Science Fair Paper-parent Packet 1

Science Fair Paper: Product Descriptor Required Elements: 1. Abstract (Must be posted on the board) 2. Safety Sheet (Must be posted on the board) 3. Research Summary (Certain parts will be present on the board AND in the paper) 1. Abstract The abstract is a concise, one-page abbreviation of the Research Summary. It consists of three paragraphs (purpose, procedure and conclusion) having a total of 200 words or fewer. Must be typed, single space and on the front side of the form provided. DO NOT write on the back of the form provided! 2. Safety Sheet The purpose of the safety sheet is to keep students aware of all actual and potential safety hazards. A statement of the hazards encountered in the project and the control measures used are to be prepared by the student and signed by both the student and the sponsoring teacher. If there were no possible hazards, write a statement indicating that there were no possible hazards associated with the experiment. 3. Research Summary The research summary must be no longer than 20 pages. The page total includes the Abstract, Safety Sheet, title page, table of contents, body of paper, reference list of literature cited, and appendixes of data, graphs, photos, and other items. Name of Section Topic

Description of Section Students must choose a topic in the flight, botany or environmental science category.

Due Date Tuesday, November 10th, 2009 Thursday, November 12th, 2009 Thursday, December 17th, 2009 Thursday, December 17th, 2009

Title Page

Students will be given a template to follow.

Table of Contents

The list of topics or matter contained in the paper, including page numbers.

Acknowledgements

A listing of persons or agencies that gave the student guidance and helped with this research. It may include a single individual, an organization, a hospital, or some other agency.

Purpose

An explanation of what is to be accomplished by doing this research and how it will influence the world. Why would a person want to know the answer to this problem? (Purpose).

Tuesday, November 17th, 2009

Hypothesis

A description of the expected outcome should be included. Students need to explain WHY they think this will be the

Thursday, November 19th

Review of Literature/Research

expected outcome. (Hypothesis). A discussion of the background information Thursday, for the independent (What are you December 3rd, changing?) and dependent (What are you 2009 measuring?) variables. The students need to describe everything he/she can about the variables. For example: What is it made of? How does it work? How is it made? How has it changed over the years? When was it created and how was it created? Make sure to cite the source properly in the paper at the end of the sentence to which it refers, like this for a particular page (Smith, 1999, p. 10) and like this for a general citation (Smith, 1999). Be sure to put in quotation marks all information that is taken word for word from a source and cite it properly. Be sure to cite a source even if you are paraphrasing the information from the source.

Materials and Methods of Procedure

A listing of the materials used in the research. How the materials in the research problem were used should be included. Drawings and/or photographs are appropriate if they enhance or clarify the explanation. You need to repeat the experiment at least 3 times. You must also have a control group.

Thursday, December 3rd, 2009

Results

A clear, concise presentation of the data accumulated as a result of the procedure. Drawings, charts, graphs, and other items pertinent to the project should be included. Caption all photographs. Label all drawings, charts, graphs. Attractive charts and graphs, either computer generated or hand drawn, are important in showing results. A concise evaluation and interpretation of the data and/results. Opinions of the results are expressed in this section. For example: Why did the results turn out this way? What factors affected the results and how? What parts of the experiment were changed and why? Was the hypothesis right or wrong and why? The conclusions should be limited to results of the investigation and should refer to the stated purpose and hypothesis. The effects of experimental error should be estimated and considered when drawing conclusions.

Thursday, December 10th, 2009

Conclusions

Tuesday, December 15th, 2009

Reference List

A list of published article, books, and other communications, including works either quoted or paraphrased that are actually cited in the Review of Literature. The listing should be presented alphabetically by the author’s last name and should be placed at the end of the paper. You must have at least 5 sources! One must be from a text, not the internet!

