Explain why the article caught your attention. Relate the article to your life and to issues that are important to you.
Assignment 1: Biology Article
Use the Internet and / or the Strayer Learning Resource Center to research aspects of biology.
Select an article from a magazine or newspaper that has something in it that pertains to biology. This will serve as the “target article” for this assignment. For instance, you can select an article about medicine, invasive species, nature, conservation, genetic technology, ecology, or any other topic that is related to biology. One purpose of this assignment is to help you become aware of how biology is related to your everyday life.
Write a two to four (2-4) page paper in which you:
- Summarize the article in one (1) or more paragraphs, using your own words. Be sure to identify the article using an in-text citation in the body of the paper, as well as a reference in the reference section.
- Explain how the article relates to this course. Identify which biological concepts from the course and / or text are relevant to the topic covered in the article. Citing the course text, discuss the ways in which this course does (or doesn’t) provide background information to help you understand the article and the larger issues surrounding it.
- Explain why the article caught your attention. Relate the article to your life and to issues that are important to you. Discuss how or if the scientific knowledge about the topic covered in the article affects you directly or indirectly.
- Discuss your opinion on how research on this topic should be funded. State whether you think taxpayer monies should support research on this topic or whether such research in this area should be funded by the private sector. Rate the importance of research on this topic, relative to other areas of research.
Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements:
- This course requires use of Strayer Writing Standards (SWS). The format is different than other Strayer University courses. Please take a moment to review the SWS documentation for details.
- In the drop box is attached the pdf for Strayer writing standards. please review before stating the assignment
The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are:
- Use technology and information resources to research issues in biology.
- Write clearly and concisely about biology using proper writing mechanics.
- Thoroughly summarized the article in one (1) or more paragraphs, using your own words. Thoroughly identified the article using an in-text citation in the body of the paper, as well as a reference in the reference section.
- Thoroughly explained how the article relates to this course. Thoroughly identified which biological concepts from the course and / or text are relevant to the topic covered in the article. Thoroughly discussed the ways in which this course does (or doesn’t) provide background information to help you understand the article and the larger issues surrounding it.
- Thoroughly explained why the article caught your attention. Thoroughly related the article to your life and to issues that are important to you. Thoroughly discussed how or if the scientific knowledge about the topic covered in the article affects you directly or indirectly.
- Thoroughly discussed your opinion on how research on this topic should be funded. Thoroughlystated whether you think taxpayer monies should support research on this topic or whether such research in this area should be funded by the private sector. Thoroughlyrated the importance of research on this topic, relative to other areas of research.
- Consistently uses reasons and evidence that logically support ideas
- Free of errors in grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
- Sources are consistently integrated using effective techniques of quoting, paraphrasing, and summarizing, using in-text citations.
- Consistently shows correct use of In-text citations with matching references using SWS format.
- The target article selected is of good quality and any other resources used are quality.
Communicating professionally and ethically is one of the
essential skillsets we can teach you at Strayer. The following
guidelines will ensure:
· Your writing is professional
· You avoid plagiarizing others, which is essential to writing ethically
· You give credit to others in your work
Visit Strayer’s Academic Integrity Center for more information.
Strayer University Writing Standards
Strayer University Writing Standards 1
If your assignment requires a title page, include the assignment title, your
name, course title, your professor’s name, and the date of submission on a
separate page.
If your assignment does not require a title page, include the assignment title,
your name, course title, your professor’s name, and the date of submission in
the header of your document.
Include page numbers.
Use 1-inch margins.
Use Arial, Courier, Times New Roman, or Calibri font style.
Use 10, 11, or 12 point font size for the body of your text.
Use either single or double spacing, according to assignment guidelines.
See assignment guidelines for instructions to format tables/charts/graphs/
images.
Use appropriate language and be concise.
Write in active voice when possible. Find tips here.
Use the point of view (first, second, or third person) required by the
assignment guidelines.
Use spelling and grammar check and proofread to help ensure your work is
error free.
Use credible sources to support your ideas/work. Find tips here.
Cite your sources throughout your work when you borrow someone else’s
words or ideas. Give credit to the authors.
Add each cited source to the source list at the end of your assignment so that
your reader can find and reference the original material. (See In-Text Citations
section for more details.)
Don’t forget to cite and add your textbook to the source list if you use it as a
source.
Include a source list when the assignment requires research or if you cite the
textbook.
Type “Sources” centered on the first line of the page.
List the sources that you used in your assignment.
Organize sources in a numbered list and in order of use throughout the paper.
Use the original number when citing a source multiple times.
Writing Assignments
Title Your Work
Use Appropriate
Formatting
Write Clearly
Cite Credible Sources
Build a Source List
Strayer University Writing Standards 2
Giving Credit to Authors and Sources
When quoting or paraphrasing another source in your writing, you need to give credit by
using an in-text citation. An in-text citation includes the author’s last name and the number of
the source from the source list. Find tips here.
