Research Paper Instructions

I will add everything I review about the paper to this post

Due Sept. 20  – Choose a research topic for a paper and email me by Thursday so I can give you feedback. 

Email me (debbieauc@gmail.com) or give me at the beginning of class:

• Title 
•  2 – 3 sentences of what you will discuss in the paper.

Topics - Anything about tropical ecology – a plant, an animal, a system, a country’s reliance on tropics, exports, etc.  Do some research this week so you know there is enough material.

I may modify your topic so that no one is working on the exact same subject.

Include 4 literature sources published since 1990.  Theses can include:

• The class textbooks.
• Another book from the library.
• Journal articles from the internet – NOT Wikipedia, has to be scientific articles.  I will show you how to research this.  You can use info from just an abstract if you cannot download the entire article.
• Journal articles from the binder of papers that is in reserve in the library.

You can include more sources from anywhere (except Wikipedia).

7 to 10 pages long if handwritten (single sided); 4 – 7 pages long if typed (single sided, double spaced, font 12 Aerial or Times New Roman) (you can email first drafts to me, final needs to be printed, no USB drives!)

Formatted like a scientific article

1. Title
2. Your name
3. Affiliation and contact info
4. Abstract (summary) and 5 keywords
5. Introduction – basic background information about the subject
6. The problem, concern, main point of the paper = Include some of your own thoughts and ideas!
7. Include 1 table of data
8. Include 1 figure (you can hand draw or insert a photocopy – only time you can take someone else’s work and insert it into your own – make sure you cite the source!)
9. Conclusion – Your ideas!
10. Literature Cited – format like the Macaya paper

Number each page.

Due dates –

Each part will be graded and returned the following week.  You will be expected to incorporate comments and suggestions in your revisions.

• Topics due Sept. 20
• Outline due Sept. 27, indicating the 4 literature sources
• Draft due Oct 25
• Final due Nov. 15
• 5 minute presentations on Dec. 6