This assignment is designed to allow you to demonstrate your knowledge in the following areas:
- communicating an original hypothesis using rationale from the scientific literature,
- communicating experimental design, measurement, and analysis of original research,
- communicating and illustrating data from original research,
- evaluating evidence, limitations, and broader themes from original data, and
- development of skills in technical scientific writing.
For this assignment, you will combine elements of all previous course assignments (annotated bibliography, research paper sections, and data analysis activities) and submit an original research paper. Using notes from in-class discussion, example papers, and research papers of your own choosing, you will compile a final original research paper. For each section (Abstract, Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion, Literature cited), refer to notes and rubrics from all previous assignments. Please incorporate all revisions suggested in previous assignments as you compile the report. In addition to the previous assignments, please include an Abstract, a short summary that conveys the major points from each section of the report (6-10 sentences).
Be sure to follow the Writing Cohesiveness tips in the previous sections, including an overall “hourglass” structure to the report. Please use parallel structure in the research questions, methods, and results. As always, organize writing within each paragraph starting with a topic sentence followed by supporting details and a transition to the next paragraph. A minimum of ten total references are required, however, more references may be needed to provide adequate support for rationale, justification of methods, and discussion of results. The final report should be approximately 2500-4000 words. Include appropriate in-text and bibliographic citations for all scientific literature referenced. Check spelling, grammar, and punctuation for accuracy. Use past tense to describe your methods and use active voice as much as possible.
For details on how to go about compiling the report, refer to comments on previous drafts, rubrics, and all class notes. Please review The Structure, Format, Content, and Style of a Journal-Style Scientific Paper reading. You may also refer to the example research paper. Refer to the Scientific Style and Format Citation Quick Guide for details on format for in-text and bilbliographic citations.
| Topic | Criteria | Points possible |
|---|---|---|
| Introduction | Adequate background information conveying relationship of research to important topic | 3 |
| Background for objectives and hypotheses (reviewing knowns and unknowns from literature) | 3 | |
| Explicitly states hypothesis or hypotheses with expectations | 2 | |
| Adequate support of statements by peer-reviewed references | 2 | |
| Methods | General statement of overall experimental approach | 2 |
| Justifies methods used, clearly linked to research questions | 2 | |
| Written with enough detail to be repeated | 4 | |
| Figure(s) included to illustrate methods used (experimental design, study site, etc.) | 2 | |
| Explains how data was analyzed to answer research questions | 2 | |
| Results | Summarizes overall trends | 2 |
| Individual results reported and digested (means, differences, percentages, etc.) | 3 | |
| Statistical results reported properly (include effect size, statistic, P-value, R2, etc.) | 2 | |
| Figures and Tables | Tables and figures display important data | 1 |
| Figures and tables with labeled axis, units, error bars (if necessary), and legend | 2 | |
| Figures and tables with captions that briefly explain the data shown | 2 | |
| Discussion | Clear conclusions drawn from data | 1 |
| Discuss whether results support or refute hypothesis | 3 | |
| Explain unusual and unexpected findings | 2 | |
| Relate findings from your study to similar studies | 3 | |
| Discuss caveats, unknowns, and avenues for future research | 2 | |
| Concludes with “big picture” implications (link findings back to introductory material) | 3 | |
| Writing cohesiveness | Writing organized around a central thesis | 2 |
| Writing clearly flows hourglass structure | 2 | |
| Clear topic sentences and transitions between paragraphs | 1 | |
| Use of parallel structures to link questions, methods, and findings | 1 | |
| Includes minimum of 10 peer-reviewed articles | 2 | |
| Correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation | 1 | |
| Use of past tense and active voice | 1 | |
| References incorporated smoothly with proper citations | 2 | |
| Total | 60 |