The DuPont Challenge Guide Preparing a Winning Essay Original: L. Torres (2012) Editied: C.Conciatori (2012) 1
Table of Contents Note to Students...3 Research Process...4 The Official Rules...5 Science Essay Rubric...6 Science Essay Due Dates...7 Access to Databases...8 Guide for Hard Copy Paper...9 The Basic Three- Part Essay...10 The Basics of Introductions and Conclusions...11 Graphic Organizers 12 Writing Tips for Formal Papers...13 Revising vs. Editing...15 Parenthetical Documentation Format...16 Rules for Works Cited Page...17 Sample Works Cited...18 Avoid Plagiarism 19 2
Note to Students: Use this booklet as valuable tips on writing your science essay. Remember, it is your responsibility to write correctly and accurately. This guide should help you make your writing your best! You are competing in DuPont Challenge, North America's premier science essay competition and will also count as a class grade. Choose Your Challenge! As the world population continues to grow and become more connected than ever, The DuPont Challenge asks students to consider our most important challenges by researching and writing science essay in one of the four categories: Together, we can feed the world. Together, we can build a secure energy future. Together, we can protect people and the environment. Together, we can be innovative anywhere. The first three categories reflect the global challenges on which DuPont as a company focuses its efforts. The fourth category opens up possibilities for students to address other important topics, using scientific research to solve issues that can range from medicine and health to mathematical computation to any science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) topic that students are passionate about. Learn more about each of the four categories by exploring the website: http://thechallenge.dupont.com/challenges/ One of the most important things to remember is that this should be a science essay rather than a science report. We make an important distinction between these two writing approaches for the purpose of this competition. Reports and essays are two very different things: A report s purpose is to provide information. An effective report is clearly written and well organized, and it tells readers things that they did not know before about a topic that is worth knowing more about. 3
An essay also provides information but it does more. An essay not only gives facts about its subject but also shows its writer s enthusiasm for and intellectual involvement with that subject. In an essay, unlike a report, the writer lets his or her personality come through. Research Process 1. Select one of the four categories to write your science essay. 2. Find at least three reliable sources about your topic to use in your paper. You must use at least two online databases. Wikipedia is NOT A RELIABLE SOURCE! NO Posts or blogs by individuals, particularly if they are not experts who can demonstrate their credentials, are very often undependable, and good to stay away from. 3. Read your sources and note any important information you should discuss in your paper. Each source should provide you with at least 5 pieces of information if a source doesn t provide enough information, find a different one! Try to avoid pulling the same information from each source; the more information you have, the better off you ll be. 4. Begin drafting your research paper with the information you have learned about your topic. Be sure to give credit to all of your sources (using parenthetical citations and works cited entries) and to use quotation marks when necessary. Your thesis should reflect the information you find interesting about your topic. 5. Your essay must be completed on Google Docs and you must share your essay with me. Please be sure to include in-text citations for all quoted and paraphrased information. Use quotation marks when you are using the words exactly as they appear in the source. This means that when you include an idea that came from a source you include the author s name in parenthesis after the sentence. (see page 14 more details) Your paper should have an introduction, at least three body paragraphs, a conclusion, and a Works Cited page. 6. Once we have revised and edited papers, you are to make the needed changes and submit your Google Docs at the beginning of class on Friday, January 25 th. Failure to submit your work on time will result in a late work point deduction. 7. Your essay will be submitted online to Dupont Official Entry Form. 4
http://thechallenge.dupont.com/entryform/ The Official Entry Rules Write an original 700 to 1,000- word essay created exclusively for The DuPont Challenge. Your essay must address a topic that falls under ONE of the four categories of Challenges. The chosen Challenge must be specified on the Official Entry Form when submitting your essay. Write only about a science- related topic. No matter how well written and researched, essays submitted on non- science topics are disqualified. Your essay must be written in English. Essays should be written using your word processor of choice and pasted into the Essay Box of the Official Entry Form. Do NOT put your name, school name or any other personal information in the body of your essay. Enter your name and other personal information only on the designated fields in the Official Entry Form. Your essay title must appear in the Entry Form box called Title of Essay. Do not include the title of your essay in the Essay Box. Include the word count at the end of your essay. Attribute quotes and any ideas that are not your own within the body of the essay. Do not use footnotes or endnotes. Your essay must include a bibliography of your source material, pasted in the Bibliography box of the Official Entry Form. (MLA style is recommended.) Do not include the bibliography in your word count. Avoid plagiarism. Essays are carefully reviewed by multiple judges and checked for plagiarism. Proofread your essay carefully. Your essay will be judged not only on the science, but also on creativity, spelling, punctuation, and grammar. Do not include illustrations, graphics, or diagrams. Fill out the Official Entry Form completely. Incomplete entry forms will not be accepted. Important: All students must be 13 years of age prior to January 31, 2013 to submit their essay using the Official Entry Form. The Children s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) prevents The DuPont Challenge from collecting personal information online from children under age 13. 5
