Colored Fire
SCIENCE FAIR BACKGROUND PAPER
OUTLINE
(40 pts)
I. Definition of the Problem/Topic
****You may want to give examples or statistics as part of your
definition; be sure to use In-Text Citations (ITC) for these!
II. Background
A. Explanation of related terms and science concepts. – 15 pts
*** Use ITC for anything that is not common knowledge and/or
for information you just learned.
B. History/Work of other Scientists’ – 10 points
***You must include work that other scientists have done
related to this topic, and what they concluded. This must be cited!
III. Relevance to Society – 5 pts
A.Who/what does your topic affect?
B. How?
IV. What you will do for your independent research
****Clearly state what your experiment will be, or what you will
actually be doing in reference to the above.
**** TYPED, Double-spaced, 500 words or less
**** No “I” anywhere!!!! This is a formal paper.
**** Use in-text citations!! (See next page) – 10 points
**** A literature-cited page is required – please attach a copy (include only the
literature that you actually cited!!!)
**********DUE DATE _____NOVEMBER 11, 2014_______
How do I do those In-Text Citations?????
In general, there will be 3 situations that require in-text citations:
1. Direct quotes (no more than once sentence at a time, please)
2. Statistics
3. Any information that is new to you, that you re-worded
**these citations are always placed at the end of the sentence, and before the period or end
mark.
The format is the following: After the quote or paraphrased text, space, then type a
parenthesis, then type the author’s last name only, type 1 more space, then type the
number of the page, then type a parenthesis, then type the period (or other punctuation)
of the sentence.
If no page number is available, do not include one.
If no author is available, use the title of the article in quotes. Use a page number if
available.
Examples:
? Copied word-for-word from source, has an author and a page number
“A battery is a combination of two or more electrochemical cells which store chemical
energy which can be converted into electrical energy” (Smith 24).
? Copied word-for-word from source, has an author but no page number
“A battery is a combination of two or more electrochemical cells which store chemical
energy which can be converted into electrical energy” (Smith).
? Copied word-for-word from source, has no author or page number (use title of source)
“A battery is a combination of two or more electrochemical cells which store chemical
energy which can be converted into electrical energy” (“Batteries”).
? Paraphrased author’s words, has no author or page number (use title of source)
Batteries are made of cells which store chemical energy that can be converted into
electricity (“Batteries”).
According to a 2005 estimate, the worldwide battery industry generates 48 billion dollars
in sales each year (“Batteries”).
