Science Project Requirements

 

The information on this paper is designed to allow you the chance to create a superior science project, which will give you a better chance for a good grade. You are required to turn in your project in three parts: the display board or electronic presentation, the journal and the typed report. This and more information is available at www.totallycoolscience.com.

 

A.     General Information

1.       You must make it look neat and appealing.

2.       Check and double check for spelling and grammar errors.

3.       Type everything in your report and for your board.

4.       Complete your journal and typed report before putting anything on your display board/electronic presentation.

5.       Write your name and period on the back of the display board and on the title page of your journal and final report.

6.       Use the judging form to check your work. It is the actual form that will be used to grade your project. Do not write on it as I will need to use it later.

7.       Come to tutoring on any Tuesday or Thursday for help.

 

B.     Description of the Contents of the Project

·         Journal – This is your hand written copy of your work as it is being done. It should be in a spiral bound journal with at least 15 entries and all entries should be dated. This goes in the pocket on the back of your board.

         

·    Report- typed final copy of the project. It has all the same parts with spelling and grammar corrected. Sections include:

 

1.       Title Page – Create a title page using a 1-15 word description of your project. The title must be specific enough for someone to know what your project is about. Also include your name, period and date.

2.       Table of Contents – Number the pages in your report. Create a table listing what pages your major headings are found on.

3.       Problem – List your problem that was the topic your teacher approved.

4.       Abstract – This should be one of the last things you do so leave an empty page for it. The abstract is a 100-200-word description of your project written in report form. It should have 4 paragraphs:

a.       A brief description of why you chose this subject. Include why you chose it and what you expected to learn from it.

b.       Describe what you did by giving a general description of your project.

c.       Give a description of the data you collected.

d.       State whether the data proved your hypothesis right or wrong. Give some reasons as to why you think it was right or wrong. If you had a chance to do it again, what wound you change and how?

5.       Research – This is where you put all the research that you found in relation to your topic. There is no minimum or maximum for this section.

6.       Hypothesis – The hypothesis is a prediction of how you think the experiment will turn out.  That is, you are predicting that your experiment will cause something to change enough to show numerical results. You need to use numbers or percentages to describe what you think will happen.

7.       Materials – List what you used in your experiment. Write this in a numerical list. Include anything that was used to prove your hypothesis. Do not include things used to write up or display the project (i.e. journal, display board, computer). Include a diagram of your experimental set-up or an example questioning form.

8.       Variables – List your manipulated variable and discuss which factors are being controlled or kept the same. Identify your control in the experiment (the situation that you are considering normal for comparison).

9.       Method/Procedure – List in numerical form what you did. This is your step by step procedure that the teacher approved.

10.   Data/Results – Here is where you list all the data collected in the experiment. Organize your data in a graphs or tables so it is easy to identify the information that you present.

11.   Analysis – Make a graph of your data. Remember: bar and pie graphs are for comparing, line graphs are for showing change over time (average plant growth )

12.   Conclusion – In your experiment you should be trying to prove or disprove your hypothesis. In your conclusion you will state whether your prediction came true or not. You need to support your statements with your data or explain how you could tell if the hypothesis was right or wrong by referring to your data and graphs. You also need to explain anything that may have affected your results (things that could have gone wrong). Tell how you would do things differently if you were to do this again.

13.   Annotated Bibliography – List all of the sources that you used to get information for your project. List the information asked for on the bibliography paper and a brief description of the information you got from the source. You must have at least three sources and only one can be from an encyclopedia (book or online). Use this website to help you properly cite each source.

14.   Acknowledgements (Optional) - Thank anyone who helped you with your project. This could be anything from helping to type the information to buying or supplying materials. Also include any professional people who helped out.

15.   Appendix (Optional)– Add anything that you used for your report. Examples might be printed material from the Internet, Xeroxed material from your books or magazines you researched, letters from professional people or brochures collected.

 

C.     Display Board – Create a summary of your project and display it on a display Board. There are eight specific elements that you must have on your board. They are also in your final report and should be the same except for size. These eight items should be arranged as follows:

 

Extras: You may include a copy of you research on your board right before the hypothesis and any display materials of things you made, used or created (required for inventions).

 

Power Point or Web Page Projects

 

All requirements are the same for power point or web page projects, however all materials and sections will be displayed on various slides or web pages instead of a display board. The journal and final report are the same. The journal must still be handwritten and the final report must be typed and turned to the teacher.

Because electronic presentations offer greater flexibility in creative design, it is important that students remember that the content (text) is the most important aspect NOT the graphics, background and creative design. High contrast between the text and background should be considered at all times.