Transcript Slide 1

CMIT ACADEMY
2011-2012
PURPOSE OF THE PROJECT
To use science process skills including observation,
classification, communication, measurement (metric),
prediction, inference, and collecting and analyzing data
To design and conduct a scientific experiment that identifies
the problem; distinguishes manipulated,responding and
controlled variables; collect, analyze, and communicate
data; and makes valid inferences and conclusions
To use traditional reference materials and current
technologies to explore background, historical, and current
information related to a science concept
COMPARISON OF THE WRITING OF A LAB REPORT
VERSUS THE SCIENCE FAIR PROJECT
Lab Report
Science Fair Project
 Title Page
 Introduction
 Materials/Procedures
 Experiment
 Data/Discussion
 Conclusion
 Choose a Problem
 Research the problem
 Develop a hypothesis
 Write Procedures
 Experiment
 Collect data; Discuss
 Report Results (Research
Paper)
SEVEN STEPS TO PREPARE A
STEM FAIR PROJECT
 SELECT A TOPIC
 RESEARCH
 PURPOSE AND HYPOTHESIS
 EXPERIMENT
 RESEARCH PAPER
 EXHIBIT
 JUDGING
SEVEN STEPS TO PREPARE A SCIENCE FAIR PROJECT
Step 1:
Select a Topic
Select something that is of interest to you!
Be as specific as possible. Time and resources may be limited.
Write it as a question that you want to answer.
SEVEN STEPS TO PREPARE A SCIENCE FAIR PROJECT
STEP 2:
RESEARCH
T H I S M E A N S Y O U L O O K F O R A N Y A N D A L L I N F O R M A T I O N
A S S O C I AT E D W I T H T H E T O P I C Y O U H AV E C H O S E N .
U S E A N Y A N D A L L S O U R C E S O F I N F O R M A T I O N A V A I L A B L E T O
YOU.(BOOKS,
M A G A Z I N E S , I N T E R N E T, I N T E RV I E W S ,
ETC.) KEEP A WORKING BIBLIOGRAPHY IN YOUR LOG
BOOK.
W R I T E A R E S E A R C H P L A N T H A T I N C L U D E S A P R O B L E M ,
H Y P O T H E S I S , P R O C E D U R E S , A N D B I B L I O G R A P H Y. T H I S I S T O B E
S U B M I T T E D F O R A P P R O VA L O F Y O U R P R O J E C T .
I D E N T I F Y A N Y E Q U I P M E N T T H A T Y O U M A Y N E E D .
O B T A I N A L L N E C E S S A R Y F O R M S .
U S E T H E I N F O R M A T I O N T O E S T A B L I S H A T I M E L I N E
OF EVENTS.
SEVEN STEPS TO PREPARE A SCIENCE FAIR PROJECT
STEP 3:
PURPOSE AND HYPOTHESIS
T H E P U R P O S E I S A D E S C R I P T I O N O F W H A T Y O U W I L L B E
D O I N G A N D W H Y.
T H I S I S P A R T O F T H E I N T R O D U C T I O N O F Y O U R R E S E A R C H
PA P E R A N D M U S T C A P T U R E T H E AT T E N T I O N O F T H E R E A D E R .
T H E H Y P O T H E S I S I S T H E C O N C L U S I O N O F T H E
I N T R O D U C T I O N . I T I S A T E S TA B L E , E D U C AT E D G U E S S T H AT
ANSWERS THE QUESTION POSED BY YOUR TOPIC.
SEVEN STEPS TO PREPARE A SCIENCE FAIR PROJECT
STEP 4:
EXPERIMENT
L I S T M A T E R I A L S A N D P R O C E D U R E S T O B E F O L L O W E D
H O W W I L L T H E E Q U I P M E N T B E U S E D ?
I D E N T I F Y T H E C O N T R O L A N D E X P E R I M E N T A L G R O U P S .
I D E N T I F Y A L L S A F E T Y C O N C E R N S
P R O V I D E A D E T A I L E D D E S C R I P T I O N O F T H E E X P E R I M E N T
BEING PERFORMED
T A K E D E T A I L E D N O T E S O F M E A S U R E M E N T S A N D
O B S E R VAT I O N S . R E C O R D T H E S E I N Y O U R L O G B O O K !
U P O N C O M P L E T I O N O F T H E E X P E R I M E N T , P R O V I D E A
D E TA I L E D D I S C U S S I O N O F T H E E X P E R I M E N TA L R E S U LT S A N D
ANY SOURCES OF ERROR .
SEVEN STEPS TO PREPARE A SCIENCE FAIR PROJECT
Step 5
The Research Paper
 Compile your work into a comprehensive report that
presents:
 The background and history of your topic
 Any information collected
 Complete description of your experiment
 A discussion of your findings
 A conclusion that refutes or accepts your hypothesis
SEVEN STEPS TO PREPARE A SCIENCE FAIR PROJECT
Step 6
The Exhibit
 This is your visual presentation of your project. It should be an
organized, eye-catching, attention-grabbing presentation from the title
of your project to the construction and presentation.
