Entomology Research Paper

[Topics] [How Do I Write It?] [Evaluation] [Who's Chosen What]

• Due Date: Wednesday, November 14, 2001

Topics:

Select an insect from the Featured Creature page at the University of Florida Entomology web site.  Read up on the insect that intrigues you most.  If you would like to do a life history paper on that insect (or group of insects), then email me your selection.  One person per insect; and first come, first served!

How do I write it?

• Your life history paper should be patterned after a scientific review paper that focuses on the natural (= life) history of a particular insect or group of insects.  In other words, write about the life cycle of your insect, and include relevant scientific information.  You should collect, analyze and synthesize the information.  The paper should include (in order):

  • Title page
  • Abstract page
  • Body of paper (with subheadings where appropriate)

  • Literature cited

  • (optional) any tables or figures with full headings

  For examples of scientific review articles, consult Scientific American, American Scientist or Annual Review of Entomology, among others.

• A scientific review paper is a paper that summarizes and updates the current scientific findings on the topic.  The scientific findings that you summarize are drawn from a variety of scientific sources, either primary reports or articles from peer-reviewed scientific journals, or various secondary sources.  Since the GCC library lacks most peer-reviewed entomological journals that contain original research reports, you should consult premiere journals (for example Science or Nature).  Secondary sources include the science news journals Science News, and Discover, books, and internet sources.
  • Primary reports or articles report the results of original research, and are not a synopsis or summary of other work. 
  • Secondary sources summarize information in primary reports or articles.  Secondary sources usually do not contain original research results.
• Consult the APA Style page for proper citation of your literature.  Do not use the MLA handbook for scientific papers.

Evaluation

I'll use a form, which you can see here

Who's Chosen What?

This table lists the insects selected, date of selection, and who selected.  If your name does not appear on this list, then either you haven't selected an insect, your selection was e-lost, or your selection was already taken, or something else happened.