1. Title of your science project
Name(s).
Date(s) experiment was run.

2. Purpose
In one paragraph, describe why you chose to do this project. What importance does it have for you or for anyone. If you can't think of a good academic reason for doing this project then it wasn't worth doing it and you will most likely won't go on to the next level.

3. Background
In one paragraph, summarize the research you have done. What did the research tell you about your topic? What did you already know and now know even more about your topic.
<Citation for first resource>
<Citation for second resource>
<Citation for third resource>

4. Problem Research Question
Briefly write the question that you explored. Do not explain why you chose this question, you already did that in the Purpose section; if you didn't, you should go back and put it there, not here. It should only be one question.

5. Hypothesis
In this step, you are taking a guess at the outcome of your experimentation.
It should be something that can be tested and has a chance to fail. If you already know it's not going to fail, why experiment in the first place?
You should be able to measure it and yield numbers to create a data table and graph. The best way to show that you really know what you are testing and measuring for is to write it in an "if...then...because..." format.
There are other ways to hypothesize, as long as you show what it is that you will be testing, what you will be testing for, and why you think the outcome will be as you predicted.
Again, this should be one statement.

6. Materials
List!!! Do not write it in paragraph form what you need to complete this experiment. Look at how recipes do it.
Be specific - list EXACTLY what you needed and how much of each. Use metrics or convert to metrics whenever possible.
Remember that this list may be used by other scientists who are trying to reproduce your results.
It is assumed your already are using a writing utensil, science notebook, or computer to record data. DON'T list them unless you are performing an experiment on them or they are directly being used in the experiment other than to record data.

7. Variables Independent:
What variable are your changing or varying (this can typically be found within the "if" part of your hypothesis - a good reason to use an "if...then...because..." hypothesis statement.
Dependent:
What is the responding variable? What are you measuring as a direct result of what you changed in the independent variable.
Controlled Variables or Constants:
What you'll keep the same to make each test fair and results reliable.
These are variables or factors that can affect the results in your measurements but you don't want them to.

8. Controlled Experiment
Not all experiments require a controlled experiment especially when there is not a standard for comparison.
Typically, it is what you'll compare your results to, see what happened, or see if it varies from what is considered standard or normal.
If there is no controlled experiment, then delete this slide but look hard at your experiment and see if there really is a standard to which you are comparing your results.

9. Procedure
1. Tell everything that needs to be done using the materials you listed, how it needs to be done, and what data you are trying to collect.
2. This should be detailed enough so that someone else can repeat exactly (with few errors) what you did in your experiments.
3. These procedures should be numbered and in list form.
4. Tips:
You need repeated trials or lots of trials instead of direct repeats.
All work should be done using the metric system of measures.
You are already expected to create a data table, make a graph, analyze the data, and conclude so DO NOT create steps for these.
5. Diagrams and pictures can be useful here.

10. Observations
Do not confuse this with collecting and analyzing data. These are observations that you make using your five senses during the experiment.
Qualitative:
Descriptive observations.
Can be about unexpected outcomes.
Difficulties encountered.
Quantitative:
Numerical observations, not necessarily measurements for your data table.

11. Data Table
You can insert a spreadsheet or create a data table using the table tool in the menu bar. Represent experiment trials in a matrix with your results as follows:

12. Graphs / Diagrams
Create a graph to visually represent your findings to help analyze them.
Use the type of graph which fits your findings, for example:
pie chart to show percentage of trials in each category.
line chart to show changes over time / rate of change.
bar graph to show a comparative population study.
Your data table and graph must be able to stand alone, fully titled and labeled with metric units so that the reader understands what you did and what you discovered in your results.
Diagrams and pictures are also useful here.

13. Analysis Here is where you talk about your data:
What patterns or trends are you seeing?
What relationship does the dependent variable have with the independent variable?
What numbers stick out or seem most significant?
What numbers were unexpected?

14. Conclusion Tell what you found - and compare this to your hypothesis.
This is where you revisit and restate your hypothesis then include the following:
Was your hypothesis supported by your data?
Why or why not?
How do you know based on your data?

15. Reflection
What did you learn from your experiment? (What did you find out that you didn't know before?).
What were some possible sources of error and how would you avoid it next time? (There is no such thing as a perfect experiment unless you were doing a very simple below grade level experiment - if you don't know of any errors then you really don't know your experiment).
If you were to expand on the experiment, what direction would you take it? (Not to avoid errors but to test something different).
How does this connect to the world? (Who would be interested in knowing the results of your experiment beside those that participated?)