Choosing your topic:

A good way to start the research process is to scan your class readings, popular science periodicals, paleontology journals and web resources for topics which are of particular interest/curiosity to you. Next, learn the basic information about the topic. Sometimes this requires reading information from encyclopedias, your textbook or other general sources. From this point you can begin to immerse yourself in the more scholarly aspects of the subject( i.e., through reading and analyzing scholarly journals and books at University libraries. The information in the scholarly resources will be the building blocks for your research paper. Older books from a public library or non-scholarly web resources will not be sufficient to complete your research.

As you begin the research process, write down thoughts and questions that are generated during your critical reading/viewing of information pertaining to the chosen issue. After this initial exploratory stage, it is possible to begin focusing on a specific issue and begin to frame a central question (i.e., your hypothesis).

Structuring your Research Paper:

Write the paper following a format corresponding to that of scientific articles (see journals such as Geology, Nature, Science, Journal of Mammalogy, Journal of Paleontology, Palaios, Palaeontology, Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology for examples).

Your paper should include the following sections: Title, Introduction, Literature Review Purpose/Statement of Hypothesis, Methods, Results, Discussion, Summary/Conclusions, References, and an Abstract (to be placed at the beginning) summarizing your findings in 200 words or less.

Title (Should be to the point and describe the main issue addressed)

Abstract (Brief description of your new contributions to knowledge...written LAST!!)

Introduction (General background to problem, why issue is "important")

Literature Review (Should synthesize and integrate the relevant information from your scholarly sources)

Purpose of study & Hypothesis (What part of issue you have addressed, why, and your own hypothesis)

Methods (How you went about addressing problem)

Results (Statement of what you found...no interpretations in this section)

Discussion (Your interpretation of your results, how your findings agree and/or conflict with previous findings, weaknesses of your study)

Conclusions (Description of your new contributions to knowledge and areas for future work)

References (Minimum of 6 scholarly ones....this means journals and recent scholarly books!!)

There are several links provided in the resource section to help you understand each of these sections.

Length:

8 pages (excluding figures and references), "typed" and double-spaced (abstract may be single spaced, approximately 15-20 lines in length). Font size should be either 10 or 12 point and margins should be 1 inch.

Emphasis of Paper: (Guiding themes)

Your paper should incorporate the course's LEARNING OUTCOMES for the specific competence(ies) you are taking.

Note: The general paper format demands that you follow a scientific methodology (PW-2, S-1-A), so all students will satisfy these competencies by adhering closely to the paper guideline.

 

Research Paper Discussions

During our celebration session or through electronic exchange, you will inform your colleagues about your research. You will want to tell us about the following:

Introduction (General background to problem. Why issue is important with regard to Paleontology)

Purpose of study (What specific part of issue you have addressed and why and... your hypothesis)

Methods (How you went about addressing problem. How did you seek your information. How you evaluated the evidence.)

Results/Discussion (Statement of what you found. Your interpretation of your results, how your findings agree and/or conflict with previous findings. Suggestions about possible future work.)

 

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