Science Research Paper
Science is a dynamic field of study that leads to more and more investigations into the
unknown world. How far should science probe into the unknown? Should limits be put
upon investigations? Imagine a world without discovery. The field of Science is very
broad and controversial. What parts of science do you like the most? Do enjoy studying
about animals, space, how human bodies work, how are machines put together, or how a
skateboarder can spin a skateboard in air and land on it??? The subjects and topics are
endless.
Objective: The objective of this assignment is to help you broaden your interest in a
current issue, topic, or subject in Science.
This project will be broken up into four phases:
Phase 1: Choosing a topic
Phase 2: Research
Phase 3: Rough Drafting of your paper
Phase 4: Final Drafting of your paper
Phase 1: Choosing a topic
Oddly enough for some students, choosing a topic, issue, or subject to write about is the
most difficult. Before you choose a topic it is important for you to know several key
items: What are the teacher’s guidelines for a topic? , What are my interests in Science?,
What are the current issues in Science?, and Is there enough information out there that I
can understand and access to write my paper?
 Chemistry = Topic guidelines = Choose a topic or subject that relates chemistry
to the every day world either through work, health, sports, every living, etc. (see
attached list of possible topics)
 Biology = Topic guidelines = Choose a current issue or topic that shows how
humans affect the environment and world around them or how the environment is
affecting humans. (See attached possible topics)
 Physics = Topic guidelines = Choose a topic that demonstrates a law,
hypothesis, or property relating to the physical world or universe
Science Research Paper Continued:
Phase 2: Research
1. Before you begin to research, write down as many different questions that you have
about your topic or subject that you can think of. Put yourself in the reader’s point of
view. If you were reading an article what questions would you want answered?
2. Research can be accomplished by creditable sites on the internet, reference books,
current journal and magazine articles (also found online), interviews of experts, surveys,
and many other ways.
3. Use your question to guide your research. When you find the answer to a question,
always find it in two or more resources to ensure that the information is creditable
and reliable. Write the information down and be sure to cite your source.
Phase 3: Rough Draft
1. Read over your researched material.
2. Your paper will need an introduction that grabs the audience’s attention, explains or
summarizes what is in the article, and makes your purpose clear.
3. Use subheadings to help guide the information in the body of the article. Use tables,
graphs, and/or pictures with captions that are cited to help explain your information.
4. Make sure that you have answered all your research questions within the body of your
paper.
5. Finish your paper with a closing paragraph that summarizes your paper, makes your
purposes clear, and leaves your audience with something to think about.
Phase 4: Final Draft
1. Read over your reviewers comments and make the appropriate adjustments
2. Final Draft should include: Final copy of paper and citation page.
Chemistry Possible Topics:
 Nature’s Pharmacy
 Biotechnology: Producing spider silk
 Biomedical implants
 Dating of Fossils (radioactive age dating)
 Organic dyes
 Drug testing
 Thixotropic
 The other states of matter: plasma and Bose-Einstein
 Solving the water shortage: distillation
 Oil spills: separating oil, water, and other materials safely
 Chemistry career : (describe the nature of the job, requirements, employment
outlook, working conditions, and other necessary information)
 Lasers at work (How are lasers beneficial? How do they work?, Who
discovered? Etc.)
 Nitrogen fixation (Plant and animal life depends on nitrogen, but in order to be
usable to living systems, the element must be converted to a compound)
 Acid Rain
 Algal Bloom
 Ozone layer
 The chemistry of adhesives
 Why is water one of the most important compounds to life? (Explain the
properties of water)
 Radiation Medicine; Nuclear medicine
 Color Theory (How do red, green, and blue light produce all imaginable colors
of light?)
 Plasma TV (compare the quality of plasma TV to conventional TV, What is the
chemistry behind plasma TV?)
 What is the chemistry behind the greenhouse effect?
 Chemistry and alternate fuels (solar power, hybrids, etc)
 Water on mars? Life on Mars?
 Chemical balances in the human body (Chemistry behind diabetes, dehydration,
kidney dialysis, etc.)
 Chemistry behind sports drinks (Are sports drinks better than water?)
 Nutrition, (Can taking to many vitamins or minerals harm the body?
Antioxidants, Choose a mineral and explain how it helps the body work,
 Eating in space (how does it affect the body, How are hot meals created in space)
 Why do your muscles become sore after exercise? (Chemistry behind it, how to
prevent it, etc.)
Physic topics:
 Automobile Safety; air bags, crumple zones, inertia and car crashes; laws of
motion
 Sound; noise-cancellation technology; how do we heard sound;
 Light; invisibility clock, speed of light, fiber optics,
 Electricity;
 Magnetism; MRI, electro magnets
 Energy; solar energy, conservation of energy, alternative energy, Roller
coasters
 Airplane motion; sea navigation; How do bicycle gears work to help the
bicycle rider
 What is the physics behind a curve ball?