Mrs. Triemer’s “How-to” Guide

First Buy a marble-cover composition book to use as a log book. The logbook is your friend! Write everything in it! This is where you will take research notes, plan your experiment, and collect your data. It’s sort of a diary/journal of all your planning, thinking, and observations. Write in it every day during the experimental period if you can.

Second Decide whether to work alone or with one partner. If you have a partner, your parents must be able to take you to each other’s house to work on the project. Also, choose a partner who will do his or her share of the work.

Choose your Topic Your project can deal with any science topic you have been wondering about – What type of paper airplane flies the longest distance? Will cut flowers keep longer in soda or water? Do colors affect how we learn?

Choose your Topic Just remember these things when picking a topic: ● The experiment should not harm you, other people, or any animal. ● The project must be an experiment, not a demonstration or a model – such as an erupting volcano model. If you can’t find the manipulated variable (the difference between your two groups), then you probably don’t have an experiment. ● If your topic involves open flame or any flammable materials, you must have signed parental permission.

Choose your Topic If you are having trouble picking a topic, check out – sciencebuddies.com – this website even has a “topic selection wizard” that will help you find a project you will like by having you take a survey! the public library for some books. You will find that there are entire books filled with possible science fair projects! Be sure and pick a topic that is interesting to you because it will make the process more interesting.

WRITE DOWN THE DUE DATE

Proposal Write up a brief paragraph proposing your topic and research question. Include: The branch of science Your research topic Preliminary* hypothesis stating manipulated and responding variables BRIEF summary of experimental plan * Frequently, the hypothesis changes slightly after the research phase; this is fine, but just let me know if/when you change it.

Set up your Logbook The logbook should have a title page, so start with that once you have an approved proposal. The logbook entries should be written in blue or black ink, and each entry should be signed and dated. Start by numbering each page. You are required to have at least 10 entries. If you need to change something, don’t use white out—just cross it out with a line or an “x.” Don’t lose points on the format of your logbook!!

Begin your Background Research Before you start experimenting, you need to do some background research on your topic. 1.Look up information on your topic from several sources and take notes in your logbook. You may use the background research to revise your hypothesis. 2.Record the sources of the information in MLA format as soon as you realize that you want to take notes from that resource. (If you make a list as you take the notes, your bibliography will be EASY later.)

Write Up Your Background Research Now you will write a small part of your report. You will turn in two sections: the background information you found and the bibliography. Keep in mind this is a research report and should be in a narrative style, third person, with standard American grammar, usage, mechanics, and spelling.

Write Up Your Background Research For your bibliography, all you have to do is go to your log book (where you already have everything written up in MLA format already!) and type up the entries in alphabetical order. Double check that they have every period and > mark and everything in exactly the right place. (Really – that’s the hardest part!)

Research and Bibliography Rubric 4321 Totals Background Information Information clearly relates to the research question. It includes thorough supporting details and/or examples. Information clearly relates to the research question. It provides adequate supporting details and/or examples. Information relates to the research question. Few details and/or examples are given Information has little or nothing to do with answering the research question. X 5 = ______ GUMS (grammar, usage, mechanics, and spelling) Excellent use of standard, formal English with few or no errors. Standard English is used in a formal tone; few errors that interfere with meaning. Standard English is not apparent OR formal tone is not used. Too many errors that distract the reader. Conventions of standard English should have been reviewed before submission of a formal paper. X 2 = ______ Bibliograph y Sources are accurately documented in MLA format. Sources are documented, but a few are not in proper MLA format. Many sources are not in MLA format. Sources are not documented/ Bibliography is missing X 3 = ______ ____/30 = ______%