SCIENCE RESEARCH PAPER
(Background Information)
The
research portion of your project is called the background information. You will
be looking for information about your topic. You must have all your references
in the proper format. You have received a paper showing you how to cite various
types of sources. Remember that you may not copy information from your source.
Instead you are to read through it and
summarize it in your own words. Plagiarism is literary theft and is a violation
of the Brandon Honor Code.
Be
sure to have an outline for your background information. This will help you put
your information into a logical order. Your research should have an
introductory paragraph, at least five supporting paragraphs, and a closing
paragraph. Each paragraph should have a minimum of five sentences.
Your
research should have a minimum of five sources. One may be a general
encyclopedia, one may be a science/technical encyclopedia, one may be an
electronic source (this must be a copyrighted site), and the last two must be a
book or a magazine article.
When
you turn in your background research you must have the text
-
do not use abbreviations
-
do not use contractions
-
do not use slang (standard English is required)
-
minimum of three typewritten pages
-
one-inch margins
-
double spaced
-
no personal pronouns
-
no personal opinions
-
12 font using Times Roman, Times New Roman, Arial, or Courier (no ornamental
typefaces)
-
black ink on white paper
BACKGROUND INFORMATION REQUIREMENTS
LENGTH: 3 typewritten pages of text
SOURCES:
minimum of 5; may include two
Internet sources; only
(examples of general encyclopedia:
World Book, Britannica, Colliers, Encarta-CD ROM)
NOTECARDS:
must be used
use 3x5
on lined side put information
on unlined side put source
Students
may choose from the following areas of science for their topic:
Chemistry
Earth Science
Physics
No consumer testing
products will be allowed.
STEPS TO A GOOD PARAGRAPH:
A
paragraph is a group of sentences developing one topic. The first sentence of
every paragraph is indented.
1.
Choose only one topic for a paragraph.
2.
State the topic in a topic sentence.
3.
Develop the topic fully using facts, reasons, and
examples.
4.
Arrange the sentences in a clear and organized
sequence.
5.
Summarize with a good concluding sentence.
6.
Proofread for capitalization, punctuation,
spelling, and complete sentences.
In
summary –
1.
Choose a topic in which you are interested
Focus
on a specific topic that can be supported by facts, opinions, and drawings.
2.
Research
Use
books, magazines, newspapers, almanacs, encyclopedias, and computer web sites
to find information about your topic.
3.
Take notes
Write
short, concise phrases that answer who, what, when, where, why, and how.
List the facts on separate index cards so you can easily sort the information.
4.
Organize your notes
Sort
your note cards into specific categories, and think of a topic sentence for each
group of facts. Make an outline listing the order in which the facts will
appear
in your report.
5.
Write the first draft
Include
three major parts in your report—an introduction explaining the main
idea or purpose of the report, a body containing the facts you have
collected, and a
conclusion giving your
final thoughts on the topic.
6.
Read and revise
Check
spelling, sentence structure, and punctuation. Check for repetitions and
omissions. Make sure you have kept to the point and only relevant information
in included. Read the report aloud to
find
out if it makes sense to you. Have an adult read the report to double-check
your work.
7.
Write the final draft
Use
a computer or word processor to write the final draft. Be sure to include the
title page and the bibliography.