SBI4U – Independent Research Project



SBI4U – Independent Research Project

Work Periods: ________________________________________________________________

Due Date:_____________________________________________________________________

Purpose

You will research a topic related to __Plants: diseases, medical uses, genetic modification, or technology__ then produce a 4-6 page report on the topic. This project will be worth 10% of your final course grade. I hope that you will find a topic that truly interests you. Work hard to show me the best that you have to offer!

Topics

Briefly investigate a few options that interest you then narrow it down to one topic that you find the most interesting. If you’re stuck, think about careers or programs that might interest you in future, and find a topic related to that goal. Please get your topic approved by the teacher before you begin your project.

Paper Format

Your report must have:

▪ A title heading (see KDSS Style Guide)

▪ Double-spacing

▪ An ABSTRACT – you’ll get instructions with a practice worksheet

▪ An introduction paragraph – explain why you have chosen this topic

▪ Subheadings before each body paragraph

▪ Several body paragraphs that describe your findings, in detail

▪ Helpful images and diagrams, which do not count towards the page limit

▪ A conclusion paragraph that outlines the information just presented, but in different words than the abstract. This paragraph needs to summarize and finalize your ideas.

▪ A works cited list that follows MLA format, and includes at least 3 peer-edited journals and at least 3 legitimate websites.

Sources

Acceptable Sources: textbooks, official websites, research papers, books, newspapers, magazines.

Unacceptable sources: Wikipedia, (and similar sites), websites of unqualified people, encyclopedias.

Research papers (also known as peer-edited journals) can be found on the Thompson Gale Database:

(password is trillium)

Tips to avoid Plagiarism

1) You must list every single source in your works cited list (see the KDSS style guide for the format).

2) You must cite every idea that comes from a source, even if you don’t use a quotation. In the following example, I wrote my own sentence using information taken from an article, but I still have to cite it. Why? Because I do not know that there were cougars in London; Helsdon’s article told me so.

There were several reports of cougar sightings in the London area during the summer of 2003 (Helsdon 1).

3) If you copy anything word-for-word from a source, it needs to be marked clearly as a quotation. You are not allowed to just insert it into your paper and then cite it.

A very very wrong example:

Dewdney takes witnesses back to the scene and uses a model to establish the size of the animal seen (Helson 1).

The right way to do this:

Helsdon states in his article that “Dewdney takes witnesses back to the scene and uses a model to establish the size of the animal seen” (Helsdon 1).

MLA Formatting

▪ See the OWL Purdue website for help & details:

▪ Use the tools in Thompson Gale database to produce works cited entries for those articles

▪ Use to produce works cited entries for web articles and other articles

Title Page and Works Cited Format

SBI4U Report Rubric

Criteria |Level R |Level 1 |Level 2 |Level 3 |Level 4 |Marks | |Knowledge |Explicit ideas or facts contain errors

Does not use details to support statements

Demonstrates little, or highly inaccurate, understanding |Some ideas or facts contain errors

Uses limited or poor details to support statements

Demonstrates weak or somewhat inaccurate understanding |A few ideas or facts contain errors

Uses some good details to support statements

Demonstrates basic understanding of the topic | Most ideas and facts are accurate

Uses specific and relevant details to support statements

Demonstrates good understanding of the topic |All facts and ideas are accurate

Uses details that are specific, relevant, complex

Demonstrates thorough understanding of the topic |

X1

X3

X3 | |Thinking |No focus

Paragraphs are not used or ideas are very poorly organized

Many points are irrelevant, unconvincing, or off topic

There is no abstract or the abstract is in intro format. |Poor focus, wanders from topic

Paragraphs are not distinct, topics are unclear

Points are poorly organized so that paragraphs are confusing

The abstract is too vague, does not include results. |Focus sometimes wanders off topic

Ideas are organized into paragraphs with some overlap

Points are on same topic, but not well organized

The abstract covers most parts of report but is missing details |Text stays on topic

Ideas organized into logical, effective paragraphs

Points within paragraphs flow logically

The abstract summarizes the paper accurately. |Text is focussed, drives the reader

Paragraph organization demonstrates analytical thought

Points organized for maximum impact

The abstract summarizes well and is written in an appealing style. |

X2

X1

X1

X1 | |Application |Three or more major mistakes in: heading, citations, works cited.

Images are just decorative or are inappropriate.

References include no journals |Two major mistakes in: heading, citations, works cited.

Images are vaguely appropriate but are not actually very useful for this topic.

References include 1 or 2 journals |One major mistake in: heading, citations, works cited.

Images are not clear, but are potentially useful. Images have neither captions nor are they integrated into the text.

References include 3 journals and 3 websites, some inappropriate sources |Several minor mistakes in: heading, citations, works cited.

All images are clear, but may be unnecessary. Images have captions or are integrated into the text.

All references are appropriate, including 3 journals and 3 websites |All aspects formatted correctly: heading, citations, works cited.

All images are clear, enhance understanding of the topic. Images have captions and are integrated into the text.

Extensive list of references, more than 3 journals and 3 websites |

X1

X1

X1 | |Communication |Intro & conclusion are omitted

Language used inappropriate for this grade and this task.

Many mistakes in word use, spelling, grammar, and punctuation that demonstrate language skills far below expected for this grade level. |Intro and conclusion are much too short with weak info and poor structure.

Language is usually informal; uses terms rarely or poorly

Many mistakes in word use, spelling, grammar, and punctuation that should have been caught by editing tools. |Intro and conclusion in correct format with weak info and poor structure

Language is slightly informal; needed more use of terms.

Many grade-appropriate mistakes in spelling, grammar, punctuation, and word use. |Intro and conclusion in correct format, and generally effective

Language used is appropriate, uses scientific terms correctly.

Several grade-appropriate mistakes in spelling, grammar, punctuation, and word use. |Intro and conclusion are strong, captivating reader’s interest

Language used covers all important terms and written with a scientific purpose in mind.

Very few mistakes in spelling, grammar, punctuation, and word use. |

X2

X1

X1 | |Comments

-----------------------

Student Name

Teacher Name

Class

Date

Title of Report (Do not underline)

Abstract

Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah

blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah

Introduction

Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah

blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah

Works Cited

"Blueprint Lays Out Clear Path for Climate Action." Environmental Defense Fund. Environmental Defense Fund, 8 May 2007. Web. 24 May 2009.

Clinton, Bill. Interview by Andrew C. Revkin. “Clinton on Climate Change.” New York Times. New York Times, May 2007. Web. 25 May 2009.

Dean, Cornelia. "Executive on a Mission: Saving the Planet." New York Times. New York Times, 22 May 2007. Web. 25 May 2009.

Ebert, Roger. "An Inconvenient Truth." Rev. of An Inconvenient Truth, dir. Davis Guggenheim. . Sun-Times News Group, 2 June 2006. Web. 24 May 2009.

................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download