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WELCOME TO
HONORS SCIENCE
INDEPENDENT PROJECT HANDBOOK
9TH – EARTH SCIENCE (BALDWIN)
10TH – BIOLOGY (MURRAY)
11TH – CHEMISTRY (MUHLHAUSER)
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page Number
Content of Page
3
Introduction
4
Deadlines
5
Option 1 Requirements
7
Book List
9
Option 2 Requirements
10
Units & Article Info
11
Rubric – Option #1 A
13
Rubric – Option #2 A
15
Rubric – Option #1 B
17
Rubric – Option #2 B
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INTRODUCTION
As part of the Honors Science curriculum, you are required to complete an
independent research project. This means that if you do not complete this
project you WILL NOT get credit for this course, regardless of your final
grade. You may choose an option that better suits your interests. Both
options involve reading scientific literature & relating what you have read
to the course curriculum. This packet is to be used as a GUIDE – a tool for
you to use as a reference.
PROJECT OPTIONS
1) Read & Review an APPROVED selection of science non-fiction (see
pages 7-8 for a list of approved works)
o Trimester A Assignment  3 page summary/reflection
o Trimester B Assignment  3 page paper connecting content of
book to a minimum of 3 units discussed in class.
~ OR ~
2) Find, Read & Review a different current event related to each of the
different units covered in the course curriculum (see page 10 for a
list of all unit topics to be covered & acceptable article sites)
o Trimester A Assignment  1 page/article review & connection to
class for units 1-5
o Trimester B Assignment  1 page/article review & connection to
class for units 6-10
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DEADLINES
**You do NOT have to submit anything prior to the start of class;
whether you have Bio A 1st tri or 2nd tri. You may choose to work
ahead (either over the summer or when you do not have class)**
**This is a Mandatory requirement & must be completed to receive
credit for the course; meeting these deadlines is also prerequisite for a
recommendation for Honors Chemistry**
**These deadlines are approximates; actual due dates will be assigned
by the teacher when you start the course**
**Assignments are due @ the beginning of class; assignments submitted
after the due date will only receive ½ credit. Projects submitted after
the trimester will receive 0 points**
Date
What is Due
Friday, September 12, 2014
Option Selection Form &
Acknowledgment form
Week of November 17th
Trimester A Assignment
Week of March 2nd
Trimester A / B Assignment
Week of May 25th
Trimester B Assignment
(Only for students enrolled in class)
(Only for students enrolled in class)
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OPTION #1
Non-fiction Review & Relate
1) Choose a book from the pre-approved list (pages 7/8). You may
choose a different book as long as you get it approved by your
teacher.
2) Complete the “Selection Form” & submit (this can be done prior to
school year so that you may work over the summer).
3) Trimester A Assignment (can be submitted any time prior to deadline)
 3 page (minimum) review of book that includes the following
information:
 Summary of the book; what was it about
 Credibility of book & author
 What is your opinion of topic; has it changed
 Provide at least 2 things that you learned
 What is your lasting impression of this topic
 Would you recommend reading this book
 Provide at least 2 direct quotations within review
 Formatting
 Title Page
 Centered  Name of book
 Bottom Right  Name/class info
 Running head (1 word from title) w/ page #’s
 APA Format
 Font/Size – Times (12)
 Double space
 No extra spacing between paragraphs
 1” margins
 Paragraph form
 Running head (1 word from title) w/ page #’s
 Quotations:
 Put “quotation marks” around quote
 Cite the quote (Author Name, pg #)
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OPTION #1 (cont.)