 It must contain:
Log Book
Research Paper
Photographs
Charts
Graphs
Abstract
Required Forms
It Cannot contain:
Moving parts
Living or dead specimens
LASERS
Live electrical devices (unless approved by SRC)
Photos or Visuals of vertebrates in
other-than-normal conditions
Chemicals including water
 It is restricted to a specific size.
Depth:
76 cm (30 in.)
Width: 122 cm (48 in.)
Height: 274 cm (108 in.) [Floor Display]
198 cm (78 in.) [Table Display]
SEVEN STEPS TO PREPARE A SCIENCE FAIR PROJECT
Step 7
Judging
 You will be asked to present your topic to a group of
qualified scientists. Therefore, know your project!
 Judges will evaluate you and your project on:
 How well you followed the scientific method.
 The detail and accuracy of notes.
 Whether tools/equipment were used in the best possible way.
 How well thought out the research was.
 How freely and confidently you can speak about your project. Be prepared to
answer questions outside the scope of your project.
 The appearance and presentation of your display.
AREAS OF CONCERN
B I B L I O G R A P H Y
P R O J E C T N O T E B O O K
L O G B O O K
R E S E A R C H P A P E R
A B S T R A C T
A P P E N D I C E S
F O R M S
BIBLIOGRAPHY
This is defined as a listing of the resources and references used during the research
phase of your project to develop your hypothesis.
The bibliography should be written in the APA Style. This is the prescribed style for
scientific papers. The APA Handbook is available in most libraries. Your English
teacher can assist in this format as well.
BIBLIOGRAPHIC EXAMPLES
PROJECT NOTEBOOK
C O N TA I N S T H E O R I G I N A L S O F
THE FOLLOWING:
A B S T R A C T O N T H E O F F I C I A L
ABSTRACT FORM
F O R M ( 1 ) T E A C H E R / S P O N S O R
CHECKLIST
F O R M ( 1 A ) O R T E A M ( 1 A )
RESEARCH PLAN
F O R M ( 1 B ) A P P R O VA L F O R M
A N Y A D D I T I O N A L F O R M S A S
REQUIRED BY YOUR PROJECT
R E S E A R C H PA P E R
LOG BOOK
Your log book should contain detailed and accurate
notes of everything you do.
Requirements:
 All entries should be dated
 It must be written in ink only (blue or black). No computer
generated log books will be accepted!
 It must be in a composition notebook that is bound (glued and
stitched).
 It must be divided into sections and each page numbered,
 It must contain your Working Bibliography.
 It must contain the rough draft of your Research Plan.
 It must include your raw data and your thoughts about the
results obtained.
DIVISIONS OF THE LOG BOOK
Division
Number of pages
Title Page
1
Table of Contents
1
Review of Literature
25
Description of Experiment
25
Materials
5
Data
25
Conclusion
10
Bibliography
8
LOG BOOK
(Example of how a page should look)
Table of Contents
Page
Review of Literature…………………………….. ?
Description of the experiment…………………… ?
Materials…………………………………………. ?
Data………………………………………………. ?
Conclusion……………………………………….. ?
Bibliography……………………………………… ?
Appendices………………………………………. ?
LOG BOOK
(CONTENTS OF EACH DIVISION)
Review of Literature [Daily Log]





Working Bibliography
Notes
Sketches
Additional questions
End with a rough draft of the introduction for your Research Paper
LOG BOOK
(CONTENTS OF EACH DIVISION)
Description of Experiment
 Step-by-Step listing of Procedures
 Identify all Safety Precautions
 List all materials and equipment to be used (include quantities, qualities,
dimensions, etc.)
LOG BOOK
(CONTENTS OF EACH DIVISION)
D ATA
( D A I LY L O G )
A L L N O T E S , O B S E R VAT I O N S ,
S K E T C H E S , D R AW I N G S ,
PRECAUTIONS, COMMENTS, ETC.
ARE TO BE RECORDED IN THIS
SECTION.
T H E R E S H O U L D B E A
D I S C U S S I O N O F T H E D ATA AT
THE END OF THIS SECTION.
LOG BOOK
(CONTENTS OF EACH DIVISION)
CONCLUSION
R E V I S I T Y O U R H Y P O T H E S I S . R E S T A T E I T .
S T A T E W H E T H E R Y O U A C C E P T O R R E F U T E Y O U R
HYPOTHESIS.
S T A T E S P E C I F I C F A C T S , A S S O C I A T E D W I T H Y O U R
D ATA , T H AT S U P P O RT Y O U R C O N C L U S I O N .
LOG BOOK
(CONTENTS OF EACH DIVISION)
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Y O U U S E S H O U L D U S E T H E A P A
F O R M AT W H I C H W I L L B E TA U G H T
IN YOUR LANGUAGE ART CLASSES.
