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WELCOME TO HONORS SCIENCE
INDEPENDENT PROJECT HANDBOOK
9TH – EARTH SCIENCE (BALDWIN)
10TH – BIOLOGY (MURRAY)
11TH – CHEMISTRY (MUHLHAUSER)
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page Number Content of Page
3 Introduction
4 Deadlines
5 Topic Information
6 Article Information
7 Journal Format
8 Checkpoint #1
9 Checkpoint #2
10 Checkpoint #3
11 APA Guidelines – A. Bibliography
13 APA Formatting Examples
15 Penalties
16 Rubrics
INTRODUCTION
As part of the Honors Science curriculum, you are required to complete an independent research project. This means that if you do not complete this project you WILL NOT get credit for this course, regardless of your final grade. The project will be in the form of an annotated bibliography on a course related topic of your choice. This packet is to be used as a GUIDE – a tool for you to use as a reference.
WHAT IS AN ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY?
An annotated bibliography is a structured research paper. The first half of the project is a number of scientific article summaries (in your case - 10 articles). The second half of the project is a discussion/reflection of the information you read; including common themes, the topic’s relevance, current research & findings, and possible future outcomes.
PROJECT REQUIREMENTS
ü Composition book à a journal used to take detailed notes of each article. This is where all checkpoint assignments will be done.
ü Folder à to keep copies of all the articles used in the project.
ü Paper
o Title Page
o 10 Article Summaries (minimum of 1 full page)
o 5-7 page discussion/reflection
o Works Cited
DEADLINES
Keep track of due dates – ESPECIALLY if you are not scheduled for science class when parts of the project are due!!! HINT: listen to the announcements for informational meetings and due dates.
Meeting these deadlines is a prerequisite for Honors Chemistry.
Date What is Due
Tuesday 8/28 – Tuesday 9/4 Mandatory Info Meeting
Flex Period (2:30 – 3:05) & Research Session
(You MUST attend 1)
Friday, September 14, 2012 Checkpoint #1 & signed
Acknowledgment form
Friday, October 26, 2012 Checkpoint #2
Friday, December 14, 2012 Checkpoint #3
Friday, February 8, 2013 Paper & Journal
TOPIC INFORMATION
These are the units that we will cover in biology & a list of possible topics you may choose from. You are not limited to the topics on this list; it is merely a place for you to start getting ideas. Choose wisely à you will be spending a significant amount of time with your topic; make sure it is of interest to you. A large portion of the final project is a personal reflection & you will be graded on your independent thought. Choose a topic that suits you à not something your friends are planning to investigate.
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Ø Nature of Life
o Current scientific research
o Laws/limitations on research
o Animal testing in research
o Virus – living or nonliving?
Ø Taxonomy
o Types of classification
o New species
Ø Biochemistry
o Polymers (synthetic/natural)
o Fad diets & obesity
o Transfats
o Steroids & Nutritional supplements
o Metabolic disorders
Ø Cells & Cellular Division
o Cancer (causes/new treatment)
o HeLa cells/cell research
o Reproductive rates
Ø Biosynthesis
o Photosynthesis – increasing crop yields
o Cellular Respiration – ATP yields & VO2 maxing
o Fermentation – industrial uses
o Protein synthesis - hormones
Ø Genetics
o Mutations & Diseases
o Inheritance patterns
o Genetic Testing & Counseling
Ø Biotechnology
o Human Genome Project
o DNA profiles (personal)
o Gene Therapy – stem cell
o Cloning
o Genetically Engineered products (foods)
o DNA technology – forensics
o Nanotechnology
Ø Evolution
o Natural selection
o Vestigial structures
o Adaptations – “super bugs” (MRSA)
o Pandemics – “swine/avian flu”
Ø Ecology
o Human population rates
o Pollution à human impact on the environment
o Nutrient cycling – soil quality
o Succession
o Extinct/endangered species
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ARTICLE INFORMATION
All of your articles must come from a reputable source and be at least 3 full pages of text, to ensure that you can develop a full page summary of the article.
**ALL articles must be from scientific journals **
**NO Web Pages & NO Encyclopedias**
**All articles must be from current publications à no articles with publication dates prior to 2007 will be accepted**
**Your articles must be from at least 5 different sources**
**NO more than 3 articles from the same source**
**If you are unsure if your article is acceptable à ASK prior to submission of checkpoint #1**
Here is a list of several good scientific journals:
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Advances in Nursing
Air & Space
Cell
Chemist & Druggist
Chemistry & Industry
Chem Matters
Discover
Ecology
Environmental Progress
Futurist
Geotimes
Issues in Sci & Tech
JAMA –Journ. Amer. Med. Assoc.