Non-fiction Review & Relate
4) Trimester B Assignment –
 3 page (minimum) paper that relates the book to the course
curriculum. (See pg 10 for a list of all units/topics)
 Very brief review of book content
 Relate the book to a minimum of 3 different units
covered in class (include 1 unit per trimester)
 Explain how the subjects discussed in the book are
directly related to the class content
 Refer to specific labs/activities in your discussion
 Provide at least 2 direct quotations within paper
 Formatting
 Title Page
 Centered  Name of book
 Bottom Right  Name/class info
 Running head (1 word from title) w/ page #’s
 APA Format
 Font/Size – Times (12)
 Double space
 No extra spaces between paragraphs
 1” margins
 Paragraph form
 Running head (1 word from title) w/ page #’s
 Quotations:
 Put “quotation marks” around quote
 Cite the quote (Author Name, pg #)
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APPROVED BOOK LIST
** Additional books must be approved before you purchase/begin project **
 At the Water’s Edge: Fish with Fingers, Whales with Legs, and How Life Came
Ashore but Then Went Back to Sea
o
o
by Carl Zimmer
Summary: The awesome journey of life's transformation from the first microbes 4
billion years ago to Homo sapiens today. Magnificent and bizarre, it is the story of
how we got here, what we left behind, and what we brought with us.
 The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
o
o
by Rebecca Skloot
Summary: Her name was Henrietta Lacks, but scientists know her as HeLa. Her
cells—taken without her knowledge in 1951—became one of the most important tools
in medicine. This phenomenal New York Times bestseller tells a riveting story of the
collision between ethics, race, and medicine; of scientific discovery and faith healing;
and of a daughter consumed with questions about the mother she never knew.
 Hot Zone
o
o
by Richard Preston
Summary: A highly infectious, deadly virus from the central African rain forest
suddenly appears in the suburbs of Washington, D.C. The Hot Zone tells this dramatic
story, giving a hair-raising account of the appearance of rare and lethal viruses and
their "crashes" into the human race.
 The Demon in the Freezer
o
o
by Richard Preston
Summary: In The Demon in the Freezer, Richard Preston takes us into the heart of
Usamriid, the United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases
at Fort Detrick, Maryland, the epicenter of national biodefense.
 Virus X: Tracking the New Killer Plagues
o
o
by Frank Ryan
Summary: The author, a renowned authority on diseases, presents a radical theory
about the origin of deadly microbes in a book that takes us into the "hot zones" of
today's most dangerous viral outbreaks, then into the research labs & hospitals where
doctors & scientists are risking their lives trying to control them.
 Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers
o
o
by Mary Roach
Summary: Stiff is an oddly compelling, often hilarious exploration of the strange lives
of our bodies postmortem. In this fascinating account, Mary Roach visits the good
deeds of cadavers over the centuries and tells the engrossing story of our bodies
when we are no longer with them.
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 The Violinist's Thumb: And Other Lost Tales of Love, War, and Genius, as Written
by Our Genetic Code
o
o
by Sam Kean
Summary: In The Violinist’s Thumb, he explores the wonders of the magical building
block of life: DNA. There are genes to explain crazy cat ladies, why other people have
no fingerprints, and why some people survive nuclear bombs.
 Mother Nature Is Trying to Kill You: A Lively Tour Through the Dark Side of the
Natural World
o
o
by Dan Riskin
Summary: It may be a wonderful world, but as Dan Riskin, it’s also a dangerous,
disturbing, and disgusting one. At every turn, it seems, living things are trying to eat
us, poison us, use our bodies as their homes, or have us spread their eggs. In Mother
Nature Is Trying to Kill You, Riskin is our guide through the natural world at its most
gloriously ruthless.
 The Sports Gene: Inside the Science of Extraordinary Athletic Performance
o
o
by David Epstein
Summary: The debate is as old as physical competition. Are stars like Usain Bolt,
Michael Phelps, and Serena Williams genetic freaks put on Earth to dominate their
respective sports? Or are they simply normal people who overcame their biological
limits through sheer force of will and obsessive training?
 Your Inner Fish: A Journey into the 3.5-Billion-Year History of the Human Body
o
o
by Neil Shubin
Summary: Why do we look the way we do? Neil Shubin tells the story of our bodies as
you've never heard it before. By examining fossils and DNA, he shows us that our
hands actually resemble fish fins, our heads are organized like long-extinct jawless
fish, and major parts of our genomes look and function like those of worms and
bacteria.
