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Forest Research Paper Guidelines

In this paper you will answer the question , What is the economic and environmental value of the Westminster Schools campus forest ? In doingso, you will use a scientific paper model to report your results.

Scientific research papers are somewhat different from papers presenting originalresearch in other fields such are history or economics. Youll find an excellent styleguide for scientific writing on the CSU website,http://writing.colostate.edu/guides/processes/science/pop2a.cfm .

Your paper should contain the following sections as described below.

Writing the Scientific-Format Paper

The scientific paper has developed over the past three centuries into atool to communicate the results of scientific inquiry. The mainaudience for scientific papers is extremely specialized. The purpose of these papers is twofold: to present information so that it is easy toretrieve, and to present enough information that the reader canduplicate the scientific study. A standard format with six main parthelps readers to find expected information and analysis:

Title --subject and what aspect of the subject was studied.

Abstract --summary of paper: The main reason for the study, theprimary results, the main conclusions

Introduction --why the study was undertaken. (Include adiscussion of forest valuation such as storm waterrunoff, species diversity, and forest structure).

Methods and Materials --how the study was undertaken (IncludeGoogle images). Note: You have already written some of this when you described how the forest percent coverwas calculated. Add to this material to include the forestcensus and valuation calculations.

Results --what was found (Include data tables for the threeforests; Robinson, Fritz Ohr; and the composite forest.The data tables of important are described in question 4of Forest Data analysis Instructions for Valuationwhich we did earlier this week in the computer lab)

Discussion --why these results could be significant (what the reasonsmight be for the patterns found or not found)

There are many ways to approach the writing of a scientific paper, andno one way is right. Many people, however, find that drafting

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chunks in this order works best: Results, Discussion,Introduction, Materials & Methods, Abstract, and, finally, Title.

For details go to:http://writing.colostate.edu/guides/processes/science/pop2a.cfm

Writing@CSU Home Page | Writing Guides | Science Writing

What did we do? In brief:

(1) GIS: Used Google images to determine the total campus forestcoverage (%, acres, and hectares)

(2) GIS: Used Google images to determine the size (acres) of two forestsections: (a) Robinson and (b) Fritz Ohr.

(3) As a class, we determine the type (species), the number of eachspecies, and each specimens diameter at 4 ft from the ground by fieldcensus.

(4) These data were entered into Excel spreadsheets (data base format).(5) The economic and environmental value of each forest section was

determined using the national tree benefit calculator and certain

assumptions.(6) These valuations were then combined to determine the annualeconomic and environmental value of the Westminster Schoolscampus forest.

Be sure to include photos and data tables in appropriate sections of your paper.

Tentative due date: The Tuesday before Thanksgiving through Friday,12/4/2009.

Point value: 100 points.

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