1. How to get started By Mrs. Livermore M.S.L.S, M.Ed.
Science Fair Research
How to get started
By Mrs. Livermore M.S.L.S, M.Ed.

2. Practice, refine and practice some more
Getting started
Prepare a research folder
Write experimental question
Gather background information
Gather research information (8)
Prepare research paper
Write the abstract
Have an adult read it
Is it testable? Is there enough research?
Become an expert
Scholarly work
Introduction, Research & Process , Conclusion
Between 100 to 250 words
It’s a summary of your project
Practice, refine and practice some more

3. Experimental question
Can it be tested?
How does the shape of a parachute affect the speed as it falls?
Can I find enough research information?
Is there enough Print & Non-print information about parachutes?
Create guiding research questions
What is the standard shape of a parachute?
What is a good dropping distance?
What is a parachute made of? How does it work?
Prepare regular and null hypothesis
Use “If …. Then ….” format on both hypothesis.

4. Regular & Null hypothesis
Regular hypothesis:
If I built a parachute with 3 different shapes circle, triangle, square
then the circle will decrease the descending speed.
Null hypothesis: (Disproves your hypothesis)
If I built a parachute with 3 different shapes circle, triangle, square
then the square will decrease the descending speed.
Dependent Variable: (measured)
the descending speed
Independent Variables: (the things that change)
the parachute shapes

5. Publisher’s information:
Gather Information
Using Databases
Britannica online GALE
Using the web
Scholarly sites only
Gather citation information
Citation machine
Print Citation
Author’s name
Title of book
Publisher’s information:
name, city & date
Non-print Citation
Author’s name
Title of website
Title of article
URL address
Date retrieved

6. Research paper guidelines
Research paper in MLA style
Use 1-inch top, bottom, and side margins
12 font point (do not use a fancy font)
The heading appears on the first page :
on upper left margin
Use double space on the entire paper
Indent at the beginning of each paragraph
When writing a direct quote double tap and write the quotation inside quotation marks
Page numbering in bottom right corner

7. Work cited page or Bibliography
use a hanging indent after 1st line of a citation
Double space
separate each citation
Use 12 inch font
Do not use a fancy font
Alphabetize by first letter B C D E G

8. Writing the abstract Brief summary of your project
Between 100 and 250 words
One or two sentence introduction
Re-state the hypothesis and the key points of the experiment
Describe the results (3 sentences)
1 to 2 sentence conclusion

9. Final Checklist A Sweepstakes award has… Originality
Scholarly sources stating your research
Hypothesis clearly stated
Process is complete and not it isn’t vague
Results of experiment displayed in various formats
Are they clearly explained?
Do you have colorful visuals?
Know your project and prepare for possible questions from the judges!
All research is backed up by list of citations
Does your project meet all district standards?
No grammatical or syntax errors!!!
Dress for success
Eighth-grader Sean Farrel from Dahlstrom Middle School. Photo courtesy of Hays Free Press

10. References
WORK CITED
"MLA formatting and style guide." Purdue Online writing lab. Purdue
University, Web. 5 Oct Non print
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Middle School Science Fair Feb Photograph. Hays Free Press, Kyle .
< Non print
Walker, Janice. "Instructions to Format a Manuscript following Modern Language
Association (MLA) Style in Microsoft Word 2007." Janice R. Walker,
25 June Web. 5 Oct 2012.
<
Non print