Plants & Civilization -- Research Paper


RESEARCH SUMMARY AND LITERATURE CITED


Assignment: Each student will be required to do a short summary of an economically important plant of their own choosing or other topic directly related to the theme “Plants and Civilization.”  You should be able to get good ideas from your textbook or from the web.  Potential topics could include a plant used for food, spice, fiber, wood, medicine, etc.  Be sure to pick a topic that you are interested in. I suggest you discuss your choice of topic with me before investing substantial time.  If your paper is on a specific plant be sure to clearly identify it (common name, scientific name, plant family, etc.), give its place of origin (where it is native), information about its domestication (if appropriate), its uses (historical as well as present), its impacts on people or cultures (if relevant), and any other information that seems appropriate.  

The final product will be a three page (typed, double-spaced) summary paper and an associated literature cited. The grade will be determined by the depth of research, the quality and recentness of the references, and the integration and understanding shown in the summary – this is a short assignment – the emphasis is on quality, not quanity. The purpose of this paper is not for you to produce a lengthy tome; rather it is for you to learn about doing research on a specific scientific topic and effectively summarizing the information. You are required to use the on-line computer search capability available at the Abell Library as well as some appropriate source off the internet. Indicate in your literature cited how you found each reference (e.g., internet, on-line search, bibliography of another paper, etc.). You should have at least ten references including at least three original research articles from appropriate scientific journals (e.g. Science, Sida, Systematic Botany, Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden, etc.). Articles in sources such as Discover and Scientific American are usually summaries, not presentations of original research. You may also include summaries or older or more general reference works in addition to your five original research articles. An "original research article" is a report in which the authors present new data and conclusions based on those data. All information included must be cited. The citation of references and the format of your literature cited must follow the examples on the paper given out in class ("in note" style). The assignment is due at class time on Thursday, 24 January. Staple this sheet to the front of your paper prior to handing it in. During one of the last class session you will give a ten minute oral powerpoint presentation of your topic to the class.


STUDENT ______________________________


GRADE ________________________________


1. Literature Cited (depth of research; topic covered adequately?;
number and diversity of appropriate references) _________

2. Recentness of references ______________________________________

3. Computer searches/Internet references indicated _____________________

4. Integration and understanding shown ____________________________

5. Correct format (references, lit. cited, length, typed, etc.) ______________

6. Title, paragraph, and list of references completed and on time __________


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