SCIENCE FAIR Mini-Lesson #3 Writing An Outstanding Research Paper

DO NOT WRITE IN OR ON THE BLUE FOLDER! Let’s Begin…… Read “Writing A Research Paper for You Science Fair Project” in the blue folder and answer the questions. You will have 20 minutes to find all of the answers. Remember: DO NOT WRITE IN OR ON THE BLUE FOLDER!

Let’s Answer Your Questions: 1. What are the 4 key pieces of information that your research paper should include? a. The history of similar experiments or inventions (IF RELEVANT!!) b. Definitions of all important words and concepts that describe your experiment c. Answers to all your background research plan questions d. Mathematical formulas (IF ANY) that you will need to calculate the result of your experiment

2. What is a research paper? * A report summarizes your research information so that you have cited evidence to support your hypothesis 3. Why should you write a research paper before you perform your experiment? * So that you can make a prediction of what SHOULD occur in your experiment.

4. What are citations? * An way to reference (credit) information you used for research a. When do you use citations? * When you copy words, pictures, diagrams, or ideas from one of your sources. This includes if you paraphrase (any thought that is not your own!!) b. Can you quote directly from a source? * Yes, as long as you include a citation at the end BUT 20% or less of your paper can be direct quotes!

5. You will be using MLA (modern language association) format 5. You will be using MLA (modern language association) format. Let’s assume you paraphrased a piece of information on page 17 from a book titled “Science is Good”, written by Mrs. Bopp in 2001. How would you write the citation that needs to be included in your research paper? * (Bopp 17) 6. What is plagiarism? * When you copy the words, diagrams, or ideas of someone else and presents them as your own.

LET’S PRACTICE Using the background research cards given to your group, construct 2 paragraphs of a research paper INCLUDING citations. Follow the guide in Part 2 of the note sheet “How to write your research paper.” Don’t worry about a bibliography, the title or other formatting; write about the content.

Paper Formatting…….. 1. Typed or Written? TYPED 2. Computer Program Used? MICROSOFT WORD 3. What format of writing style should you use? MLA (MODERN LANGUAGE ASSOCIATION) 4. Length of paper? AS MUCH AS YOU NEED. PROBABLY 2-5 PAGES

5. Margin Size. 1 INCH ON ALL SIDES 6. Paper Alignment 5. Margin Size? 1 INCH ON ALL SIDES 6. Paper Alignment? ALIGNED LEFT (it’s already set to this) 7. Paper Spacing? DOUBLE SPACED 8. How many spaces after periods? ONE SPACE 9. How many spaces to indent at beginning of paragraphs? FIVE SPACES OR ONE TAB

10. Should there be a title page. NO 11. Where should the title go 10. Should there be a title page? NO 11. Where should the title go? CENTERED ON THE FIRST PAGE ONLY 12. What is the title? YOUR SCIENTIFIC QUESTION (What is the effect of ____________ on __________) 13. What size font? 12 POINT 14. What font type? TIMES NEW ROMAN

15. Should the period go before or after a citation. AFTER 16 15. Should the period go before or after a citation? AFTER 16. How should you write your name and class period (MOD)? LAST NAME, FIRST NAME (PERIOD DAY) i.e. Range, Amanda (1A) 17. Where should your identifying information (#16) go? IN THE UPPER RIGHT CORNER OF EVERY PAGE SET AS A HEADER

18. How do you make your identifying information appear on every page 18. How do you make your identifying information appear on every page? SET IT AS A HEADER ON THE RIGHT 19. What words should you avoid (NOT ALLOWED)? PERSONAL PRONOUNS (I, WE, HE, SHE, THEY, ME, MY, MINE, YOU, YOURS, OUR) 20.Should you have page numbers? YES 21. Where should the page numbers go? CENTERED BOTTOM AS A FOOTER

22. How do you make page numbers appear on every page 22. How do you make page numbers appear on every page? SET AS A FOOTER FOR THE CENTER 23. Should you use a folder cover or ANYTHING other than a staple? NO 24. Can you email your paper? YES rangea@duvalschools.org

WEBSITES FOR HELP rangebiology.weebly.com www.sciencebuddies.com www.mla.org http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/