Animal Research Report Assignment
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Getting Started
You will be writing an informational research report on your favorite animal. All research you will conduct will be online. You may use the web resources provided on the home page, or you may find other online resources. Make sure that you find out as much as you can about your animal so you will have plenty to write about. There will be seven sections of this report: An introduction, a section on each of the following: primary sources of energy, habitat, environmental factors and why it's endangered, food chain and adaptations, and finally a conclusion.
Once you are finished with your research, show/email it to me and then you may begin writing the rough draft your report. Use the rubric provided to help guide your writing.Remember to write seven paragraphs. After you are finished with your rough draft, make sure you edit and revise your report. Your final draft should be typed or written in neat handwriting and include illustrations if possible.
Structure of the Report
1. Introduction: This states what you will write about in your report. Be sure to include the name of your animal and a thesis statement. For information on how to write a thesis statement click here.
2. Primary sources of energy: Primary sources of energy means what your animal mainly eats (diet). Please describe the following: Is your animal an herbivore (plant eater), carnivore (meat eater) or omnivore (plant and meat eater)? What exactly does your animal eat (make a list)?
3. Habitat: A habitat refers to where your animal lives. Please answer the following: What region of the world does your animal live (ex: African grasslands). Describe the climate of that region? What shelter does your animal use (shelter means where does it sleep)?
4. Environmental Factors: Environmental factors refer to the living and nonliving components that surround and influence your animal. Describe the living and nonliving components that influence your animal. Describe what are some major factors that lead it to be an endangered species.
5. Food Chain: A food chain shows how each living thing gets food, and how nutrients and energy are passed from creature to creature. Describe the food chain of your animal. Make sure to include how decomposers recycle nutrients back into the soil.
6. Adaptations: An adaptation is a physical or behavioral trait that helps a plant or animal survive in its habitat. A physical adaptation is how its body structure helps the animal survive. (Ex: giraffes have long necks to help it reach leaves on trees. A behavioral adaptation refers to how it behaves (either instinct or learned) to help it adapt to it's environment. (Ex: lion cubs learn to hunt from their mothers). Make sure to include at least 3 physical and 3 behavioral adaptations.
7. Conclusion: Write a paragraph that summarizes what you wrote and what you learned. Make sure to restate what you learned using different words than you did in your introduction. You may also want to include some important actions people can take to help this endangered animal.
The Research
When taking notes, make sure you summarize what you have read IN YOUR OWN WORDS. To help you do this use the What is says…What it means…note taking format.
What is says…
You write down exactly what the words say on the page.
What it means…
Restate what is said in your own words!
For information on how to do safe research on the internet please check out this blog on kids and technology.
References
Finally, make sure that you reference your sources, meaning that you write down where you got your information. This is to help you avoid plagiarism (copying). When referencing a website use the following:
Reference: APA: Website
When citing a website in APA include the following information:
Format:
Author, A. (Date Published). Article name. Name of website. [Retrieved] Date, [from] URL of Website
Examples:
For more information on referencing sources go to the following websites:
EasyBib Information on how to cite different types of sources.
BrainPop Look for the animation video Citing Sources.
Purdue OWL online writing lab
You will be writing an informational research report on your favorite animal. All research you will conduct will be online. You may use the web resources provided on the home page, or you may find other online resources. Make sure that you find out as much as you can about your animal so you will have plenty to write about. There will be seven sections of this report: An introduction, a section on each of the following: primary sources of energy, habitat, environmental factors and why it's endangered, food chain and adaptations, and finally a conclusion.
Once you are finished with your research, show/email it to me and then you may begin writing the rough draft your report. Use the rubric provided to help guide your writing.Remember to write seven paragraphs. After you are finished with your rough draft, make sure you edit and revise your report. Your final draft should be typed or written in neat handwriting and include illustrations if possible.
Structure of the Report
1. Introduction: This states what you will write about in your report. Be sure to include the name of your animal and a thesis statement. For information on how to write a thesis statement click here.
