1ST SEMSESTER PROJECT - A LITERATURE REVIEW
ASSIGNMENT: You have now completed the “Science in our World” assignment in which you had the opportunity to explore a topic in science and to hear from others about a wide variety of topics involving science. You will now have the opportunity to research a topic in biology to a greater degree. Your first task will be to select an area or topic in biology: a) that you would like to explore and understand further; and b) for which you will develop a research question and testable hypothesis. In order to accomplish these goals, you will conduct extensive background research and you will present your findings (along with your research question and testable hypothesis) in a brief paper – a LITERATURE REVIEW!
Part I: To Help You Be Organized
Devote a notebook or a section in your notebook to this project. This will be used for notes that you will take while researching this project.
1. Generate a short and specific list of topics in biology in which you are interested. You may select from the broader categories listed below and then, as you research a topic, you will narrow your research focus a very SPECIFIC question or issue:
Ö the ENVIRONMENT: (i.e. invasive species; the effect of deforestation on a particular species; etc.)
Ö human HEALTH & PHYSIOLOGY: (i.e. the effects of diet pills; drugs to lower cholesterol; etc.)
Ö EVOLUTION: (i.e. dog breeds; antibiotic resistant bacteria; etc.)
Ö GENETICS: (i.e. which cancers are genetically linked?; etc.)
Ö BIOTECHNOLOGY: (i.e. genetically modified crops; the use of DNA evidence in criminal trials; etc.)
Ö BIOCHEMISTRY: (i.e. which oils/lipids are good for us and why?; biochemical reactions of vitamin B; etc.)
Ö ENERGETICS: (i.e. the rate of photosynthesis in desert plants; rate of cellular respiration in cancer cells; etc.)
Ö CELLS: (i.e. possible applications of stem cells; neuronal cell regeneration; etc.)
2. Begin with an internet search using a reliable search engine (i.e. Google Scholar) to help you select a SPECIFIC topic. Any site you find in this step should be used as your first source. You will then find at least 5 additional sources and do the following for each source:
3. Record bibliographic information in your notebook. See the "Documenting Sources" format section (at the end of this paper) for instructions on this.
ö make notes on the article below the source information in your notebook. (This entire section should require 2-3
pages in your notebook.) The following should be included in your notes:
ö ideas for possible problems to investigate;
ö summary of what is currently known about these problems;
ö important vocabulary and their definitions;
ö general background;
ö reasons why this topic is important and/or interesting;
ö questions about information that you don't understand, etc.;
ö references to other sources. (This is very important. Many sources will list other sources or give you ideas about
them. This is one of the most effective ways of finding useful information. In fact, you may find magazine
articles that have no useful information, except the references at the end of the article.)
ö At least one of your sources must be a scientific experiment from a reliable source.
Part II: The Paper
Use the information that you have collected to write a type of report known as a REVIEW OF LITERATURE. This style of paper is divided into three parts as follows:
1. General background information
ö Identify a topic area by discussing the focus of research or the engineering challenge presented
ö Provide multiple (more than one) examples of the topic providing extensive descriptions.
For example, if it is a particular disease you are presenting, include the correct, scientific name of the disease, body systems or organs affected, who is most affected, what is already known about the disease (causes, path, etc.);
ö Describe ways in which any topics have been addressed, or attempts at solutions;
2. Research Study: Summarize at least one scientific research study from a professional science journal or reliable source (e.g. university, government website, organization, etc..) directly related to the problem (Google Scholar, Gale Science, etc…)
ö Include a summary of the purpose, procedures, major findings, and recommendations for further study from this
Investigator
3. Develop an Experimental Design:
ö Describe the rationale, purpose, and hypothesis for a “do-able” investigation that might solve the problem which you are investigating. NOTE: You will not be conducting this experiment personally.
ö Use these three questions to make your problem statement:
1) Why will you conduct the experiment? (rationale)
2) What do you hope to learn? (purpose)
3) What do you think will happen? (hypothesis)
öDesign experiment
1) Describe the steps that you will be using to test your hypothesis.
a. This section SHOULD NOT be written in cookbook format (NOTE: examine how the procedure/methods in the scientific journal were written).
b. What data will you be collecting? How often? When?
2) Identify control group and experimental group
3) Identify dependent and independent variables
4) Identify variables that you will keep constant between control and experimental groups.
a. What changes do you expect to see?
5) What are your subjects (e.g. bacteria, humans…)? Make sure to include the number of subjects you are using. Be as specific as possible (i.e. age group, gender).
“Need-to-Knows” on General Format for this Paper
12 point, Times New Roman font
Double-spaced
Paper should be long enough to cover what’s required, but short enough to keep it interesting
Title that covers the scope of the paper
American Psychological Association (APA) in-text citations
APA style bibliography…Go to WLHS Library website and then to Citing Sources.
http://www.wlhs.wlwv.k12.or.us/WLHS_library.html
Turn Semester Project in to..... Turnitin.com (Moodle)
Due Date Timelines
Since this a semester project, there will be due dates for specific sections to help keep you on task.
1. Topic of concentration due by the end of class on September 22
2. Notes from 5 reliable sources due October 17
3. Draft of General Information section of literature review due October 24 for Peer Editing
4. Summary of previously conducted science experiment due November 21
5. Draft of experimental design due December 12 for Peer Editing
6. Final Draft of Literature Review Due January 9.