UNIVERSITY OF BRIDGEPORT

HUMAN NUTRITION PROGRAM

COURSE NUTR560J – RESEARCH IN NUTRITION

 

GUIDELINES FOR PREPARING THE RESEARCH PAPER

 

 

NUTR 560J is a research based course that is not conducted through Blackboard.  Please follow these instructions and contact the advisor listed below for more information:

 

I. THE PAPER

 

The research paper is a special project/thesis which completes your studies in the Human Nutrition Program.  The project may be completed at any time during matriculation.  Students usually register for research at the time they register for fourth semester classes (or the comprehensive final exam for online students).  After the completion of classes, students have one semester to complete the research project which is due August 31 for students completing coursework in the spring, January 15 for students completing coursework in the summer, and June 1 for students completing coursework in the Fall.

 

The research paper may take two forms: the literature survey-based paper which is the usual form of the paper, or the original research paper which is a report on original research performed by the student.  The format varies for each form, as indicated in section II of these guidelines.

 

The literature based report should be made on a nutrition-related topic of personal interest.  After formulating a prospective title for the paper, the topic should be approved by Dr. Kendler, the designated reader (see below).  When deciding on a topic, make sure there is enough information in the literature to support, prove, or disprove the proposition (thesis) stated or put forward as the topic of the research paper.  A very broad topic will have to be narrowed to facilitate adequate organization of the data.

 

Advisor:            Dr. Barry Kendler

Email:               barry.kendler@manhattan.edu

Voice Mail:       718-405-3388

 

 

II. THE PAPER FORMATS

 

LITERATURE FORMAT                 ORIGINAL RESEACH FORMAT

    A. TITLE PAGE                                   A. TITLE PAGE

    B. TABLE OF CONTENTS                  B. TABLE OF CONTENTS

    C. ABSTRACT                                    C. ABSTRACT

    D. INTRODUCTION                                        D. INTRODUCTION

    E. LITERATURE REVIEW                  E. BACKGROUND

    F. DISCUSSION                                   F. MATERIALS AND METHODS

    G. CONCLUSION                                G. RESULTS

    H. REFERENCES                                 H. DISCUSSION

                                                                 I. REFERENCES

 

 

III. ORGANIZATION OF THE LITERATURE SURVEY-BASED PAPER

 

A. TITLE PAGE

The title page should follow the format illustrated in the sample on page 4 of this handout.

 

B. TABLE OF CONTENTS

The contents section provides a numerical listing of the contents of the paper.

 

C. ABSTRACT (1/2-3/4 page)

The abstract states the purpose of the study, gives a synopsis of the data presented in the paper, and reviews your discussion/conclusion.  Abstracts are designed to give the reader a concise review of the data you present.  Without reading your entire paper, an individual should be able to read your abstract and obtain all the important information in your paper.  Writing the abstract is your last task before editing the text of your paper.

 

D. INTRODUCTION (1 –11/2 pages)

This section should give the purpose and scope of the work you are reporting.  Provide any insightful definitions and explanations necessary to clarify the topic and any controversy to be resolved or illuminated.  This section may include selected historical references pertinent to the scope of the work, but it should not be a review of the literature.

 

E. REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

This section provides the results of studies, past and current, with appropriate data to support the chosen topic and develop the ideas presented in the paper.  It may be organized into subheadings appropriate for each subtopic in your report.  General methods used to obtain data should be included, especially when techniques of a study add credibility or questionability to the findings.

 

F. DISCUSSION (2-3 pages)

Discuss the relationships between the data reported in your paper.  Point out the strengths, weaknesses, and inconsistencies of the data and methodology.  Discuss your interpretation or ideas about the results and the importance of the results.  Define any alternative explanations to the interpretation of results.  You may mention differences in techniques that may assist in refuting, or supporting a particular idea or alternate explanation.  Suggest possible refinements in methods for future studies.  Manifest original and critical thinking!

 

G. CONCLUSION (1/2-1 page)

Conclude with a statement or recommendations which relate the data to current or future trends in the subject area of your research paper.

 

H. REFERENCES

All references should be fully cited at the end of the paper in the numerical order in which they are presented in the paper.  References should be cited within the body of the paper by number.  Be sure that all references are correct.  Never copy a reference from another paper.  Do not quote a paper you have not read.  Find the original and make sure you repeat each detail accurately!