( A C O P Y O F T H E P U B L I C AT I O N
MANUAL OF THE AMERICAN
P S Y C H O L O G I C A L A S S O C I AT I O N I S
AVA I L A B L E I N M O S T L I B R A R I E S )
LOG BOOK
(CONTENTS OF EACH DIVISION)
APPENDICES
( T H I S I S A N Y I N F O R M AT I O N T H AT Y O U
R E F E R T O , B U T D I D N O T H AV E R O O M T O
P L A C E I T I N T H E D O C U M E N T. )
P H O T O G R A P H S
C H A R T S
G R A P H S
D ATA TA B L E S
A C K N O W L E D G E M E N T S
RESEARCH PAPER
A PA P E R D E S C R I B I N G Y O U R R E S E A R C H I S R E Q U I R E D , A N D
SHOULD BE
D I S P L AY E D I N Y O U R R E S E A R C H P R O J E C T N O T E B O O K ,
ALONG WITH ANY
N E C E S S A R Y F O R M S , O R O T H E R R E L E VA N T W R I T T E N
M AT E R I A L S
A G O O D R E S E A R C H PA P E R I N C L U D E S T H E S E S E C T I O N S :
T I T L E PA G E
Project title, name, address, school and grade
TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S
Number each section as you finish writing
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS/CREDITS
Credit assistance received from mentors, parents. teachers. And other
sources
RESEARCH PAPER
INTRODUCTION
The introduction should explain the background information about your topic
and the reasoning behind your choice of study Refer to previous research as
well as your own experiments. Establish a strong rationale for the study by
emphasizing unresolved issues or questions Conclude by stating the research
hypotheses
M AT E R I A L S & P R O C E D U R E S
Describe in detail the methodology used to derive your data and observations
Use photographs and drawings of your equipment to describe your experiment
further. Include a precise description of the sample, any apparatus that was
constructed or modified for the study, and methods of data collection
RESEARCH PAPER
R E S U LT S
Present the data collected in the experiment in tables and graphs;
summarize the data in narrative form Include statistical analysis of the
data Do not include raw data Include only information collected during
the current year's study
DISCUSSION
Your results and conclusions should flow smoothly and logically from
your data. Be thorough Compare your results with theoretical values,
published data, commonly held beliefs and/or expected results. A
complete paper should include a discussion of possible errors or
problems experienced
CONCLUSION
Briefly summarize your results. Discuss if your data supported of your
hypothesis and what your next steps in experimentation may be
RESEARCH PAPER
REFERENCES/BIBLIOGRAPHY
Your reference list should include any material that is not your
own (ie, books, web sites, papers, journal articles and communications
cited in the paper) Follow the prescribed bibliographic style manual
APPENDIX
Include critical information that IS too lengthy for the main section of the
paper, such as raw data, additional tables and graphs, copies of surveys or
tests, and diagrams of specialized equipment.
For additional information: www.uga.edu.oasp
ABSTRACT
P R E PA R I N G A N A B S T R A C T
When you finish your research and experiments, you are required to
write a (maximum) 250-word abstract on the Official Abstract Form.
An abstract is a concise summary of the entire research project.
The following elements should be included in a proper
abstract:
TITLE
The title should be brief and descriptive. The title must be used for all forms
and display. The Title is limited to 65 characters and spaces.
PROBLEM
The statement of the problem tells the reader what specific questions are
addressed in the study. The variables and limitations are identified. The intent
and objectives of the research effort are made explicit in this statement.
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE
The purpose states the usefulness of the study. It answers the question why
the project was undertaken.
HYPOTHESIS
The hypothesis is an educated guess that shows the relationship between a
set of observed facts and a theory. The hypothesis limits the scope of the
investigation and unifies the research design. Oftentimes it is an IF/Then
statement.
P ROCEDURE
The procedure provides a brief summary of what was done.
CONCLUSIONS
The conclusions provide a concise statement of the outcomes of the
investigation. They should be written in nontechnical language and be
related directly to the hypothesis. The conclusions should identity unsolved
aspects of the original problem or any new problems identified.
ABSTRACT
RULES FOR ABSTRACTS:
The abstract must be 250 words or less.
ABSTRACT
HELPFUL HINTS:
. U S E PA S T T E N S E
.USE CORRECT SPELLING AND SENTENCE
STRUCTURE
. T R Y T O AV O I D U S E O F H I G H L Y - S P E C I A L I Z E D
W O R D S O R A B B R E V I AT I O N S
. R E S T R I C T P R O C E D U R E T O I D E N T I F I C AT I O N
OF METHOD OR TYPE OF PROCESS EMPLOYED
. S TAT E R E S U LT S , C O N C L U S I O N S , O R F I N D I N G S
I N C L E A R , C O N C I S E FA S H I O N