Draft: Methods and expected results (25 points)
Procedure
For this assignment, you
will prepare the first draft of two key sections of your experimental plan:
the (1) methods and (2) expected results and interpretations. This text will
be written using the outline you already prepared, feedback from your fellow
students, and your most recent thinking about your project. You will later
revise these sections based on feedback from your fellow students. Make sure
that you refer to The Research
Proposal to ensure that these sections have all of the required
elements.
How long should these sections be? Your project description (i.e., introduction and experimental plan) should be 15 pages or less. These two sections will comprise the bulk of your experimental plan (i.e., the timeline typically occupies one-half page, at most). Therefore, the length of these two sections is a balance between (1) providing enough detail for the reader to adequately judge whether you will meet your objectives and (2) leaving enough room for the introduction. Typically, the experimental plan is about half of the project description. Two or three pages is probably not be enough, whereas ten or eleven pages does not leave enough room for the introduction.
These sections should now include all of your key citations in the proper format. Although the references section will not be due until you submit the final proposal, please include a list of references if you already have one (i.e., using whatever format is convenient). Later, a consistent, accepted format is required, so it's good to begin assembling them in the proper format now. See the references assignment for a description of how to cite the literature in your text and references section.
Submit 2 copies of your methods and expected results on or before the due date. One copy will be distributed to another student to critique.
If you do not complete the assignment by the due date, a late penalty will be assigned using the penalties listed in the late assignment policy.