LANG 2010 - English for Science I

To complete your report, you are required to choose one case of a natural disaster. Here are a few examples:

Hong Kong: 2018 Tropical cyclone Mangkhut

Hong Kong: 2020 Yuen Long Large hill fire

China: 2021 East Asia sandstorm

Based on your chosen hazard, think about what you hope to present in your case study report.

Create a series of questions for yourself & then you will search the answers. For example:

• What is the background or history of the problem?

  • Example: On 26th December 2004, the Indian Ocean was struck by a massive earthquake and tsunami which killed 230,000 people and caused widespread destruction. 

  • What is it?
  • Why does it happen?
  • What  incident(s) will you choose to show the urgency of the problem?
    • Why this but not others?
  • What hard evidence (history, statistics) can you find to show the situation needs action?
  • What would happen if no action were taken?
  • What is the implication or importance of addressing this problem?
  • What further research could be used to understand the issue  or problem?

  • Example: Although we cannot prevent tsunamis, early warning of their approach combined with physical defences and well-practiced evacuation procedures can save many lives.

• What scientific knowledge could be used to analyze the problem?
• What scientific knowledge or concepts could be applied to generate solutions?

  • Example: Electronic sensors were developed that could rapidly detect earthquake shaking on land and tsunami waves at sea. Computer models were developed that simulate tsunami impacts on communities; and satellites could now transmit signals to high-speed computers, empowering humans to issue local and pan-oceanic tsunami warnings in minutes.

• How feasible and practical are the solutions?
• What is the desirable outcome?

  • Example: The Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning & Mitigation System (IOTWS) now provides warnings to all Indian Ocean country members, reaching millions of people who had no warnings in 2004. Furthermore, tsunami hazard mapping and evacuation planning has been carried out for hundreds of coastal communities.

• What could be the difficulties encountered during implementation?

This video shows you how mind mapping helps you turn a broad topic into a good research question.

Generative AI tools can also help you to create mind map.  

GitMind is a free web-based diagramming application that enables you to create a range of diagrams, including mind maps and flowcharts. With its AI-powered mind-mapping feature, GitMind can help you generate and visualize ideas. Below are the steps:

1. Creat a new mind map and add a central topic or theme.
2. Click on the AI button in the right corner of the menu bar. Select Ideas > At least 3 nodes.
3. A mind map with different ideas will be automatically generated for you.

Remember that the information you find on Generative AI might not always be reliable, so you should check & cross-check the results.

The best way to search most databases is by keywords. You need to "translate" your research question to concepts and keywords to help the database understand what you are looking for. 

Example:

A preliminary search at the PowerSearch to test the scope: 

 HKUST ChatGPT Platform can quickly find similar words to build effective search queries, for example:

Prompt: Build a search query using Boolean operator: speech recognition technology for mobile devices

("Hurricane" OR "Cyclone" OR "typhoon")
AND ("impacts" OR "effects" OR "consequences")

Remember that the information you find on Generative AI might not always be reliable, so you should check & cross-check the results.

A common problem with many generative AI text tools is that they generate nonsense, especially made-up citations (references).

So, if you are using texts that you created using ChatGPT or other AI tools, use your eyes and your brain to check the work. Evaluate the information provided, just like anything you plan to use academically. More info on how to evaluate below:

• https://libguides.hkust.edu.hk/lang1403/evaluate

1. Cross-check what it says & do "lateral reading"

• Check against your own knowledge
• Check against Wikipedia or Britannica
• See if other reliable sources state the same thing
• This is not new with generative AI, it's always been good scholarly practice

To learn more about lateral reading,  watch:

• Lateral Reading (3 min 33 sec) by the University of Louisville Library
• Check Yourself with Lateral Reading video (14 min) / by John Green (part of the Crash Course series)

2. Confirm that any references it provides are real

• Check them against PowerSearch, Google Scholar, etc.

3. If the references (citations) are real, check that they support the claim

• This is *NOT* a new issue with AI tools, it's always been important to do so.
• This is proper scholarly practice when working with sources both in print and online.

4. If you use ChatGPT or other AI tools in your work, you need to acknowledge it.

• Go to the page: https://libguides.hkust.edu.hk/ai-literacy/citing-acknowledging

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Some of this content was based on the work of Amy Scheelke of Salt Lake Community College, her LibGuide: https://libguides.slcc.edu/ChatGPT/InformationLiteracy