MCN
Nat’l Weather Digest
National Geographic
Natural History
Nature
New Scientist
Pediatric Nursing
Physics Today
Popular Mechanics
Popular Science
Psychology Today
RN
SEED
Science
Science News
Scientific American
Scientific American Mind
Sky & Telescope
Smithsonian
The Lancet
Weather
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Here is a list of unacceptable sources:
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ANY Encyclopedia or Newspaper
ANY Kids publication
Forbes
Men’s or Women’s Health
Muscle & Fitness
National Geo. News
Newsweek
People
Scholastic
Science Daily
Science Weekly
Sports Illustrated
Time
Weekly Reade
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JOURNAL
FOLLOW THESE GUIDELINES WHEN SETTING UP YOUR JOURNAL:
ü Your journal should be a Composition book à no spiral notebooks or binders.
ü All writing should be in blue/black ink. NO pencil or other colors.
ü Your name, class & project title should be written on the front cover.
ü Number the entire notebook à bottom outside corner.
o You may choose to only number the “front” pages.
o If you choose this option, you cannot write on the back pages.
ü Label page 1 as “Contents”.
o List each section of the journal & the page on which the section starts
o Example: (1. Topic Page … pg 2; Article #1 … pg 4)
ü Label the last 4 pages as “References”
o This is where all bibliographical information should be recorded.
o Each source should be written according to APA guidelines (pgs 10/11).
ü All other pages should include a descriptive heading & date.
o Headings should reflect content (Topic, Article Notes, etc).
o Date should be written in the top outside corner.
ü Page 2 – 3 à Topic Page
o This section will address your topic & its scientific relevance.
o See page 8 under checkpoint #1 for additional information.
ü Pages 4 – end à Article Notes & corrections
o Notes should be in bullet (outline) format & do NOT need to be in complete sentences.
o See page 9 under checkpoint #2 for additional information.
ü Errors/mistakes: no erasing, scribbling out or removing pages.
o Put a single line through any error and write in the correction.
o Add the date and your initials to indicate you are making this change.
CHECKPOINT #1
1. SET UP YOUR JOURNAL:
o Write your name, class & topic on the front cover of your journal
o Number all the pages in the bottom outside corner.
o Set up your table of contents (page 1).
§ You will list each entry & indicate the page that each entry starts.
§ Example: 1. Topic Page……………Pg 2
o SET UP YOUR TOPIC PAGE: (page 2)
· Each page should have a heading in the margin (Topic & date).
· Rewrite each of the following questions & then provide a thorough answer (3 – 5 sentences per question).
§ What is your research topic? Describe it.
§ What is the relevance of your topic to the field of science, specifically biology?
§ Why you are interested in this topic?
§ What insights do you hope to gain, what do you want to learn?
§ What impact does your topic have on society?
§ What are 5 different sub-topics you could research & how do they relate to your topic?
o Title the last four pages of your journal “References”
2. SUBMIT YOUR ARTICLE FOLDER W/ ALL 10 ARTICLES:
o Find 10 good, scientific articles on your topic. (Refer to criteria on pg 6)
o Articles should be in a pocket folder.
o Provide a stapled copy of your entire article that includes source/citation information w/in the margin. (Name of source & website)
o The article’s complete APA citation should be highlighted w/in the article. If it is not found in the article, handwrite it in the margin à see page 12 for formatting help.
o Number your articles (#1-10) in the top right corner
3. SUBMIT YOUR RUBRIC PACKET W/ SIGNED ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FORM:
o Form should be signed by both you & your parent.
o Your name should be printed on the top of each page of your rubric page (4 pages in total).
**Refer to your rubric for specific guidelines/grading!**
CHECKPOINT #2
1. CORRECTIONS TO CHECKPOINT #1:
o All corrections should be done on a new page in your journal & noted in your table of contents. (only if necessary)
2. SUBMIT YOUR ARTICLE FOLDER W/ ALL ARTICLES:
o Folder should include only the 10 approved articles.
o Articles should show evidence that they have been read from cover to coverà items highlighted, underlined, notes in the margin you want to include in reflection, etc.
3. TAKE NOTES ON ALL 10 ARTICLES IN YOUR JOURNAL:
o Start each new article on a new page.
o Date each entry at the top outside corner of each page.
o At the top of each beginning page
§ Write à “Article # & the Title of the Article”
§ On the next line à write the complete APA citation.
ü This should already be highlighted on your articles.