 The Coming Plague: Newly emerging disease in a world out of balance
o
o
By Laurie Garrett
Summary: Unpurified drinking water. Improper use of antibiotics. Local warfare.
Massive refugee migration. Changing social and environmental conditions around the
world have fostered the spread of new and potentially devastating viruses and
diseases. Laurie Garrett takes you on a fifty-year journey through the world's
battles with microbes and examines the worldwide conditions that have culminated in
recurrent outbreaks of newly discovered diseases and epidemics.
 Eating the Sun: How Plants Power the Planet
o
o
By Oliver Morton
Summary: A fascinating, lively, profound look at photosynthesis, nature's greatest
miracle. From the physics, chemistry, and cellular biology that make photosynthesis
possible, to the quirky and competitive scientists who first discovered the beautifully
honed mechanisms of photosynthesis, to the modern energy crisis we face today.
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OPTION #2
CURRENT EVENTS RELATED TO CLASS
1) Find a separate current event that pertains to each unit covered over
the course of the class – see pg 10 for a list of all units.
2) Each current event must meet the following criteria:
 Must come from a credible science news source (see pg 10)
 Must be dated within 12 months of deadline
 Must be at least 1 page in length
 Articles must be printed w/ source information included
3) Trimester Assignments
 Find/print/read 5 current events – 1 for each unit
 Provide a 1 page (minimum) write-up for each article that
includes:
 Summary of the article; what was it about
 Discuss how the article directly relates to our unit of
study (labs/activities relate)
 What is your lasting impression of this topic
 Formatting
 Title Page
 Title – Current Events in Biology
 Name/class info
 Running head (1 word from title) w/ page #’s
 APA Format
 Font/Size – Times (12)
 Double space
 No extra spaces between paragraphs
 1” margins
 Paragraph form
 Running head (1 word from title) w/ page #’s
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UNIT TOPICS
Each trimester you will need 1 article from each of the 5 big units, but
you are not limited to the subtopics listed under each unit. These are
merely suggestions to help guide you.
BIO A
 Life & Experimentation
o Current scientific research
o Animal testing in research
o Classification/new species
 Biochemistry
o Polymers (synthetic/natural)
o Fad diets & obesity
o Steroids & Supplements
 Cells
o Cell research
o Bacteria
 Cellular Division
o Cancer (causes/new treatment)
o Repro rates (stem/bacteria)
 Biosynthesis
o Photosynthesis –crop yields
o Respiration – VO2 maxing
o Fermentation – industrial uses
BIO B
 DNA
o DNA profiles (personal)
o Mutations & Diseases
 Genetics
o Inheritance patterns
o Genetic Testing & Counseling
 Biotechnology
o Gene Therapy & Cloning
o GMO’s (genetic modified)
o Forensics
 Evolution
o Natural selection
o Adaptations – “super bugs”
o Pandemics – “swine/avian flu”
 Ecology
o Human population rates
o Pollution  human impact
o Extinct/endangered species
ACCEPTABLE SCIENCE NEWS SITES
All of your articles must come from credible scientific news sources.
All of the following sources provide articles that meet the criteria for
this project.
