement about yourself (education and interests) at the end. The essay should be produced with a word processing program and should be limited to 2 - 3 written pages. You should prepare a first draft that you can exchange with another student. That student will return corrections and comments to you while you prepare the same for their essay. Have your exchange student sign the version you hand in.  

You will be graded on

• grammar, syntax, and spelling (5)
• presentation (organization, logic, clarity, style) (5)
• content (choice of material, research, accuracy, completeness) (5)
• synthesis of ideas and creativity (5)