1. Killing two birds with one stone: the research notebook and backboard
Writing the paper
Killing two birds with one stone:
the research notebook and backboard

2. What do you mean, 2 birds with one stone?
Remember, there are three parts to your project: the log book, the backboard and the research notebook. What you write for the research paper, that goes in the notebook (along with your official forms and some other such things), can be reprinted to put on your backboard. You will need little to no editing of the research paper to do your backboard.

3. Here are the parts of the research paper*
Introduction, complete with background research
Materials
Procedure
Analyzed data
Discussion
Conclusion
Bibliography
Credits (thanks to whomever you wish to thank)
BE SURE to use these titles at the beginning of each of these sections of your paper. You may center the title or justify it to the left.

4. NOTE…
You already have 3 sections of your paper done, if you are on track with the projected timeline!!

5. What to write in your introduction
The purpose of the introduction is to set the stage for the reader to understand your project, your results, and your conclusion. You must supply them with pertinent background information and tell them why you have designed the experiment (or your engineering project) in the way you have, in light of that background information. You must also explain how the hypothesis (or design criteria) relates to your question and what background information has made you form your hypothesis. Let’s get specific….

6. The Outline for the introduction*
The Question: Start with your question. What is it you were wondering about? Tell why you are interested in your investigation. If you are doing an engineering project: What is your goal or problem you are trying to solve? The Background Research: Provide and discuss all background information that pertains to your question. Help the reader to understand all the science behind your investigation or engineering design. How is your experiment or product new and different from other’s you have researched?

7. The outline for The Introduction (cont.)*
The Purpose: Tell the “so what” of your experiment or engineering product. Why is your investigation/product significant? How and to whom can the results/product be helpful?
The Hypothesis: Clearly state your hypothesis. THEN tell why (from your background research) you have written it the way you have.
If you are doing an engineering project, what are the criteria by which your product will be tested and why?

8. Remember… *
Stay away from the “Big I”. Do not use the pronoun, “I”. Refer to yourself as “the researcher” or just use phrases like
It was determined that…
It was found that…
The literature shows that…

9. Your Task*
You must first make an outline for your introduction. It is due at the end of this week, but should not take you that long.
When the outline is complete, you may begin writing it.
Be sure to save it to your flash drive, as you collect the different sections of your paper.
Always print a hard copy of the different sections of your paper as you complete them, in case your flash drive should go bad.

10. Acknowledgements page
Towards the back of your paper you will have a section entitled, Acknowledgements.
On this page you may thank anyone that has helped you with your Science Fair project, such as a parent, a business, or a professional who assisted you in some way