March VC Session – Research / Writing

1. March VC Session – Research / Writing March 6, 2018

2. it’s research/writing time! • WRITING IS ESSENTIAL…to communicate your ideas in school and college. • Review March ICCP (PART A): Research Project Requirements (9th, 10th, 11th) • RESEARCH CONTEST (March – April) • Winners selected-April • Top Entry Forms will present during April VC session • RESEARCH REPORT (March ICCP – PART A) • Picking a Research Topic (See List) OR pick own topic • What is something you want to investigate – Example: “Exams: do they measure what you learn?” • Make sure it is something you can investigate - You will make a assumption on what you will find first (hypothesis), then will research to prove/disprove your hypothesis. • Submit Research Entry Form (includes research topic, hypothesis, and initial ideas on the topic) • Complete Research Report • Outline • Introduce Topic • Abstract • Writing Content • References

3. Research report details • Title Page (see instructions for all details) • Outline - Why is it needed? • Show at least three main points, supporting details, references • Helps you to write better – • Make your thoughts flow, more organized • Provides a way for you to strengthen your argument • Abstract (what is it?) / Summary/ why it is needed? – • A quick summary of your information, key ideas of the writeup • Provides a way for the reader to get an idea of your information without reading the report completely. • 10th grade area doing a summary-brief writeup of their research • Write-up Content (use research to explore topic, and answer to your hypothesis); must use references throughout – cite the source correctly to give credit • Use APA style -more common for social sciences [you are familiar with MLA-liberal arts/humanities] • Introduction: • Purpose of the topic • Your hypothesis (thesis statement) for the topic • Key points you will mention about the topic in the writeup • Future Paragraphs points I, II, III, etc., supporting details, flow (include reasons to prove/disprove your research hypothesis) • Concluding paragraph (summarize ideas and final results on the hypothesis) • References (cite sources, reference page)

4. Citing sources (APA) • Write-up Content (must use references throughout – cite the source correctly to give credit • Examples: • Green & Bavelier (2008) shared, OR according to the research (Green and Bavelier, 2008). • Beemster, Fiorani & Inze (2003) research showed • Reference Page (list as much detail as possible for the source) – • Include author, editor, publish date, article/book/source title, page number, and as needed link to online website. Note: do not just put a weblink, this is not proper listing of the reference. • Examples: • Green, C. S., & Bavelier, D. (2008). Exercising your brain: a review of human brain plasticity and training-induced learning. Psychology and aging, 23(4), 692. • Beemster, G. T., Fiorani, F., & Inze, D. (2003). Cell cycle: the key to plant growth control?. Trends in plant science, 8(4), 154-158.   • Reference Help (Purdue Owl): https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/apa_style/apa_formatting_and_style_guide/in_text_citations_the_basics.html

5. SAT Writing Helps • SAT Writing Help • https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sample-questions • https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat/practice/full-length-practice-tests • KHAN ACADEMY PRACTICE VIDEOS: • Example: https://www.khanacademy.org/test-prep/sat/sat-reading-writing-practice#new-sat-writing-grammar