Neuroendocrinology

PAPERAND PRESENTATION GUIDELINES

Length Approximately six pages to eight pages single spaced. Some people like to write more and some topics may require more explanation but when you reached ten pages, it’s time to cool it down.

Topic The Goldilocks problem again. You don’t want to pick an area so broad that you can’t begin to cover the material. Likewise, you don’t want to pick a very narrow topic. However, in this case it is probably better to err on the side of narrow. Picking neural regulation of food intake is too broad but focusing on hormones involved in weight regulation would be a much more appropriate choice. I will have to approve of your choice before you proceed.

Presentation No longer a viable option

Format

The paper should have a title , which expressed its theme. Obviously, the name of the author. should follow.

Then at least a 100-word abstract. I must receive a separate copy of the abstract. The abstracts will be posted online so everyone in the class will have a summary of your findings.

The body of the paper should include an Introduction, which presents the background to your particular topic and a clear statement of the question you are examining: “I intend to examine research claiming that endorphins enhance chocolate craving.”

Next you have a Results section where you present the results of your literature search.

You will also want to include a Discussion section where you discuss the implications of your findings and what conclusions you arrive at. The latter might also be included in a separate Conclusions section, though that is optional.

Statements must be referenced, i.e. Recent research on chocolate craving correlates with increased endorphin secretion (Smith & Jones, Science , 1999).

For this course, you must assume that your audience is broad and you may want to include a glossary defining technical terms.

Finally, you have a reference section. I would expect you to reference several scientific articles.

Naturally, if you obtain them online you reference the website. The Internet has blurred the distinction between a scientific and popular article. Given that this is an advanced course, I expect references from peer reviewed journals though Scientific American articles are acceptable. Newspaper and popular magazine articles do not count as scientific publications! For example, I don’t consider the NY Times Science/Health section to be a scientific journal though the articles may be well done. Wikipedia is a problem. often the articles are well done but Wikipedia has a reputation for ignoring errors. Wikipedia is useful for referencing scientific publications important for your topic.

Scientific articles are peer reviewed, which helps to maintain quality control. However, there are serious proposals to allow articles to be published on the Internet without review. Peer review is far from perfect but I would be unwilling to abandon it. There is enough junk out there anyway without totally opening the floodgates.

Overall, you may use APA or AAAS format, as long as you are consistent