Thursday, December 3rd, 2009

Sample topics How Does the Amount of Fertilizer Affect Plant Growth? Does Classical Music Help Plants Grow? How Does the Type of Soil Affect the Filtration Rate? Does Pollution Affect Plant Growth? Does the Design of an Aircraft Affect its Flight Pattern? Sample Websites

1) http://all-science-fair-projects.com 2) http://www.sciencebuddies.org. 3) http://www.juliantrubin.com Checklist for the Physical Arrangement of the Required Paper (All Sections MUST be typed unless otherwise specified. Please only use black ink, 1” margins all around, double-spaced, Times New Roman Font. Be sure to SAVE all work every time your child works on their paper. Some of the sections will be present on the board and in the paper so two copies will be made throughout the whole process.) □ □ □ □ □

Abstract First page of paper. 3 paragraphs with proper headings: Purpose, Procedure, & Conclusion. Typed single-spaced on specific form provided. 200 words or less.

□ □ □ □ □

Safety Sheet Second page of paper. Possible hazards listed, precautions described. Typed single-spaced on specific form provided. Signed by sponsor (Ms. Prieto).

□ Title Page of Research Summary □ Approval signed by both the sponsor (Mrs. Prieto). □ Typed according to specific format provided by Mrs. Prieto. □ Table of Contents □ Project title and exhibitor’s last name should be typed at the top left of Table of Contents and each following page. □ Typed title of section and the page number where it is found.

□ Acknowledgements □ Credit is given to those who have helped. □ Typed in complete sentences and paragraph form. □ □ □ □ □ □

Purpose Statement States precisely what the investigation was attempting to discover. States a definite question or problem. Explain why you wanted to research this question or problem. Explain why someone else would want to know the answer to this question. Typed in complete sentences and paragraph form.

□ Hypothesis Statement □ Hypothesis statement is present. □ Explain why you made that particular hypothesis statement. Answer how you arrived at that possible conclusion? □ Answer what you think is going to happen and why. □ Typed in complete sentences and paragraph form. □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □

Review of Literature/Research Use of third person is evident. Logical and/or related grouping of information. Accuracy in calculations, spelling, grammar, and quotations. Background information on your independent and dependent variables. Information paraphrased and/or quoted directly is cited properly in the paper. Typed in complete sentences and paragraph form. At least 1 to 2 pages long! Variables Identify your independent variable, dependent variable and all your controls. Typed in complete sentences.

□ Materials □ Apparatus (equipment used) and materials are listed. □ List how the materials were used in the experiment. □ Drawings and photographs are present if they enhance and clarify the apparatus. □ Typed in list format with complete sentences. □ Method of Procedure □ Step-by-step, chronological procedures are present. □ Number of test groups is adequate (make sure you have a control group), and the number of trials (at least 3) within each test group is adequate. □ The procedure should be presented in step-by-step form with complete sentences. □ Results □ Data is organized into tables or charts with accompanying graphs (at least one graph and data table must be present). □ Data is quantitative and correct units of measurement (metric) are used.

□ Data is clear and accurate. □ All parts of the graph and data table are correctly labeled and identified. □ All students must have pictures of their experiment during the testing phases. □ One paragraph explaining what the graph is showing and why the student chose to show the data in this type of graph. □ Conclusions □ Evaluation and interpretation of data is present, explain why the student got those specific results from testing. □ Refers back to purpose and hypothesis; answers the original question. □ Is valid and limited to the results of the experiment. □ Makes a connection back to the research and uses the research to help explain the results. □ Identifies the changes made during the testing; why those changes were made; how those changes affected the test results. □ Typed in complete sentences and paragraph form. □ Reference List □ Please DO NOT refer to the list as a bibliography. □ References come from a variety of sources (at least five sources, one must be from a text!) □ References are current (copyright date of 2000 or more current). □ Reference list is alphabetical. □ Proper APA or MLA format is used for all the references (see notes from Mrs. Murphy, the librarian. Website addresses will be provided later that will help with proper MLA and APA format. High schools are currently moving towards MLA style in high school for research papers).