Science News for Students (student.societyforscience.org)
Inside Science (www.insidescience.org)
Science News (www.sciencenews.org)
Science Daily (www.sciencedaily.com)
 Science (news.sciencemag.org)




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Name: _______________________
On Time
Due Date: _____________
Late: _____ (date submitted)
TRIMESTER A OPTION #1 RUBRIC
Checklist – (missing  0 pts ; present  1 pt)
____
Original Green rubric packet submitted
____
Name is written on the top of rubric for Tri A
____
Title Page
____
____
Title centered
____
Name/Class bottom right
____
Running head on title page
____
Running head abbreviated word from title
____
Page # in header
Paper written in APA format
____
Font Times New Roman
____
Size 12
____
Paragraph form
____
Double spacing
____
No extra spacing between paragraphs
____
1” margins on all sides
____
Running head on all pages
____
Page numbers on pages
____
Includes 2 quotations
____
Quotations are properly cited
____
3 full pages in length
____ / 20 points
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TRIMESTER A OPTION #1 RUBRIC
0
1
2
3
4
5
=
=
=
=
=
=
ungradeable (items not included)
F – unacceptable (not meet expectations - missing integral items or info)
D - fair (below basic expectations - room for improvement)
C - average (meets basic expectations – meets minimum requirements)
B - good (above basic expectations – few errors or room for improvement)
A - exceptional (above & beyond requirements & expectations, no errors)
Writing Skills (5 points/item)
____
____
____
____
Sentence structure – no fragments or run-ons, mult. paragraphs
Spelling & Grammar (proofreading evident – limited/no errors)
Higher order thinking – use scientific language & vocabulary
Properly incorporate & cite relevant information
____ / 20 points
Content (5 points/item)
____
____
____
____
____
____
Provides a detailed summary of the book
Evaluates the credibility of the book & its author
Explains personal opinion of book’s subject matter
Discusses a minimum of 2 items learned
Reflects on lasting impressions book has had on topic
Evaluates the need for others to read book
____
Total x 2
____ / 60 points
____ / Final Grade
____
____
____
____
/ 20 - Checklist
/ 20 - Writing Skills
/ 60 - Content
/ 100 – Grand Total
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Name: _______________________
On Time
Due Date: _____________
Late: _____ (date submitted)
TRIMESTER A OPTION #2 RUBRIC
Checklist – (missing  0 pts ; present  1 pt)
____
Original Green rubric packet submitted
____
Name is written on the top of rubric for Tri A
____
Title Page
____
____
____
Title centered
____
Name/Class bottom right
____
Running head & page #’s on title page
____
Running head abbreviated word from title
Articles submitted
____
1 page in length
____
Source information included at top page
____
Articles are stapled to back of each evaluation
Paper written in APA format
____
Font Times New Roman
____
Size 12
____
Paragraph form
____
Double spacing
____
No extra spacing between paragraphs
____
1” margins on all sides
____
Running head on all pages
____
Page numbers on pages
____ / 20 points
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TRIMESTER A OPTION #2 RUBRIC
0
1
2
3
4
5
=
=
=
=
=
=
ungradeable (items not included)
F – unacceptable (not meet expectations - missing integral items or info)
D - fair (below basic expectations - room for improvement)
C - average (meets basic expectations – meets minimum requirements)
B - good (above basic expectations – few errors or room for improvement)
A - exceptional (above & beyond requirements & expectations, no errors)
Current Event Articles (5 points/item)
____
____
____
Articles are from credible scientific sources
Articles are published within last 12 months
Articles properly aligned with Bio A curriculum
____ / 15 points
Writing Skills (5 points/item)
____
____
____
Sentence structure – no fragments or run-ons, mult. paragraphs
Spelling & Grammar (proofreading evident – limited/no errors)
Higher order thinking – use scientific language & vocabulary
____ / 15 points
Content (5 points/item)
____
____
____
____
____
Provides concise summary of each article
Analyzes the relationship between each article & biology
Discusses the relationship between each article & associated unit
Reflects on lasting impressions article has left with reader
Demonstrates original thought & insight into topic
____
Total x 2
____ / 50 points
____ / Final Grade
____
____
____
____
____
/
/
/
/
20
15
15
50
