1. … and where should you be in the process?
Choosing a Project
… and where should you be in the process?

2. How do I narrow my topic?
“The topic that a scientist… chooses to study usually involves some combination of…
interest in the phenomenon,
technical expertise and
resources needed to do the study, and
ability to get funding for the project.”
Lee, p29

3. Doing undergraduate research…
Are there any benefits?
Do I need to be interested in a research career to get something out of undergraduate research?

4. Getting started in on your IRSL Project
Select a general subject area
Narrow down the research area
Find research articles… refine the research area and title
Select an area sufficiently narrow to encompass a small grant (e.g. several articles)

5. Clarification: On what is the project based?
On the literature, though may be a foundation for an undergraduate research project in the future.

6. Developing your Project
Read news articles, encyclopedias, textbooks
Search the literature:
Find a review article
Find primary research articles
In reality, searching does not stop at the first article
You will demonstrate your ability to search the literature.

7. Write down a plan Proposals & Titles Why write a title early?
Clarify your thinking
Draw together seemingly disparate information
Provide direction
Refine your ideas
What are some common problems of titles? (see assigned reading)

8. Title Problems Too long or short General, vague terms vs specific
Syntax errors
Note: Titles are labels, not a sentence… Should not end in punctuation!

9. Topic Criteria See course booklet
Organism or system
Particular aspect of system or phenomenon being studied
What question is being asked
Variables being manipulated
If applicable: define abbreviations or jargon
You know when your topic is sufficiently narrow when you can write a Topic Title (i.e. not a paragraph and meeting all criteria), that encompasses your 3 main articles

10. Narrowing your Topic How is this? Your topics From the booklet Cancer
Breast cancer studied in mice
Changes in mechanoreceptors may induce breast cancer in mice
Mutations/Distribution/Types in mechanoreceptors
Relationships/Correlations
Your topics
From the booklet
Regulation of human and murine neutrophil migration by IL-1 (Interleukin-1) during inflammation
Potential linkage of reproductive deformities in frong species (Rana pipiens and Xenopus laevis) and the application of the herbicide Atrazine to row crops

11. Looking Ahead Worksheet #4 due on Monday (rather than Wednesday)
Complete as best as you can
Some items will be reviewed on Monday
Read abstract, introduction, figure legends
Keep in mind the questions you must answer for the article assignment
Quiz on Nature of Science: What does it cover?