1. Science Research Project
Getting Started

2. Science Research Grade Sheet
Keep track of due dates on your own
I will announce any extensions or changed dates
Each check point counts for 5 points out of a 50 point test grade
The project exhibit (tri-board) is another 50 point test grade
The research paper is a 100 point test grade
Topic grading---1, 3, or 5---most of you will get your first submission rejected. You can still get a 5 if it gets rejected—you just have to fix it

3. Log Book Must be a composition notebook
Must have IN CLASS on Tuesday 8/7/17. Remember, no late work is accepted
Leave room for Table of contents
Number all pages
Include metric measurements
Must use pen, never tear out pages, or scribble out writing
Write date and time of observations
Take pictures, record date, time and location, glue them in
Keep track of materials and their cost
Once you’ve settled on a topic, write, write, write!

4. Choosing a Topic
Official topics must be approved by me on a topic approval sheet (found on my webpage)
Due 8/11
Review “Science Project Topics to Avoid” hand out
Any topic that includes anything on this list will not be approved
Start out broad
What general area of science is most interesting to you?
Narrow in on a specific topic from there by following your interests
(ISEF Categories)

5. Choosing a Topic
Come up with a minimum of 3 potential research questions by 8/4 (use notebook paper)
Be ambitious
Your project should be challenging and relevant
Be realistic
Set high goals but know your limitations
Be detailed
Write the question, then elaborate. Explain exactly what it is you want to research
I will be reading your ideas outside of class. I need to clearly understand what you’ve written without you being present to explain it to me.

6. Getting your topic approved
Work hard
Choosing a good topic that you are interested in will take some thought
I will not choose a project for you!
Expect to revise
I will provide feedback on your topics and you should plan to adjust accordingly and resubmit
Be patient
For many students, topic approval is a long back and forth process
Do not get discouraged if many of your ideas are not approved. Think about why they weren’t accepted and take that into consideration in the future
Talk about deadline adjustments with topic approval failure

7. After your topic is approved
Record your research question in your log book
It does not have to be perfect
You may slightly adjust or add to your question as you move through the experiment
Begin conducting background research
Be sure to write where you found the information so you can include it in your bibliography

8. Research Plan Question Hypothesis Null Hypothesis
Should already have a solid, well-written question at this point
Hypothesis
Detailed sentence explaining what you predict will be the result of your experiment. It should be a strong, direct statement.
Ex: Seagrass fragmentation has a negative effect on the abundance of organisms that inhabit seagrass beds; the more fragmented the seagrass bed, the fewer the organisms.
Null Hypothesis
No relationship between two measured phenomenon
Ex: Seagrass fragmentation has no effect on the abundance of organisms that inhabit a seagrass bed.
Reject/disprove the null

9. Research Plan Procedure Risks and Safety Data analysis
Plan out every single little detail you can think of in your logbook
When you actually conduct the experiment you will write out the procedure as you do it, even if it ends up being exactly the same (although that is highly unlikely)
Risks and Safety
Identify all risks and precautions that should be taken
Data analysis
What will you do with the data you collect?

10. Research Plan Bibliography
I am requiring at least 5 peer reviewed journal articles in your bibliography
You may also use books and credible websites
I recommend using Google Scholar or Galileo to find such articles
Read the abstract first to see if the article will be useful to you
Look for “full text” versions so you can read the whole thing
If there is an article you want but cannot access the full text, let me know
I suggest printing them out so you can highlight important information or bring it to me with questions
Much of the information from these articles will be useful in writing a detailed introduction in your final paper
Be sure to write a citation for each article in your lab notebook and take notes / write summaries of each in it as well
What is a peer reviewed ja?