2. Primary sources of energy: Primary sources of energy means what your animal mainly eats (diet). Please describe the following: Is your animal an herbivore (plant eater), carnivore (meat eater) or omnivore (plant and meat eater)? What exactly does your animal eat (make a list)?
3. Habitat: A habitat refers to where your animal lives. Please answer the following: What region of the world does your animal live (ex: African grasslands). Describe the climate of that region? What shelter does your animal use (shelter means where does it sleep)?
4. Environmental Factors: Environmental factors refer to the living and nonliving components that surround and influence your animal. Describe the living and nonliving components that influence your animal. Describe what are some major factors that lead it to be an endangered species.
5. Food Chain: A food chain shows how each living thing gets food, and how nutrients and energy are passed from creature to creature. Describe the food chain of your animal. Make sure to include how decomposers recycle nutrients back into the soil.
6. Adaptations: An adaptation is a physical or behavioral trait that helps a plant or animal survive in its habitat. A physical adaptation is how its body structure helps the animal survive. (Ex: giraffes have long necks to help it reach leaves on trees. A behavioral adaptation refers to how it behaves (either instinct or learned) to help it adapt to it's environment. (Ex: lion cubs learn to hunt from their mothers). Make sure to include at least 3 physical and 3 behavioral adaptations.
7. Conclusion: Write a paragraph that summarizes what you wrote and what you learned. Make sure to restate what you learned using different words than you did in your introduction. You may also want to include some important actions people can take to help this endangered animal.
The Research
When taking notes, make sure you summarize what you have read IN YOUR OWN WORDS. To help you do this use the What is says…What it means…note taking format.
What is says…
You write down exactly what the words say on the page.
What it means…
Restate what is said in your own words!
For information on how to do safe research on the internet please check out this blog on kids and technology.
References
Finally, make sure that you reference your sources, meaning that you write down where you got your information. This is to help you avoid plagiarism (copying). When referencing a website use the following:
Reference: APA: Website
When citing a website in APA include the following information:
- The name of the website(in italics)
- The name of the website article
- Author of the source
- The date the website was created or when the particular online source was published (if known)
- Date the website was accessed
- The website URL
Format:
Author, A. (Date Published). Article name. Name of website. [Retrieved] Date, [from] URL of Website
Examples:
- Hernandez, G. (2003, February 3). Animal adaptations. All about animals. Retrieved March 11, 2011, from http://book.edu/animals
- Lions of Africa. (2002). Retrieved May 17, 2011, from http://www.lions.com/africa/b2k
For more information on referencing sources go to the following websites:
EasyBib Information on how to cite different types of sources.
BrainPop Look for the animation video Citing Sources.
Purdue OWL online writing lab
Download Research Guide
animal_research_guide.docx | |
File Size: | 136 kb |
File Type: | docx |
Animal PowerPoint Assignment
_After you are finished writing your report, take the key points from each section (primary
sources of energy, habitat, environmental factors, food chain, and adaptations)
and create a PowerPoint or Keynote presentation. Use the
PowerPoint rubric to help you create your presentation.
Finally, you are ready to present. Remember to practice and memorize your key points. You need to face your audience and with a clear and loud voice, and explain your presentation.
Finally, you are ready to present. Remember to practice and memorize your key points. You need to face your audience and with a clear and loud voice, and explain your presentation.
Example Work
example_essay.docx | |
File Size: | 126 kb |
File Type: | docx |
example_powerpoint.pptx | |
File Size: | 8990 kb |
File Type: | pptx |
References
- Angeli, E., Wagner, J., Lawrick, E., Moore, K., Anderson, M., Soderlund, L., & Brizee, A. (2010, May 5). General format. Retrieved from http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/
- Reference: APA: General.(n.d.). EasyBib Write Smart. Retrieved December 8, 2011 from http://www.easybib.com/reference/guide/apa/general
- Writing Tutorial Services. (30 January 2008). Indiana University Retrieved December 8, 2011 from http://www.indiana.edu/~wts/pamphlets/thesis_statement.shtml#assigne