1. THE BACKGROUND RESEARCH PAPER by Deborah Bogard for the students of the Advanced Science Program in the Delaware City Schools

2. How well do YOU communicate?

3. What does the Background Research Paper (BRP) include?
Introduction paragraph
Body – multiple paragraphs
Conclusion paragraph
Length: typed pages

4. First Paragraph: Introduction
SHORT – about 6 sentences
Introduces the project
Arouses the reader’s interest
Orients the reader to topic
Puts the Background Research into the proper context

5. Introduction Paragraph should include…
An opening “hook”
Research question
Purpose of the project (i.e. what is hoped to be learned)
Hypothesis
How hypothesis will be tested (brief, general description of experiment – a sentence or two)

6. Body: What you’ve learned
Explain…
The science behind the research topic and experiment
Important principles, theories, facts, and formulas
Clarify and correctly use specialized terms (vocabulary) throughout the paper

7. Concluding Paragraph: Addressing “So What?”
Tie your project to the real world
How and to whom this area of research might matter and be important
Problems that this type of research could possibly address
Potential applications for this type of research (including how it’s currently being researched by others)

8. Before You Start Writing:
Finish research and note taking!
Check over your SLLRP questions – did you get all needed info?
Develop a general outline
Plan separate paragraphs for major sub- topics, concepts, principles, theories

9. Formatting for the BRP:
Page title: Background Research (bold type, centered)
Black ink
Size 12 font of a standard type (Times, Ariel, etc.) (when in doubt, ask teacher)

10. Formatting for the BRP:
Double line spacing
1” to 1-1/4” margins all around
Paragraph subtitles not necessary but okay to use

11. Paragraph Format: Indent first line
Topic sentence - clear and engaging to the reader
Supporting detail (elaborate on facts, explanations, examples, etc.)
Paragraphs = generally 3-8 sentences

12. Technical Writing Style
Formal and scholarly sounding
but be sure you understand what you write!
Written in 3rd person
avoid referring to yourself or the reader
(no I, me, my you, your, we, us, our, etc.)

13. Writing Your First Draft
Purpose:
Get your ideas out
Flesh out your thoughts
Later, shape it into a finished piece of writing

14. Writing Your First Draft
Technique:
Explore the ideas as you write
Try to get it all out of your head and onto the page
Don’t worry overmuch about the order
Don't let yourself get stuck!
Having a problem with a section?
leave it
go on with your writing
come back to it later

15. Writing Your First Draft
DO NOT spend time fixing things
DO NOT bother yet about spelling or grammar.
Start editing AFTER 1st draft is finished

16. Use Your Brain Don’t Plagiarize!
Be careful: use your own words and “voice” as you write
Some direct quotes are allowable
No more than 10% of the entire report
Bracket quotes in “ “ and place author’s name at the end of the quote in ( ).

17. Correct Quotation Formatting
“There is no such thing as good writing, only good rewriting.” (Ernest Hemingway)
“Reading maketh a full man, discussion a ready man, and writing an exact man.” (Francis Bacon)
“In science the important thing is to modify and change one's ideas as science advances.” (Herbert Spencer)

18. Bibliography Rules Minimum* of 5 sources
Must be alphabetized by the first word(s) of each entry
Must be properly capitalized
*NOTE: Meeting the minimum requirement does NOT ensure the maximum grade!

19. Bibliography Rules Single line spacing within each entry
Double line spacing between entries
Each entry starts “Flush Left” (against left margin) – additional lines are indented.

20. Bibliography Example
Campbell. Neil A., Reece, Jane B., Mitchell, Lawrence G., Biology. 5th ed. Menlo Park, CA: Addison Wesley Longman, Inc., 1999.
“Chapter 2: Classification of Wetlands.” Bogs. Carada’s Aquatic Environments. 1 Nov <
Dahl, Thomas E. “History of the Wetlands in Conterminous United States.” National Water Summary on Wetland Resources. US Fish and Wildlife Service. 7 Nov < >.   
Mitsch, William J. “Wetlands.” Access Science. 27 October, Access Science. 27 Oct <
Philip, George. “Wetlands.” Philip’s Millennium Encyclopedia and World Atlas
"Soils." Wetlands. 25 July University of Minnesota. 28 Nov <
Want more formatting details? -MLA handbooks - found online or at libraries

21. AFTER you finish your first draft:
CORRECT YOUR “PUCS” !
Punctuation
Usage
Capitalization
Spelling

22. For further information…