Students will write a research paper analyzing an observation related to the transmission of infectious diseases. The paper must be 4-5 pages long, typed and double-spaced, with a minimum of 4 citations using AMA style. Students are to identify a mode of microbial transmission through everyday observation, develop questions about the microbiology, analyze the problem, and discuss solutions. The paper should have 5 paragraphs describing the observation, raising questions, discussing the microbes and diseases involved, and proposing conclusions and controls. Plagiarism will not be tolerated.

1. Research Paper Guidelines
TOPIC
Students will make an observation during their everyday lives
that they believe can lead to the transmission of infectious
diseases.
The observation will be recorded, and the collected information
will be used to write an analysis of their observation.
The analysis will be composed with microbiologists as the
intended audience.
This assignment is designed to have you identify modes of
microbial transmission, develop questions associated with
microbiology, assimilate information to analyze a problem, and
discuss solutions to a problem.
In addition, I expect to see your knowledge of microbiology
shine through in your writing; including the proper use of
terminology, jargon and concepts.
FORMAT AND PAPER EXPECTATIONS
Please keep in mind that you are not allowed to help each other
for this assignment.

2. Plagiarism or other forms of academic dishonesty, including
copying written text from one another will not be tolerated (see
course syllabus for consequences of academic dishonesty).
Below is a list of general requirements for the paper:
1)
All papers must be typed, double-spaced, 12-sized font, and
Times New Roman style.
Using this guideline, each page should contain about 250 to 280
words (about 1,000 to 1,200 words total).
2)
The paper will be a minimum of four pages and a maximum of
five pages, not including the title page, citations, and any
figures, graphs, or tables.
Figures, graphs, or tables are not required.
Use no more than one figure, table, or graph total.
Figures, tables, or graphs must include a number and a
descriptive figure legend that is cited in the text.
3)
A title page must be included.
The title page should include a title, your name, my name, class,
date, and total word count for the paper (not including
citations).

3. 4)
A stapled, hardcopy of the paper is required.
In addition, you must deposit a copy of your completed paper on
Blackboard.
The electronic copy of your paper will be
scanned for plagiarism
.
5)
Do not use quotes.
The paper must be in your voice, to reflect your learning.
I will not grade papers with quotes; they will receive a grade of
zero.
6)
A minimum of four citations must be included, and referenced
in your text using numbers in parentheses (number placed here).
For the literature cited, use the AMA style (please see citeAMA
handout).
7)
Up to two textbooks may be used for citations.
A total of three refereed websites (not Wikipedia) may be used
as citations.

4. At least one citation must be a recent (no more than 10 years
old) news story discussing the transmission of a pathogen
related to your observation.
8)
At least one citation must be a recent (no more than 15 years
old) scientific study that has addressed identifying, solving
and/or preventing the problem you observed.
PubMed (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed) and the CDC
websites (http://www.cdc.gov/Publications/) are excellent sites
to help you identify studies.
9)
The format, flow and organization of the paper will be assessed.
Spelling, grammar and punctuation will also be assessed.
The paper must include the following sections, broken into five
paragraphs.
For each section, be sure to answer all the questions posed.
Describe your observation, paragraph one.
For this section, focus on fully answering the following
questions:

5. ·
What did you see, when?
Why did it interest you?
Who was involved?
·
What questions does your observation raise with regard to
disease transmission?
·
What problems can (or have arisen) arise as a result of your
observation?
·
What do you seek to learn more about the problem?
Discuss your observation and problem, paragraphs two through
four.
For this section, focus on fully answering the following
questions:
·
What microbes can be transmitted as a result of your
observation?

6. ·
What are the scientific names of these microbes?
·
What diseases are the microbes associated with?
·
What are the clinically important characteristics of these
microbes?
·
How are the diseases treated?
If treatment is needed, why is it needed?
Conclusion, paragraph five.
For this section, focus on fully answering the following
questions:
·
What can be done to control microbial transmission due to your
observed problem?
·

7. Have recent scientific studies led to advances (or have potential
to lead to advances) in controlling microbial transmission due to
your observed problem?
·
Based on your knowledge of microbiology, what additional
measures and/or research would you propose to better control
your observed problem?
Literature Cited.
AMA style by number.