1. MOUSETRAP CAR LAB WRITE-UP GRADING Tahoma Jr. High 8th Grade Science
Maple Valley, WA

2. RULE FOR 8th GRADE SCIENCE:
GENERAL
RULE FOR 8th GRADE SCIENCE:
ALL WORK MUST BE HAND-WRITTEN FOR TWO REASONS:
IT IS TOO EASY TO SHARE ELECTRONIC FILES AND NOT DO THE WORK
MOST STATE / STANDARDIZED TESTS REQUIRE HANDWRITING – PRACTICE YOUR PENMANSHIP!

3. First: get a distinctive
colored pen (red is great)
and write
“C.B. (your First & Last names)”
in upper left –
even if it is your own paper !
You will be looking for evidence of each Item from the Investigative Design Rubric and then putting a “Code” for that Item and then a 1 or 0 in a circle to show whether you found evidence of that Item or not.

4. Q 1 Step 1: Question Is the question in the form of a question?
If the question is in the form of a question (has a ? Mark) write the Code “Q” (for Question) in the left margin and underneath put a 1 in a circle (shown below).
If not, put a 0 in a circle (saying you looked for it, but couldn’t find evidence of it) 1 Q
STEP 1 - QUESTION:What Simple Machine change can be made to a Mousetrap Car within 20 minutes so that it will work better by going a longer distance ?

5. Step 2: Hypothesis
Is the hypothesis in the “IF …., THEN ….,” format ?
If you find the proper format put a Code “H” (for Hypothesis) with a 1.
If you did not find both If (Manipulated Variable) and Then (Responding Variable) put a 0. 1 H
STEP 2 - HYPOTHESIS: IF (how one of three legal Manipulated Variable is changed)) THEN the car would go a longer distance (Responding Variable) BECAUSE (something scientific explaining how more Mechanical Advantage was gained).

6. B 1 Step 2: Hypothesis (cont’d)
Does the Hypothesis have a “…BECAUSE…” scientific explanation?
If you find a reasonable Becuase put a Code “B” (for Because) with a 1.
If you did not find a reasonable “Because” put a 0.
STEP 2 - HYPOTHESIS: IF (how one of three legal Manipulated Variable is changed)) THEN the car would go a longer distance (Responding Variable) BECAUSE (something scientific explaining how more Mechanical Advantage was gained). 1 B

7. ML 1 Step 3 – Experiment Is there a Materials List ?
If you find a Materials List with an instrument to measure the Responding Variable, put a Code “ML” (for Materials List) with a 1.
If you did not find a table – or the table did not have the measuring instrument, put a 0. 1 ML
Materials List:
Tape Measure (any distance measuring tool)
Other important items to build the car AND do the experiment

8. MV 1 Step 3 – Experiment (continued) Procedure:
At the beginning of the Procedure the three variables should be listed or clearly identified.
If you see the IF part of the Hypothesis as “Manipulated Variable is…” put an “MV” and a 1 in circle next to it. 1 MV
Manipulated Variable is… (the IF part of the Hypothesis) – they MUST match

9. RV 1 Step 3 – Experiment (continued) Procedure:
At the beginning of the Procedure the three variables should be listed or clearly identified.
If you see the THEN part of Hypothesis as “Responding Variable is…” put an “RV” and a 1 in circle next to it.
Responding Variable (the THEN part of Hypothesis) is the distance traveled by the car
*this should have been the same for everyone 1 RV

10. CV 1 Step 3 – Experiment (continued) Procedure:
At the beginning of the Procedure the three variables should be listed or clearly identified.
If you see one good “Controlled Variable is…” put an “CV” and a 1 in circle next to it.
Controlled Variable is… (obvious examples: mousetrap, floor surface, any of the other two legal changes that are not the MV) 1 CV
Only need 1 good one to get the point, BUT it is good to write three good Controlled Variables for “insurance” and also in 9th grade you will need two.

