Research Paper: Requirements &
Perform research on the topic you proposed. Refer to the feedback on your proposal grade rubric. Your research on environmental health should present scientific evidence supporting the associations between [environmentally hazardous substances] and [human health effects (diseases)]. To investigate these associations, often aiming at causal relationships, explain appropriate exposures and characteristics of health effects.
Section Format and Ranges of Word Counts per Section
Introduction (150-200 words): Provide introductory paragraphs explaining the general background, primary research question, and a forecast of key topics or texts appearing in the paper.
Risk Assessment Statement (350-400 words): Answers to the questions: (Find Toxicological / Exposure Assessment Data from ATSDR, CDC, EPA, NIEHS, NIOSH, etc.)
What are the health effects that this agent can cause? (Answer can include one to many)
What is the relationship between dose and occurrence of health effects in humans?
What exposures are currently experienced or anticipated under different conditions?
What is the estimated occurrence of the adverse effect in a given population?
What are the regulatory options aimed at risk reduction and control?
Research and Discussion (1,400 – 1,850 words): Synthesize contents from multiple references based on the subject matter and organize them into subsections, including the key EHP paper.
Summarize and synthesize: Give an overview of the main points of each source and combine them into a coherent whole.
Analyze and interpret: Don’t just paraphrase other researchers – add your own interpretations where possible, discussing the significance of findings in relation to the literature as a whole.
Critically Evaluate: Mention the strengths and weaknesses of your sources.
Write in well-structured paragraphs: Use transition words and topic sentences to draw connections, comparisons, and contrasts.
Conclusions (100 – 150 words): Summarize the key findings you have taken from your research. Emphasize their significance. Avoid inconclusive statements. Connect it back to your primary research question.