– Checklist
– Articles
- Writing Skills
- Content
/ 100 – Grand Total
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Name: _______________________
On Time
Due Date: _____________
Late: _____ (date submitted)
TRIMESTER B OPTION #1 RUBRIC
Checklist – (missing  0 pts ; present  1 pt)
____
Original Green rubric packet submitted
____
Name is written on the top of rubric for Tri B
____
Title Page
____
____
Title centered
____
Name/Class bottom right
____
Running head on title page
____
Running head abbreviated word from title
____
Page # in header
Paper written in APA format
____
Font Times New Roman
____
Size 12
____
Paragraph form
____
Double spacing
____
No extra spacing between paragraphs
____
1” margins on all sides
____
Running head on all pages
____
Page numbers on pages
____
Includes 2 quotations
____
Quotations are properly cited
____
3 full pages in length
____ / 20 points
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TRIMESTER B OPTION #1 RUBRIC
0
1
2
3
4
5
=
=
=
=
=
=
ungradeable (items not included)
F – unacceptable (not meet expectations - missing integral items or info)
D - fair (below basic expectations - room for improvement)
C - average (meets basic expectations – meets minimum requirements)
B - good (above basic expectations – few errors or room for improvement)
A - exceptional (above & beyond requirements & expectations, no errors)
Writing Skills (5 points/item)
____
____
____
____
Sentence structure – no fragments or run-ons, mult. paragraphs
Spelling & Grammar (proofreading evident – limited/no errors)
Higher order thinking – use scientific language & vocabulary
Properly incorporate & cite relevant information
____ / 20 points
Content (5 points/item)
____
____
____
____
____
____
Provides a brief summary of the book
Analyzes the connection between book & tri A
Analyzes the connection between book & tri B
Analyzes the connection between book & 3rd topic
Evaluates the relationship between book & class lab/activities
Demonstrates original thought & insight into topic
____
Total x 2
____ / 60 points
____ / Final Grade
____
____
____
____
/ 20 - Checklist
/ 20 - Writing Skills
/ 60 - Content
/ 100 – Grand Total
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Name: _______________________
On Time
Due Date: _____________
Late: _____ (date submitted)
TRIMESTER B OPTION #2 RUBRIC
Checklist – (missing  0 pts ; present  1 pt)
____
Original Green rubric packet submitted
____
Name is written on the top of rubric for Tri B
____
Title Page
____
____
____
Title centered
____
Name/Class bottom right
____
Running head & page #’s on title page
____
Running head abbreviated word from title
Articles submitted
____
1 page in length
____
Source information included at top page
____
Articles are stapled to back of each evaluation
Paper written in APA format
____
Font Times New Roman
____
Size 12
____
Paragraph form
____
Double spacing
____
No extra spacing between paragraphs
____
1” margins on all sides
____
Running head on all pages
____
Page numbers on pages
____ / 20 points
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TRIMESTER B OPTION #2 RUBRIC
0
1
2
3
4
5
=
=
=
=
=
=
ungradeable (items not included)
F – unacceptable (not meet expectations - missing integral items or info)
D - fair (below basic expectations - room for improvement)
C - average (meets basic expectations – meets minimum requirements)
B - good (above basic expectations – few errors or room for improvement)
A - exceptional (above & beyond requirements & expectations, no errors)
Current Event Articles (5 points/item)
____
____
____
Articles are from credible scientific sources
Articles are published within last 12 months
Articles properly aligned with Bio B curriculum
____ / 15 points
Writing Skills (5 points/item)
____
____
____
Sentence structure – no fragments or run-ons, mult. paragraphs
Spelling & Grammar (proofreading evident – limited/no errors)
Higher order thinking – use scientific language & vocabulary
____ / 15 points
Content (5 points/item)
____
____
____
____
____
Provides concise summary of each article
Analyzes the relationship between each article & biology
Discusses the relationship between each article & associated unit
Reflects on lasting impressions article has left with reader
Demonstrates original thought & insight into topic
____
Total x 2
____ / 50 points
____ / Final Grade
____
____
____
____
____
/
/
/
/
20
15
15
50
– Checklist
– Articles
- Writing Skills
- Content
/ 100 – Grand Total
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