Students under the age of 13 must use the Under 13 Entry Form and contact The DuPont Challenge at thechallenge@usa.dupont.com for special submission instructions. Science Essay Rubric Component Essay Ideas & Content Introduction effectively grabs reader s attention and includes thesis Conclusion effectively wraps- up paper and restates thesis Topic is thoroughly researched and discussed Includes quotes to support thesis Organization Presented content clearly and concisely with a logical progression of ideas and effective supporting evidence. Writing Mechanics & Conventions The text is clearly written with no errors in grammar, capitalization, punctuation, and spelling. Style & Creativity Have enthusiasm for your topic; let the reader see it. It s all right to use a little humor, too. It s a good idea to give your essay immediacy by using brief quotations from experts. Voice Show why your subject matters. Essay readers will be interested in why your subject is important to the real world today s world, or tomorrow s. It is part of your challenge to address this issue directly. Works Cited Page Sources are documented correctly Works Cited is typed and centered Place last name and page number upper right- hand corner Total Points Earned Possible Points Points Earned 3 4 3 3 4 3 /20 6
Science Essay Due Dates Introduction To Science Essay Friday November 30 th Three Interesting Ideas on Topic Monday December 3 rd Final Idea Approved Friday December 7 th Thesis Statement Due Monday December 10 th Source list and notes Friday, December 14 th Paragraph 1 Friday December 21 st Paragraph 2 Friday, January 4 th Paragraph 3 and Introduction Friday January 11 th Conclusion Friday January 18 th Revised Draft Due with citations Tuesday, January 22 nd Final Copy Due Friday, January 25 th 7
Access to Valhalla Databases: Valhalla District Webpage Under Links- Valhalla Libraries Click on Valhalla Middle/High Search For Research From Home Where to begin First place to begin your research is using the Encyclopedia, which is located under Research from Home..NOT LOCATED ON THIS PAGE Other Databases as suggestions: Global Issues in Context elibrary Proquest The databases on this webpage might ask for a password. The password is look. If it asks for a username it is: valhallamhs Britannica has it s own username and password: it is kensicosch (for both) 8
The Basic Three-Part Essay There are many different formats and expectations when it comes to writing papers, but each essay will have three general parts: an introduction, a body, and a conclusion. Below is a more specific outline of the basic essay. I. Introduction A. Attention Device B. Link C. Thesis Statement II. Main Body Paragraph (repeated as often as necessary) A. Topic Sentence (with appropriate transition) B. Set Up C. Evidence D. Tie to Thesis E. Concluding Sentence III. Conclusion A. Restate Thesis Statement B. Summary of Main Argument C. Significance (Many times, you will be expected to use more than one piece of evidence in a body paragraph. In that case, you repeat B,C,D in the paragraph, as shown above.) Remember this is a basic format. No matter the purpose of your paper, this basic format should serve you well. In any case, remember that before you can break these rules, you must master them first! 9
The Basics of Introductions and Conclusions MUST HAVE IN YOUR INTRODUCTION: Attention Devices: Star with your broadest appeal. Link: Slowly move from the broad generalities of your attention getter toward your main topic. Remember this is where you tie your attention device to your main topic. Thesis Statement: End your introduction with your smallest topic the focus of the entire paper. This is what you are going to argue. MUST HAVE IN YOUR CONCLUSION: Restate Thesis: Once again emphasize what you just spent your paper proving. Summary/Review: Broaden your topic out. Move beyond your narrow focus and begin to explain how your ideas. Significance: Explain the importance of your topic and its implications to society. The Introduction: First impressions are so important. How many times have you heard that? The first impression the first paragraph of your paper sets the stage for a lasting opinion. The introduction guides the reader into the paper by grabbing attention and introducing the topic. To get your paper off to a great start, it should begin with a hook that catches the reader s interest. The attention grabber you use is up to you, but here are some ideas: A short narrative anecdote: a short story that illustrates a point and is relative to the topic A surprising piece of information An interesting fact: a pertinent fact that explicitly illustrates the point you wish to make An exciting quotation A provocative question Setting up a scene Don t tire the reader with long introductions that fail to get quickly to the point and issue. The introduction should lead to the thesis. It is your main point, summed up in a concise sentence that lets the reader know where you are going and why. 10
