Name ______Period ______

Accelerated Biology Second Semester Project

INTRODUCTION

Throughout the year, you have been designing experiments, doing research on particular topics, giving presentations in class, etc. Now it is time to put all of these activities together in one culminating end of the year project. You will be doing exactly what scientists do all the time. You will be designing an experiment, doing background research for your experiment, writing a paper on your research and experimentation, and then presenting your work to your peers.

STEPS AND GENERAL PROJECT INFORMATION

You will be working in groups of four (your partner and the choice of another group). Be sure to choose people who you can work well with and who you’ll be able to meet with outside of class, as most of this project will be done outside of class!

  1. Each group will choose a topic that must be approved by the teacher before you start research.
  2. Your group will be responsible for doing background research on your given topic. You are to check for the existence of research and publications done by other scientists. Once you find the research, you must document what this research has shown.
  3. Develop a purpose for your experiment.
  4. Develop a question that you would like to answer through your experiment.
  5. Develop a hypothesis you would like to test.
  6. Determine what variable you are going to test and establish your control.
  7. Design a sound scientific experiment that is presentable to the scientific community that is your class.
  8. Submit your experimental proposal.
  9. Perform your experiment.
  10. Publish your results (a formal lab report) and present your finding to the class.

EXPECTATIONS

Your team’s job: work together, do thorough background research in the library, provide me with a materials list, obtain materials, run an organized experiment, clean and return materials, ask specific questions when you have them, give an understandable presentation for the class, write a neat and clear paper, and be a respectful and polite researcher. Group members should exchange phone numbers to help in the coordination process. It is the groups’ responsibility to notify the teacher if there are group member difficulties. Be sure to do this early on so I can intervene if it is needed! NOTE: There will be several parts that every individual must complete. If you do not do these things, you will be removed from your group and have to do the entire project alone.

My job: provide access to background materials and experiments for you to research, help with specific questions in the design of the experiment (but not design your experiment), provide materials and class time for teams to do the work, ask questions of your team to help you seek answers to potential problems and be respectful and polite to the researchers.

KEYS TO SUCCESS

·  UTILIZE THE TALENTS OF ALL MEMBERS OF YOUR GROUP

·  COOPERATE, COEXIST, COMPROMISE, COMMUNICATE

·  AVOID MAKING REPETITIVE MISTAKES

·  ANTICIPATE TROUBLES IN EXPERIMENT BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE

·  ASK QUESTIONS TO AVOID MAKING MISTAKES/LOSING POINTS

·  THINK LIKE A SCIENTIST!!! ALWAYS REFER TO THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD

PROJECT REPORT

Your written report must be typed using size 12 Times font and double–spaced.

Your research project will have two components: a written report and oral presentation. You will prepare for the oral report by preparing your written report, and then deciding who will present each of the components. Please refer to the Research Project Grade Sheet to organize and present your research. You may not use posters for visual aids! Your presentation and paper should be both scholarly and interesting. Everyone in the group should be able to explain ANY and EVERY aspect of your experiment. The presentation should last between 10–12 minutes.

Here are the requirements for the organization and set–up of your written paper. Your paper must be organized exactly as follows:

  1. Title of your Experiment: The Effect of (independent v.) on (dependent v.) over (period of time).
  1. Names of group members
  1. Abstract: This section summarizes your experiment and your results. It is a maximum of 200 words. This gives the reader a “quick snapshop” of your work so they can decide whether or not they want to read your entire paper.
  1. Background Information: This section is 2–3 pages and summarizes the information that you found in the library and other information you learned before conducting your experiment. This information should be pertinent to your experiment!
  1. Hypothesis: This must be in the form of If . . . then . . .
  1. Experimental Procedure: This should be a numbered step–by–step procedure of exactly what you did in the experiment. Be sure to include a detailed materials list!
  1. Data Tables and Graphs: These should be neat, easy to read and understand, appropriately labeled, and include a title. Be sure to use a ruler if you do them by hand.
  1. Conclusion
  2. Restate hypothesis and state if it was supported or not supported.
  3. Explain results of your experiment and why you got the results you did.
  4. Explain 2 possible sources of error and explain specifically how the error might have affected your data. Don’t just tell me that the errors changed your results; tell me how!
  5. Explain 2 possible follow–up experiments that could be done and why you would do them.
  1. Bibliography: You must have a minimum of 6 sources and you must use MLA format.
  1. Lab Log: This should be a daily account of what you did throughout your entire project. It should include any and all times that people did something for the project. It should be set–up in columns with people’s names, dates, times, location and exactly what each person did. The lab log does not need to be typed.

GRADING

Total project is worth 100 points!

Written paper – 40 pts.