ü Refer to page 12 for formatting help or use the following website to help you: www.citationmachine.net
o Each additional page of the summary should also have a heading in the margin with the date. (Ex: Article 1 notes continued)
o In bullet format, take notes on the content of your article.
§ Your notes should be a minimum of 3 full (9 ¾ x 7 1/2) pages NOT including the title & citation.
§ If it takes you 3 lines to write your title, then your summary should go 3 lines into the 4th page.
§ If you choose to skip lines, then your summary should be at least 6
4. UPDATE YOUR JOURNAL & ADD YOUR REFERENCES:
o Update the table of contents to reflect all 10 summaries & your references.
o Complete your Reference pages in the back of your journal in APA format.
§ Put your sources in alphabetical order.
§ Use the author’s last name or the first word of the title if there is no author.
**Refer to your rubric for specific guidelines/grading!**
CHECKPOINT #3
1. CORRECTIONS TO CHECKPOINT #2:
o All corrections should be done on a new page in your journal & noted in your table of contents.
2. TITLE PAGE
Top Left: RUNNING HEAD Top Right: Page 1
(Abbreviated version of your title)
Centered: PROJECT TITLE
(Title should be related to your topic & reflect what your paper is about.)
Lower Right: NAME
CLASS
3. 10 TYPED ARTICLE SUMMARIES
o Each summary should start a new page.
o At the top of the page
§ Write à “Article # & the Title of the Article”
§ On the next line à write the complete bibliographical citation.
o Summaries should be in paragraph form; multiple paragraphs w/o spaces.
o Summaries should be 1 full page in length, not counting the title & citation àfor every line in your citation, there should be the same amount of text on the next page.
o Refer to APA guidelines for formatting information (pages 11 - 13).
o Hold your summaries up to the APA format sheet (page 13) to ensure all of your formatting has been done correctly.
4. REFERENCE PAGE
o Type your reference page using APA format.
o ABC order, hanging indents, no numbering or bullets (see pg 12)
5. SUBMIT YOUR JOURNAL & ARTICLE FOLDER.
**Refer to your rubric for specific guidelines/grading!**
ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY – APA GUIDELINES
Basic Format:
q Typed - 12 point – Times New Roman
q Double-spacing throughout entire document (including reference page)
q NO spaces between paragraphs
q Margins - one inch at top, bottom, right and left
q NO PERSON PRONOUNS – (I, me, my, you, we, us, our)
Order of Pages:
q Title page (refer to checkpoint #3)
q Summaries – each on a separate page
q Reflection/Discussion
q Reference page
Header: (insert a header w/in the margin à NOT something you type on each pg)
q Running Head àAn abbreviated version of your title at the top left of all pages, not more than 50 characters
q Pages are numbered consecutively in the upper right hand corner, beginning with the title page as page 1
Reflection/Discussion:
q 5-7 page reflection on your topic, the information learned, its relevance to the field of science & its impact on society.
q This section should be titled at the top of the paper.
q Each of the following sub-sections of the reflection should have their own sub title within the paper. (see page 14 for a sample)
o A general overview of your topic à look back to your topic page and use that as a starting point to introduce your topic. Expand on your original ideas based on your new research. Pretend that you are describing your topic to someone who has never heard of it before.
o Pick several common themes from your articles à DO NOT re-summarize each article. Discuss the common ideas, theories and/or findings that the articles introduced. You can also discuss controversial findings or theories in this section.
o The relevance of your topic to the field of science, specifically biology à provide a definition of biology & then explain how this topic relates to both the nature of science in general & to the specific branch of biology.
o The relevance of your topic to our class discussions & labs à go through the topics page (5) & make as many connections between the class and your topic as possible. Address any of our labs/class activities that have a connection to your topic.
o The impact your topic has on society àwhat impact does your topic have on the average citizen? Address both the positive & negative aspects of your topic, as well as any direct impact it has had on you (without using 1st person)!
o The need for continued research on your topic à how much is known about your topic, is it already well-known, is it up & coming, is it fading into the back ground or is it something that needs continued study?
Use Parenthetical Documentation:
q Cite at least 5 different articles within your discussion.
q If you use more than 4 consecutive words from your source or are discussing a topic that is not from your general working knowledge, you must cite where you found this information.
q Generally, within the parentheses, place the author’s last name and the date (year only) of his/her work - (Smith, 1998).
q If there is no author, cite an abbreviation of the title of the work and the year in which it was published. (“Study finds,” 1997)
q Whatever is in the parentheses should be easily noted on the Reference page