The Conclusion As you close your essay, leave a memorable final impression as well. You should not introduce any totally new ideas in the conclusion; however, it is not enough just to recap your ideas in a clear, summarizing manner. If you only did that and then ended your essay, your conclusion would be flat and boring. You ve got to make a graceful exit from your essay by leaving a memorable impression on the reader. Say something that will continue to simmer in the reader s mind long after he or she puts down your essay. Here are a few possible ways to leave this memorable impression: Giving a thought provoking question Describing a powerful image Talking about consequences or implications Stating what action needs to be done Ending on an interesting twist of thought Explaining why the topic is important to you, the reader, and the greater community 11
Introduction Organizer Hook: (quote, short story, imagery, analogy, statistic) Subject: (important background information) Thesis Statement: (one powerful sentence) Body Paragraph Organizer Topic Sentence Supporting Details 1 (fact or example) Supporting Detail 2 (fact or example) Supporting Detail 3 (fact or example) Wrap-up Conclusion Organizer Remind Reader of Hook (restate it in a different way) Restate your thesis (in a different way) Summarize the impact: Lingering POWERFUL statement: 12
Writing Tips for Formal Papers 1.Do not use contractions. In formal writing, we use formal language, which means no don t, won t, and isn t they become do not, will not, and is not. 2. Do not use the word you. Ever. You don t want to assume anything about your readers. Write using the more general people. 3.Try to limit the use of the word that. Many times, this word is not needed. If you can read the sentence without the word that and it still makes sense, get rid of it. 4.Use active voice, not passive, if at all possible. This makes your writing more interesting and keeps the reader s attention better. It also can make sentences clearer and help you avoid wordiness. They were running becomes simply They ran. 5.Create a voice that is you, but sophisticated and formal. It should sound like you, but the smartest, most sophisticated you, not the you who talks to your friends during lunch. 6. Avoid personal qualifiers (I believe, I think, In my opinion, etc) We know these words are your thoughts and opinions because we are reading your paper saying I believe or I think is redundant. Try to keep the use of I or me to a minimum unless it is a personal story, you don t need them. 7.Write formal papers in the present tense. Past tense can sound stuffy and uninteresting. Writing in the present tense is more interesting and helps you make sure your tense is consistent. 8. Avoid clichés. Clichés are phrases that have been repeated so often they have lost any real meaning ( white as a ghost, quiet as a mouse ). Because they ve been heard so often, they are no longer original or unique. Use more descriptive language. A good rule is that if you ve heard it repeated before, it s probably best to avoid it. 9. Always ask: is this summary or analysis? Often it s easy to go overboard with summary we want our readers to understand the story/book so they can understand the points we are making but analysis should be your focus. One-two sentences summary should be enough in almost any situation. Remember summary tells us what happened; analysis tells us what it means and why it is important. 10. Always order your paragraphs carefully to create the strongest argument. Your weakest argument should be in the middle. You want your strongest paragraph to go either first or last. This creates stronger, lasting impressions for your readers. By putting the weakest paragraph in the middle you are burying it and surrounding it with stronger ideas to help support it. 11. Read your paper out loud to yourself. This is the best way to edit and proofread your own work. By reading what is on the page, you will catch many of your own grammatical and spelling mistakes. 13
Transitional words you should us in your writing (remember, you should always follow a transitional word with a comma). Giving Examples: For instance For example As proof In addition Specifically To begin with In the first place First (Firstly) In addition Second (Secondly) In the second place Most importantly More importantly Wrap-up: Therefore Hence Finally Consequently As a result Last (Lastly) Moreover Thus Furthermore For this reason Order/Sequence: At first Next earlier Then later Finally In the future Another At the same time Eventually meanwhile Compare and Contrast: However In contrast Nevertheless On the other hand Therefore In comparison Likewise In the same way Besides Following a Quote: In other words Similarly Cause and Effect: As a result Afterward Eventually Consequently Even if For this reason Phrases to show reaction/emotion VOICE: Many people believe Certainly No doubt Nobody denies Eventually Admittedly In the future Nevertheless Even though Unquestionably The fact remains Obviously Undoubtedly Clearly, then Indeed Of course 14
REVISING vs. EDITING Make it Sound Better Make it Look Better Adding, deleting, or changing parts of the piece to help the writing flow. Changing letters to capitals or lowercase letters, as needed. Turning worn out words into vivid words. Correcting misspelled words. Coming up with an interesting attention device that hooks the reader and a conclusion that sums it all up. Adding, deleting, or fixing punctuation. Adding more specific details, descriptions and explanations. Indenting paragraphs. Organizing ideas in an order that makes sense Checking verb tenses and agreement. This chart is helping the reader read along smoothly and also improving the writing quality. 15
