Biology Review Paper
Definition of a review paper
A review is a comprehensive synthesis of results from a wide and complex set of studies
A synthesis of findings rather than ideas.
Goal of a review paper is to help readers make sense of all available information
Direct quotations rarely found in reviews. Do Not Use!
Research reviews focus on primary sources
Original scientific experimentation reported in scientific journals
The quality of the review depends largely on the comprehensiveness of the literature search
Use of secondary sources--textbooks or review journals (Science, Scientific American, Discover)
Overview of material--easier to understand.
Use references for networking, authors
Get keywords
Help devise outline
Formatting the Paper
General Information
15-20 pages of text (not including figures and tables)
Typed, double-spaced
12 point serif type fonts (Times, Times New Roman, Palatino)
Margins 1.5" left, 1" top, 1" right, 1" bottom
Indent eah new paragraph 0.25"
Must be in a bound folder with a transparent cover
Title Page
Center title about 1/3 down the page in18-point font. Capitalize the first letter of each word except for articles (a, an, the), conjunctions (and, but, for) and prepositions (in, on, to)
The Adaptations for Thermoregulation in Winter Moths
Center your name 10 lines under the title in 12-point font
Center the date of submission date a double space below your name in 12-point font
Center the following phrase a triple space below the date: "a paper submitted to the faculty of the Department of Biology, Presbyterian College, in partial fulfillment of the requirements of Senior Seminar, Biology 401"
Pagination
Number the pages consecutively, beginning with the title page, which does not have a page number but is still counted as the first page
Use only arabic numbers (1, 2, 3, etc.)
Put the page numbers in the upper right hand corner
Headings
Use sparingly
Make them informative and
A review is a comprehensive synthesis of results from a wide and complex set of studies
A synthesis of findings rather than ideas.
Goal of a review paper is to help readers make sense of all available information
Direct quotations rarely found in reviews. Do Not Use!
Research reviews focus on primary sources
Original scientific experimentation reported in scientific journals
The quality of the review depends largely on the comprehensiveness of the literature search
Use of secondary sources--textbooks or review journals (Science, Scientific American, Discover)
Overview of material--easier to understand.
Use references for networking, authors
Get keywords
Help devise outline
Formatting the Paper
General Information
15-20 pages of text (not including figures and tables)
Typed, double-spaced
12 point serif type fonts (Times, Times New Roman, Palatino)
Margins 1.5" left, 1" top, 1" right, 1" bottom
Indent eah new paragraph 0.25"
Must be in a bound folder with a transparent cover
Title Page
Center title about 1/3 down the page in18-point font. Capitalize the first letter of each word except for articles (a, an, the), conjunctions (and, but, for) and prepositions (in, on, to)
The Adaptations for Thermoregulation in Winter Moths
Center your name 10 lines under the title in 12-point font
Center the date of submission date a double space below your name in 12-point font
Center the following phrase a triple space below the date: "a paper submitted to the faculty of the Department of Biology, Presbyterian College, in partial fulfillment of the requirements of Senior Seminar, Biology 401"
Pagination
Number the pages consecutively, beginning with the title page, which does not have a page number but is still counted as the first page
Use only arabic numbers (1, 2, 3, etc.)
Put the page numbers in the upper right hand corner
Headings
Use sparingly
Make them informative and
Cited: One author The most recent study of this species (Jackson 1996) shows ---- ---- demonstrated in the most recent study of this species (Jackson 1996). Jackson 's (1996) study fails to account for ---- In a recent study of this species by Jackson (1996) ---- ----(Jackson, 1996). ----. (Jackson 1996) ----(Jackson 1996.) Correct --- (Jackson 1996). Two authors In a study of the spotted skunk (Smith and Jones 1991) ---- Smith and Jones (1991) reported that ---- More than two authors In a study of the snowy egret (Brown et al. 1994) ---- Brown et al ----(Johnson et al. 2005b) More than one reference, different authors (chronological, then alphabetical) Several models have been proposed (Wright 1935, Abrams and Chen 1960, Diaz 1980). Several models have been proposed (Jones 1985, Allen 1990, Stokes 1990, Diaz 2004).