Introduction to Science Research
Course Description
Purpose:
This course is designed to introduce students to the rigorous process of scientific research. Over the next academic year, students will
• conduct a thorough background search of current scientific journals
• be exposed to proper laboratory techniques
• design and implement their own experiment
• write a research paper and present their findings for peer review
Along the way, students will become well versed in APA Style writing, Microsoft Office Word, PowerPoint and Excel, and the use of collaborative websites such as Microsoft 365 and scholarly search engines. Individual motivation, responsibility and maturity are essential for success in this class.
Much of the work associated with the class will be accomplished digitally using the suite of Microsoft 365 products. Students should therefore have access to these products at home, in addition to a composition notebook for use in class. This is a very demanding course with a heavy emphasis on individual work and responsibility. This course will help you prepare to take AP Seminar and AP Research in the AP Capstone program.
Grading:
Assignments will be graded using a point system. Graded assignments include, but are not limited to
• Current events presentations
• Group presentations
• Experimental design, progress and presentation
• Written tasks
• Peer editing
• Research questions
• Class participation
Quarter grades are calculated by adding up all points earned from assignments handed in and dividing by the total number of points for each marking period, then multiplying that decimal by 100.
Final Exam:
Students will present their work to the community at the Research Symposium, which will be held at 6pm on Wednesday, May 29, 2019.
Scope & Sequence:
First Quarter:
Practice background information search techniques, APA format, “Letter to the President” project, basic presentation skills, Socratic Seminar about the book Breakthrough by Jack Andraka, introduction to research paper format, give and receive feedback, brainstorm research ideas relating to invertebrate test subjects and begin current events presentations.
Second Quarter:
Continued background information search, practice reading scientific journal articles, design research proposal, laboratory techniques, experimental design, laboratory team formation, current events.
Third Quarter:
Execution of experiments, repetition and completion of experiment data analysis, communication of results, peer review, current events, debate format and practice.
Fourth Quarter:
Composition of research paper, poster construction, presentation of results, current events, begin analysis of material in format similar to AP seminar.
Academic Honesty:
A student who fails to acknowledge the source or author of any and all information or evidence taken from the work of someone else through citation, attribution or reference in the body of the work, or through a bibliographic entry, will receive a score of 0 on that assignment. A team of students that fails to properly acknowledge sources or authors on a group project will receive a group score of 0 for that assignment.
Teacher Contact:
The unusual nature of this course requires more teacher-student communication than in most high school classes. Any time you encounter difficulty, you are expected to communicate with your teacher, either in person, by email, or through the online Notebook on Office 365.
Mr. Mennecke: wmennecke@islipufsd.org
Handing in the signed paper copy of this document indicates that you understand the rigorous nature of this course and agree to all safety protocols and handling of live material for use in research. Successful completion of this course will require diligence and consistency, both in the classroom &at home.