Presentation – 50 pts.

Group Member evaluation – 10 pts. (You do evaluations of your group members)

GROUP MEMBER INFORMATION

Name Phone Number Email

______

______

______

______

______

HOW TO COMPLETE THIS PROJECT

DUE DATE
Today! / STEP OF PROCESS
1.  Meet with your group, get all member’s phone numbers and email addresses.
2.  Each individual comes up with 3 possible topics should write a description of them for your experiment.
3.  Discuss topics with group and pick one. Complete, “Developing a Search and Strategy” sheet.
4.  Each individual should bring in 2 sources for background information for your project. These sources must be “hard copies” of the article/information.
5.  Fill out the proposal sheet and discuss with your teacher. (1 proposal sheet for the entire group.)
6.  Go to the library and gather background research
7.  Gather materials.
8.  Do more background research. Work on written report.
9.  Have final copy of written report (including title, group member’s names, background information, hypothesis, procedure, bibliography) typed.
10.  Perform experiment.
11.  Write conclusion, data tables and charts, abstract, and lab log. Let all members proof final written paper.
12.  Practice presentation.
13.  Present presentation to class and turn in written paper.

POSSIBLE TOPICS

This is only a partial list of possible topics to get those creative juices flowing. Feel free to come up with an idea of your own and discuss it with me. There is a book in the library called the “Source Book for Biological Sciences” that will give you ideas for your experiments.

·  The influence various factors have on plant seed germination

·  Factors that affect plant growth/photosythesis rates/flower production

·  Effects of changing environmental conditions on a particular plant; sound, temperature, electromagnetic radiation (microwave, radio, light)

·  Rates of enzyme reactions/biochemical pathways

·  Circadian rhythms: Blood pressure, pulse, respiration vs. time of day

·  Cardiovascular fitness: ie. Regular exercise on heart recovery rate

·  Competition among seedlings

·  Factors affecting tissue regeneration in Planaria

·  Behavioral studies on Pill Bugs

·  Product testing: Antibacterial soaps, mouthwash, etc.


Name ______Period ______

Developing a Research Strategy

  1. Write down 3 specific topics you might like to research and a description of each.
  1. Discuss the different options with your group members and pick one idea that you will choose to work on. Write the idea below.
  1. Ask your teacher if you can proceed with your preliminary research. (Teacher OK/ ______)
  1. How do you start a research project?

Define or identify what type of information you need to collect. What resources exist that you can use to help you find information? Use web links and databases that exist from library web pages. Sites that end in .edu or .gov tend to be less biased than sites that end with .com or .org. It takes a critical mind to determine the biases of various sources. Ask for help if you have questions. Some databases or web search engines allow you to actually enter the questions you have just created. Most databases and search engines will only allow you to search based on key words. It is important before you begin researching, that you create a list of words and word phrases that relate to your topic. Some of your key words may be more specific than others. Having a variety of words will enhance your search results and make finding information easier and more efficient.

In the space below, generate a thorough list of key words (at least 8) that relate to your topic. Your list should include general words as well as very specific words. Discuss which part of the project each member is going to work on.

  1. Research using the computer/data bases: Boolean Logic

Boolean operators are terms which permit you to combine key words in different ways so that your search is more productive and efficient. Boolean operators can be used to make your searches very specific or exclude certain terms. Typical boolean operators include: AND, OR, NOT and they are generally placed between key words. Depending upon the search tool, other boolean operators may be used. If there is an “advanced search” option associated with a particular search tool, this option will usually allow for the use of boolean phrases. If you are having trouble using a particular search tool, consult the “help” section to get tips on how to best use the search tool. NOTE: Boolean operators must be CAPITALIZED in your search.

  1. Example Topic: Acid Rain
  2. Essential Question: What strategy would be most effective in reducing the impact of acid rain in the United States?
  3. Possible Boolean Phrases Using Key Words: The more words you have, the more specific the results.
  4. acid AND rain: The search will return pages/articles which contain BOTH terms
  5. acid OR rain: The search locates pages/articles with EITHER acid or rain, but not necessarily both
  6. acid AND rain NOT snow: Returns pages/articles about acid rain excluding those concerning snow.

In the space below, using the examples above as guide, create 5 Boolean phrases using your key words that may be helpful in returning information about your essential and focus question.

  1. Where should you begin your research search?

Before you enter the library or computer lab, brainstorm where you may want to begin looking for information to answer your essential question and focus questions. Indicate where you may wish to begin searching for information in the space below. Be as specific as you can about where you will search and why. You should include at least four locations and reasons. Each person in your group will add 3 sources to the bibliography. A group of 3 will have 9 sources, and a group of 4 will have 12, etc.