SR 4: Science Research PaperWorks Cited

Two parts of this assignment: 1- Literature Review Paper & 2-Works Cited

1-Literature Review Paper Format & Hints:

  • The words “Literature Review” need to be centered, and underlined on the first page
  • A minimum of 1000 words related to your SR proposal topic
  • Type on 8 ½ x 11 inch paper using a word-processing program (i.e. Microsoft Word)
  • Use 12-sized, professional looking font (such as Times New Roman)
  • Use 1 inch margins as borders for page set-up
  • Place a header on each page (except the title page) with your last name, E-mail, and page number; this should be placed in the upper, right-hand corner
  • Center and underline all headings
  • Double-space the entire paper, even between paragraphs
  • Include a title page
  • Write in 3rd person; no personal pronouns are allowed (i.e. I, we, you, he)
  • Write in past tense
  • Use italicized, scientific names for all organisms (i.e. Canus lupus)
  • Define unfamiliar terms in the body of the paper
  • Define all abbreviations the first time they are used (i.e. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA))
  • PROOFREAD, PROOFREAD, PROOFREAD!!!

APA Format In-text Citations:

  • Make sure you cite where all of your information comes from using APA format; you should have numerous citations within the body of your paper
  • Typical APA format: (author’s last name, copy write year). Example: (Smith, 2008).
  • Use www. ______to help answer any questions regarding APA format

Literature Review paper Organization:

  • Writing a science research paper is similar to writing an essay:
  • The paper should have 3 main parts:

I.Introduction with a thesis statement

II.Body/Supporting paragraphs

III.Conclusion

I. Introduction with thesis statement

 The introductory paragraph should very generally describe what your paper will discuss, and should end in a very specific thesis statement.

 Prior to writing the thesis statement, the paper needs to be well-organized (see hints for this in II. Body/Supporting Paragraphs)

II. Body/Supporting Paragraphs

Organizing the background information is important at this point. Review your from SRP2, as well as, the following content that needs to be present in the body of the paper:

  • Previous research found on the topic (refer to SRP2 notes)
  • What is already known about the area of research? (refer to SRP2 notes)
  • How does this project relate to what has already been researched, or what is already known about the topic? (refer to SRP2 notes)
  • The experimental design information regarding this project
  • problem, hypothesis, independent & dependent variables, brief explanation of procedure, any unique procedures that need to be explained (refer to SRP1

“Box Method” of organizing the supporting paragraphs

  • Get some 3 ½ x 5 inch index cards
  • On each card, write a sub-topic that needs to be included in the body portion of the paper. This may be something discovered in the background research of SRP 2, or a part of the experimental design. Each of these “sub-topics” represents a part of the body of the paper.
  • Once all of the important sub-topics have been written on cards, organize the cards in a way that logically “flows.” Each of these cards can represent one, or more, supporting paragraphs.
  • Remember that each paragraph needs to flow into the next; so transition sentences and phrases need to be used.

An Example of the “Box Method”

  1. Conclusion

 The conclusion paragraph follows the opposite pattern than the introductory paragraph. Instead of going from general to specific, it goes specific back to general.

 The conclusion paragraph begins by summarizing the paper, and then becomes more general to give the reader a sense of closure.

2.Works Cited:

  • The Works Cited goes on a separate page from the Literature Review paper with the word “Works Cited” centered at the top of the page.
  • Use the APA Works Cited Entries from SRP 2 to create an alphabetical list, using the first word of each entry
  • The Works Cited list is NOT NUMBERED
  • The first line of each entry is left-justified, and the second, and subsequent lines, are indented.
  • A minimum of 10 sources needs to be included in the Works Cited
  • Do not include a source if it is not cited in the background research portion of the paper

All citations and Works Cited entries are to follow the form given in “The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association” (Fifth Edition).

The following Internet sites will also be helpful: