PAPER FORMAT (2010)

Name___________________________                                      Due Date_________________________

Subject: Any teacher and parent approved biological topic, question or issue.
Some examples: Second Hand Smoke, The Bioethics of Cloning, How to Prevent Coronary Heart Disease, What is AIDS?, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, What Was The Black Plague?, How Do We Manage Wolves?, Why Do We Dream?, The Human Genome Project, What Is Life? How Might The First Life Have Started?  How Did We Arrive At the Germ Theory of Disease? How Did We Defeat Small Pox?, The Structure and Function of the Human Brain, How to Manage Your Land for Deer With Large Racks, How Do We Age?, Why Menopause?, Why is Bacterial Resistance a Problem For Humans?, The Current Status of the Biological Control Agents of Tansy Ragwort, etc....
Special Projects: You may also choose to do a special project or experiment and therefore, write a shorter paper.  You must submit a written proposal to your teacher by the date of topic selection.  [Warning: these often end up being more work than a standard paper!]  Some examples: video dissection of an Orthoptera (Grasshopper), Analysis of a Survey on Student Use of Marijuana at WHS, Notes and Video of a Biology Lecture I Presented to the 4th Grade Class, A Test of the Capture/Recapture Method of Sampling Population Numbers Using Mealworms, My Presentation of a Nonsmoking Ordinance to the Whitehall City Council and the Resulting Debate and Vote, etc....

Paper Format:
 I. Title Page
 II. Written Paper
 A. Introduction [including an optional “attention getter”]
 B. Body
 C. Conclusion
 III. Literature Cited

I. Title Page: Must include the title of your paper, your name, the due date, and the teacher's name/classes: "For Mr. Breitenfeldt, Molecular Biology."  This page is not numbered.

II. Written Paper: Seven (7) full numbered pages of typed text, double spaced, font size 12 (same as this hand out), printed one side of the page only, margins 1" or less, pages must be numbered on the bottom right, neat, consistent easy to read font, left justified, and dark ink.  Not hand written.
    Graphic: You must include a diagram and/or photo (graphic) that you insert within the text (be sure and cite it!!).  The graphic does not count as part of your 7 pages, only text does.   Therefore, extend the length of your paper to make up for the space taken by the graphic.

[You may have an "attention getter" before the introduction if you would like.  Not more than 1/4 of a page.  This does not have to have just facts.  Have fun, be creative!!]

    A. Introduction: Tell the reader what you are going to talk about in the body of the paper.  This paragraph essentially outlines your paper.

   B. Body: The body follows the introduction.  The body is the major part of the paper where you include all the details/facts.  I suggest you use topic sentences followed by a paragraph of supporting facts from your sources.  All facts must be cited using MLA!!  No Subtitles.  No spaces between paragraphs.  No lists.  No other “space wasting” strategies.

   C. Conclusion: No more than 1 page.  In the conclusion you tell the reader what you just said- essentially you repeat your introduction so the reader can mentally tie all the information you just gave them in the body, together.  Then you state your opinion.  This is the only place in the paper where you can state your own opinion about your topic!!   I do want to hear your opinion!!!!

III. Literature Cited: This page has the heading: Literature Cited and is single-spaced.  This page is not numbered nor part of your 7 pages of text.  Each source that you state a fact from must be documented (cited) using the MLA format so the reader easily can find the source and you do not plagiarize. 

General Information:
-Pick a topic you are interested in and want to spend time researching in depth.
-Narrow or broaden your topic to a manageable size.  Keep your paragraphs the proper length!
-Sources older than 1999 will need attached written permission from your teacher to use.

Example Introduction:
    In this paper I will inform you about: 1) what a noxious weed is, 2) what integrated pest management is, 3) tansy ragwort, 4) each tansy ragwort biological control agent, 5) new and possible agents, 6) other tansy ragwort control measures, 7) the future of tansy ragwort management in Montana, and 8) my opinion. [each topic should be a new paragraph or section within the body of the paper.]

Example Conclusion:
    In this paper I informed you about: 1) what a noxious weed is, 2) what integrated pest management is, 3) tansy ragwort, 4) each tansy ragwort biological control agent, 5) new and possible agents, 6) other tansy ragwort control measures, and 7) the future of tansy ragwort management in Montana.  In my opinion…. [note you can copy/paste most of this from your intro.]

Sources:
You must have a minimum of 5 sources that you cite and therefore list on your Literature Cited page.  Your sources must include: 1) must be a magazine/Infotrack from the WHS library, 2) an Internet source, and 3) a book.  Be sure your sources are legitimate, use experts, feel free to interview local experts, and be consistent.  Don't forget to cite the source of your graphic!   You will turn in all your sources including a printout of your Internet sources, with a name tag attached.  [Hint: your textbook may be your best source!].  

Turn in all sources to Mr. B with a name tag (be sure they are checked out for a few weeks from turn in date).

Turn in: 1) two printed copies of your paper, 2) an electronic version identical to your printed copies in Microsoft Word format, and 3) all your sources including web pages printed out.

Grading Criteria: turn this page in with your paper!
Format and Neatness (10pts.)....................................................................…………………....__________

Grammar, Punctuation, Spelling, Understandability (10pts.)......................................…………...__________

Proper Citation of Facts Within Paper (10pts.)....................................................……….….......__________

Proper Literature Cited Format/Sources (10pts.)..................................................……..………..__________

Proper Narrowness/Broadness of Topic (10pts.)..................................................……..……....__________

Scientific Accuracy of Facts (50pts.)......................................................…...........……..….......__________

 Total Score/100pts.............………………………………………………………..………..__________
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