Option #1: Paraphrasing
Rewording Source Information in Your Own Words
· Take the source information and rephrase it in your
words. Be sure not to repeat the same words of the
author.
· Add a number to the end of your source (which will tie to
your source list).
· Remember, you cannot just replace the words of the
original sentence.
Examples
ORIGINAL SOURCE
“Writing at a college level requires informed
research.”
PARAPHRASING
As Harvey wrote, when writing a paper for
higher education, it is critical to research and
cite sources (1).
When writing a paper for higher education,
it is imperative to research and cite sources
(Harvey, 1).
Option #2: Quoting
Citing another person’s work word for word
· Place quotation marks at the beginning and the end of
the quoted information.
· Add a number to the end of your quote (which matches
your source list).
· Do not quote more than one to two sentences
(approximately 25 words) at a time.
· Do not start a sentence with a quotation.
· Introduce and explain quotes within the context of your
paper.
Examples
ORIGINAL SOURCE
“Writing at a college level requires informed
research.”
QUOTING
Harvey wrote in his book, “Writing at a college
level requires informed research” (1).
Many authors agree, “Writing at a college
level requires informed research” (Harvey, 1).
Strayer University Writing Standards 3
Source List
The source list (which includes the sources that you used in your assignment) is a new page
that you will add at the end of your paper. The list has two purposes: it gives credit to the
authors that you use and gives your readers enough information to find the source without
your help. Build your source list as you write.
Strayer University Writing Standards 4
· Type “Sources” at the top of a new page.
· Include a numbered list of the sources you used in your paper. (the numbers
indicate the order in which you used them). A well-researched assignment has
at least as many sources as pages.
1. Use the number one (1) for the first source used in the paper, the number
two (2) for the second source, and so on.
2. Use the same number for a source if you use it multiple times.
· Ensure each source includes four parts: author or organization, publication
date, title, and how to find it. If you have trouble finding these details, then reevaluate the credibility of your source.
· Use the browser link for a public webpage.
· Look for a permalink tool for a webpage, which requires logging in, such as the
Strayer Library.
· Write a comment instructing your readers how to find all sources that do not
have a browser link or a permalink.
Source List Elements
AUTHOR PUBLICATION DATE TITLE HOW TO FIND
Examples
Michael Harvey
In the case of multiple
authors, only list the first.
2013
This is not the same as
copyright date, which is
denoted by ©
The Nuts &
Bolts of College
Writing
http://libdatab.strayer.edu/login?url=http://
search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct
=true&db=nlebk&AN=590706&site=edslive&scope=site
How it Will Look in Your Source List
1. Michael Harvey, 2013, The Nuts & Bolts of College Writing, http://libdatab.strayer.edu/login?url=http://search.
ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=nlebk&AN=590706&site=eds-live&scope=site
Setting Up the Page
Building a Source List
Sample Source List
1. Michael Harvey, 2013, The Nuts & Bolts of College Writing, http://libdatab.strayer.edu/login?url=http://search.
ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=nlebk&AN=590706&site=eds-live&scope=site
2. William R. Stanek, 2010, Storyboarding Techniques chapter in Effective Writing for Business, College and Life, http://
libdatab.strayer.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=nlebk&AN=359141&site=e
ds-live&scope=site&ebv=EB&ppid=pp_23
3. Zyad Hicham, 2017, Vocabulary Growth in College-Level Students’ Narrative Writing, http://libdatab.strayer.edu/
login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=edsdoj&AN=edsdoj.9b7fad40e529462bafe3a936
aaf81420&site=eds-live&scope=site
4. Anya Kamenetz, July 10, 2015, The Writing Assignment That Changes Lives, https://www.npr.org/sections/
ed/2015/07/10/419202925/the-writing-assignment-that-changes-lives
5. Brad Thor, June 14, 2016, The Best Writing Advice I Ever Got, http://time.com/4363050/brad-thor-best-writing-advice/
6. Karen Hertzberg, June 15, 2017, How to Improve Writing Skills in 15 Easy Steps, https://www.grammarly.com/blog/
how-to-improve-writing-skills/
7. Roy Peter Clark, 2008, Writing Tools: 55 Essential Strategies for Every Writer
8. C.M. Gill, 2014, The Psychology of Grading and Scoring, Essential Writing Skills for College & Beyond
9. ABC Company’s Policy & Procedures Committee, Employee Dress and Attendance Policy, this is a policy in my office
10. Henry M. Sayre, 2014, The Humanities: Culture, Continuity and Change Vol 1, this is the HUM111 textbook
Strayer University Writing Standards 5