 

 

IV. BIBLIOGRAPHIC CITATIONS

Use the format adopted by the Journal of the American College of Nutrition.

 

1. BOOK ARTICLE

Hall JE, Guyton AC, Coleman TG, Woods LL, Mizelle HL: Renal excretory function and hypertension.  In Kaplan NM, Brenner BM, Laragh JH (eds): “The Kidney in Hypertension.” New York: Raven Press, pp 1-20, 1987.

 

2. JOURNAL ARTICLE

Suter PM, Russell RM: Vitamin requirements for the elderly.  Am J Clin Nutr 45: 501-512, 1987.

 

 

V. USEFUL REFERENCES FOR WRITING

 

A. STYLE MANUALS

     1. The Elements of Style by Strunk and White, Allyn, & Bacon (highly recommended)

     2. The American Medical Association Manual of Style, Williams & Wilkins

 

WEBSITES

     1. End Note Plus: Bibliographies Made Easy http://www.niles.com

 

 

VI. GRAPHS, TABLES, CHARTS

Any supporting figures should be incorporated directly into the text in the order they are mentioned in the paper.

 

 

VII. SPECIFICATIONS FOR TYPING AND LENGTH

The paper should be a minimum of twenty-five double spaced pages on standard 81/2 x 11” paper.

 

 

VIII. NUMBERING SYSTEM FOR THE PAPER

Use Roman Numerals for pages preceding the INTRODUCTION.  Begin numbering with the TABLE OF CONTENTS which is numbered, ii.  The INTRODUCTION is page 1.

 

 

IX. SUBMISSION

Mail two copies of the paper to:

Terri Roma

Coordinator, Human Nutrition Program

University of Bridgeport

30 Hazel Street

Bridgeport, CT 06604

 

Be sure to keep a copy for yourself!

 

 

 

THE ROLE OF ANTIOXIDANTS IN REDUCING THE RISK

OF CANCER IN HUMANS

 

 

 

By

 

Davida K. Jones

 

 

A thesis submitted to the Graduate Faculty of

THE UNIVERSITY OF BRIDGEPORT

 

In partial fulfillment of the requirements

For the degree of

MASTER OF SCIENCE

In Human Nutrition

 

January 23, 2003

Bridgeport, Connecticut

 

 

 

Approved by:

 

 

__________________

Advisor

 

 

 

ADDENDUM TO THESIS GUIDELINES

 

The procedure for submission of the thesis is as follows:

 

1.         Select a topic (or topics) that you are interested in researching.

 

2.         E-mail the title of the topic to Dr. Kendler at: bkendler@bridgeport.edu

 

3.         Upon receipt of the title, Dr. Kendler will either approve it as suitable, suggest modifications, or he will ask you to submit another title.

 

4.         After approval of the title, an outline of the thesis should be e-mailed to Dr. Kendler for his approval and/or suggestions. Include your mailing address.

 

5.         Following approval of the outline, a CAREFULLY written first draft should be e-mailed to Dr. Kendler, who will make corrections, grade the first draft, and mail it back to you. If all of the corrections on the first draft are implemented, you will have the opportunity of receiving a higher grade. If numerous corrections are made on the first draft, the final grade will be lower than if only a few corrections are made.

 

6.         The final draft must be written using Microsoft Word and sent to Dr. Kendler on disc, so that it may be evaluated to ascertain that it was not plagiarized; that is, the thesis MUST be entirely original and portions of it must NOT be copied from any material in print.  Accordingly, quotations are not allowed. The software program designed to detect plagiarism is called Turnitin. Any thesis found to be plagiarized will automatically result in a failure.

 

7.         Allow at least three weeks for this process. If requested, Terri Roma will inform you of the thesis deadline. There are NO extensions for failing to meet the specified deadline and there will be NO expedited mailing by UB. Lack of preparation and proper planning on your part will not constitute an emergency for your thesis advisor or program coordinator.

 

8.         Two copies of the properly bound, corrected thesis, should be mailed to:

 

Terri Roma

Program Coordinator

Human Nutrition Institute

END Building

University of Bridgeport

30 Hazel St.

Bridgeport, CT 06604-5620