Parenthetical Documentation Format You must acknowledge all information gained from outside sources when writing a paper. Generally three types of information must be acknowledged to avoid plagiarism: 1. Direct quotation 2. Paraphrase or summary 3. Author's ideas In 1984, the Modern Language Association (MLA) adopted Parenthetical Documentation, which uses publication information and page number within the text to distinguish it from your own writing. Use the following guidelines to document sources in your own papers: Parenthetical Citations (most common) When you have this information: An author and a page number You would cite it in the text like this: Use the last name of the author & the page number: (Lee 56). An author with no page number No author and a page number Cite the last name of the author only: (Lee). Use the title of the article (in quotation marks) and the page number: ( Biography of Harper Lee 7). No author and no page number Use just the title of the article (in quotation marks): ( Biography of Harper Lee ). An article title that is extremely long Or you can shorten the title using a key word or phrase from the long article title: ( Story of Harper Lee ). Two articles with the same title Use the article title followed by the next piece of information in your works cited: ( Harper Lee, New York Times). 16
RULES OF FORM FOR A WORKS CITED PAGE/BIBILIOGRAPHY 1. Center the title Works Cited/Bibliography on the first line of the paper. 2. Double space the entire page. 3. DO NOT NUMBER THE ITEMS! Alphabetize the list of works cited by the first word in each entry (usually the author s last name). Place articles with no author alphabetically by the first word of the title unless the first word is a, an, or the in which case the second word determines the alphabetical order. If the title begins with a numeral, alphabetize the title by the spelling of the word. For example, 10 Minute Workouts would be alphabetized as if it began with ten. 4. The first line of each entry should be flush with the left margin. All lines after the first line should be indented five spaces. Microsoft Word can automatically set this up with the hanging indent feature. 5. If the Works Cited includes more than one work by the same author, it is not necessary to repeat the author s name with each entry. Use three hyphens followed by a period in place of the name in all listings after the first. 6. Abbreviations: (Capitalize the first letter if it follows a period.) n.p. = no place of publication given n.p. = no publisher given n.d. = no date of publication given n. pag. = no pagination (page number) given ed. = editor 7. Publication medium (print or web) must be given for each entry. 8. Abbreviate months except for May, June and July. September is Sept. Abbreviate with the first three letters of the month. 9. Do not capitalize the following parts of speech when they fall in the middle of a title: articles, prepositions, coordinating conjunctions, and the to in infinitives. 10. If the city of publication is not well known, include the state abbreviation. 17
Sample Works Cited Air Force One. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Encyclopædia Britannica, 2009. Web. 22 Mar. 2009. Clarck, Kim. Against the Odds. US News & World Report 23 May 2005: 46-50. Student Edition InfoTrac. Web. 21 Mar. 2009. Cold Play. Coldplaying.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Feb. 2008. Frey, Northrup. Anatomy of Criticism: Four Essays. Princeton: Princeton UP, 1957. Print. - - -. The Double Vision: Language and Meaning in Religion. Toronto: U of Toronto P, 1991. Print. Knobel, Michele. Wikis, Digital Literacies, and Professional Growth. Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy 52.7 (2009): 631-634. Academic Search Premier. Web. 23 Apr. 2009. Kramer, Otis, and Geraldine Wagner. Points of View: Decline of Reading in the U.S. Damages Our Intellectual Life. Points of View: Decline in Reading 2009: 3. Points of View Reference Center. Web. 18 May 2010. Manning, Anita. Curriculum Battle from Left and Right. USA Today 2 Mar. 1994: 5D+. Print. Tehnthani, Raphael. Malawi Court Rejects Madonna Adoption Request. Miami Herald 3 Apr. 2009: n. pag. SIRS Researcher. Web. 23 Apr. 2009. 10 Minute Workout #1. 10 Minute Workouts. WorkoutPass.com, 2007. Web. 9 Sept. 2009. 18
Avoid Plagiarism! Plagiarism is cheating! It is illegal! Plagiarism means writing facts, quotations or opinions taken from someone else or from books, articles, movies, television or tapes without identifying your source. Unintentional plagiarism is still plagiarism, so be careful and know the rules. When in doubt, always give credit for a fact, quotation, or opinion taken from a book or another source. This is true even when you use your own wording. When you use a writer's exact wording - even a phrase - always put quotation marks around the writer's exact words. Write with your books closed. Do not write with a book or magazine open next to you. Don't go back and forth taking ideas from a source and writing in your paper. Don t copy and paste directly from any source. Don't let your sources take over your essay tell what you know in your own style, stressing what you find most important. NEVER, EVER USE SOMEONE ELSE'S WORK IN WHOLE OR IN PART AS YOUR OWN. NEVER, EVER LET SOMEONE ELSE USE YOUR WORK IN WHOLE OR IN PART AS HIS OR HER OWN. from: Silverman, Jay, Elaine Hughes and Diana Roberts Wienbroer. Rules of Thumb: A Guide for Writers. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1990. Print. 19