Biology Research Paper

Title (Research Question):

Student name:

Seat #

Period:

1 Introduction

* State the purpose of the experiment (what you hope to prove or determine)

* Explain the scientific concept(s) involved in your project. (Example: This investigation determines the relationship between volume and pressure.) Cite references, MLA or APA. * Explain the scientific concept(s) involved in your project. These concepts must be explained and cited, MLA or APA.  Example: Carbohydrates are essential nutriments and glucose, a carbohydrate, is a product of photosynthesis. Table sugar (sucrose) is a carbohydrate. This investigation attempts to determine the relationship between sugar and plant growth.  Explain why your experiment is relevant to science and how your experiment relates to the real world or society or that you are doing the project to gain basic scientific understanding and what scientific knowledge or understanding you are are trying to accomplish. o Example: Much has been written and discussed about the harmful effects of refined table sugar (sucrose). This experiment is relevant because it seeks to determine if sucrose is beneficial or harmful to a living system (plants).  State any formulas and define the variables relevant to your project. Example D= m/v where D= density, m= mass and v = volume. Example: Carbon dioxide has the formula CO2 . Cite references, MLA or APA.  State theories and / or scientific laws, or scientific explanations that are relevant to your topic. Cite references, MLA or APA. o Example: Charles' law is an experimental gas law that describes how gases tend to expand when heated. When the pressure on a sample of a dry gas is held constant, the Kelvin temperature and the volume will be directly related. o Kinetic Molecular Theory states that all gases are in constant motion and this motion is related to the temperature and pressure of the gas  Present hypotheses about the expected results of the study. o . ….(25 points)

Delete these instructions and the above italic section and the before you submit this report. Do not delete the heading.

[Highlight the bracket & start typing here]

2 Methods

 Explain how you studied the problem or performed the experiment. Include all important steps so any student in our class could read your procedure and perform your experiment. If you made solutions, give the “recipe” of how these solutions were made (example, 1% salt water: 1 g salt in 100 mL water).  List important materials (or apparatus) you used. The set up I used to measure the density of a gas is an apparatus. In place of listing all the components of this apparatus, simple list “gas volume apparatus”.  Give a detailed description or diagram of any special set-up (such as probes) or apparatus used in your experiment. Explain why you used the special set up and how it works. (Example: The apparatus is used to measure the volume of a gas by using water displacement).  Explain exactly how you collected and measured your data, both the IV & DV. ****20 points will be subtracted if fail to do this. ******  Explain or identify any potential risks and safety precautions used during the experiment.

….(10 points for the procedure)

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3 Data Table You must use this data table or the proceeding data table to receive credit. Units only go in the headings. See the rubric for more requirements. You may delete the columns you do not need. Complete the title below (The Effect of ______on ______). … (10 points) Delete these instructions and the above italic section before you submit this report. Do not delete the heading. The Effect of on . ______(units) (units) T Trial 2 Trial 3 Trial 4 Trial 5 Mean ri al 1

Delete this table and page if you are using the proceeding data instead of this data table. Do not delete the heading.

4 The Effect of on .

(IV) (DV) Calculated (units) (units) Quantity (units)

Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 Trial 4 Trial 5 Mean

Delete this page if you do not need this data table or delete the preceding table page if it is not being used. Delete these instructions. Do not delete the heading.

5 Graph * You must use line graph if the IV has numeric values. Otherwise you must use a histogram. * Line Graphs: only graph the mean (average) value of the trials. Do not graph the trials. * Draw a best fit line (trend line) or best fit curve. If data is random, connect the data points and explain why there is no relationship in the conclusion. * See Rubric for graph requirements. * Bar graphs must be accompanied by histograms. See rubric. * Complete title below (The Effect of ______on ______). …(10 points) * Include a statement below the graph of analysis explaining what the graph shows: Explain the trends between the variables, the correlation of the data points to the line, and if the y-intercept is in the correct place of if the y-intercept is negligible in comparison to where it should be. For example, say the y-intercept should cross the origin of the graph but your graph show that the y-intercept equals 0.10 cm. If you believe that 0.10 cm is negligible, state why you believe this and state that the y-intercept on your graph is proper or correct. Recall that many y-intercepts are off by a little bit because of uncertainty in measurements.

The Effect of on [Insert graph here]

Include a statement of analysis explaining what the graph shows: Explain the trends between the variables, the correlation of the data points to the line, and the y-intercept.

6 Conclusion

• State purpose of investigation. • State if the data is reliable and how you know; • State the resulting relationship and trend of the variables. • Explain how the data supports (or does not support) your findings and your hypothesis, • State specific data that supports your results and shows your hypothesis is or is not supported. You must back up you conclusion about you hypothesis with facts and results from the data and trends. • State a logical scientific explanation for results and trends revealed in your graph and/ or data. Do not just state, “I did (or did not) prove my hypothesis or my hypothesis is (or is not) true. • Make a general statement of major findings so that you make a conclusion on each point raised in the purpose and the hypothesis as well. • Discuss Error(s) and how to correct the errors. Suggest what further experiments or research could be performed to provide more information concerning your research question (example: perform the experiment with more trials; investigate the effect of sugar on the growth of other organisms). …(21 points)

7 Works Cited/ References

* List all the references that you used in your report. You must have a minimum of 5 different articles and/ or reference book citing’s (including on line references). You cannot use the same source twice, even if it is a different article. You will not be given credit for unverified references or multiple dictionary references, or references that are not articles or book citing’s, or e-book citing’s. “Science Buddies” is not a reference. Wikipedia is not allowed. Answer.com and Prezi are not references. Your references must be in MLA or APA format. The references below are in MLA format. …

Examples 1. Author Last Name, First Name, “Title of Article”. Name of publication 443, 811-817 (19

October 2006). Date retrieved on 10/21/06, at

http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v443/n7113/abs/nature05191.html

2. Hawkesworth, C. J. and Kemp, A. I. S., “Evolution of the continental crust”. Nature 443,

811-817(19 October 2006) | doi: 10.1038/nature0519. retrieved on 10/21/06, at

http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v443/n7113/abs/nature05191.html

3. Author(s). "Title of Article." Title of Periodical Day Month Year: pages. Medium of

publication.

4. Poniewozik, James. "TV Makes a Too-Close Call." Time 20 Nov. 2000: 70-71. Print.

5. Junge, Wolfgang, and Nathan Nelson. “Nature's Rotary Electromotors.” Science 29 Apr.

2005: 42-44. Science Online. Web. 5 Mar. 2009.

10 points

Delete these instructions and the above italic section and examples before you submit this report. Do not delete the heading.

8 Pictures

Insert your pictures with dates showing you doing your experiment with the materials listed or described in your methods section (procedure). Alternatively, you may email the pictures with the report. Delete these instructions.

Minus 20 points for failure to provide the two pictures described above.

[Insert pictures here.]