11. # L 1 Step 3 – Experiment (continued)
Does the Procedure have #ed logical steps?
If you skim read the Procedure and it seems to follow a logical sequence and is a numbered list, put a Code “# L” (Numbered Logical) with a 1.
If you did not find it logical or #ed put a 0.
Procedure: (it can be this simple)
Build car according to attached sketches
Race unmodified car (short arm) and use tape measure from front wheel start to front wheel stop in meters and record
Modify car by…
Race modified car (long arm) and use tape measure from front wheel start to front wheel stop in meters and record … 1
# L

12. RWE 1 Step 3 – Experiment (continued) Procedure:
Is the whole experiment repeated ?
The Procedure should explain how to do either the whole experiment again or multiple trials.
*Be careful if it says “repeat steps…” to be sure those steps are the WHOLE experiment or multiple trials of EACH situation. Where you find it put a Code “R.W.E.” with a 1.
If you did not find it put a 0.
RWE
5. Repeat Whole Experiment
(it’s easier to just write this ALWAYS as the last numbered instruction) 1

13. Step 4 – Data Table
Is there a data table or chart to record data in an organized way ?
If you find a Data Table (or chart) put a
Code “D.T.” with a 1.
If you did not find one put a 0. 1 DT

14. Step 4 – Data Table
Is the Data Table labeled with the Manipulated Variable ?
Data tables or charts should have proper labels (including units). If you find the Manipulated Variable labeled put a Code “M.V.L.” (for Manipulated Variable Label) with a 1.
If you did not find one put a 0. MV RV
distance traveled (m) Trial #1
distance traveled (m) Trial #2
distance traveled (m) Trial #3
AVG
small drive wheels 5
n/a
5.0
large drive wheels 4
4.0
MVL 1

15. Step 4 – Data Table
Is the Data Table labeled with the Responding Variable ?
Data tables or charts should have proper labels (including units). If you find the Responding Variable labeled put a Code “R.V.L.” (for Responding Variable Label) with a 1.
If you did not find one put a 0.
MUST HAVE THE UNITS INCLUDED MV RV
distance traveled (m) Trial #1
distance traveled (m) Trial #2
distance traveled (m) Trial #3
AVG
small drive wheels 5
n/a
5.0
large drive wheels 4
4.0
RVL 1

16. Step 5 – Conclusion
There are four parts to a good Conclusion.
#1 – is the Hypothesis Copied ?
Look for the original Hypothesis to start the Conclusion. If you find it, put a
Code “C.H.” (for Copied Hypothesis) with a 1.
If you did not find it put a 0. 1 CH
Did they Copy EXACTLY what was up in Step 2?

17. BCA ACA 1 1 Step 5 – Conclusion:
Next – are the two averages stated (the Before Change Average and the After Change Average)?
Look for each and put a code for each one:
BCA for Before Change Average and
ACA for After Change Average
If you did not find each of these put a 0 for each. 1
BCA
Example: …was correct since the Unmodified Car went 4m and the Modified Car went 5m… 1
ACA

18. Step 5 – Conclusion:
Finally – is there an Explanation for how the calculated Difference between the two averages tells whether the Hypothesis is correct or not?
If you find something like:
“…since the Modified Car went 1m further than the Unmodified car the Hypothesis was correct.” put ExD and 1pt.
If you did not find a Difference and/or Explanation put a 0. 1
ExD

19. E / C 1 Evaluation / Critique Step 5 – Conclusion:
Now that the Hypothesis has been proven correct or not, it’s good to look at the whole experiment and try to find areas that may cause bad data (i.e. make the experiment “invalid”). Any reasonable idea of what may have made the experiment not work as good as it should have is OK. Use the Code “E / C” and put a 1.
If you did not find one good idea for Evaluating or Critiquing the experiment put a 0.
Example: The cars ran across tape on the floor and/or metal plates so the surface was not consistent. The car’s distance if it curved was not included in the measurement – only the straight line distance. Measurements were made only in whole meters, not very accurate. 1
E / C

20. NQ 1 Step 5 – Conclusion: New Question to explore ?
While doing an experiment, usually new questions come to mind that you may want to experiment on afterwards. Look for any reasonable follow-up question and use the Code “N.Q.” (for New Question) and put a 1.
If you did not find any new question put a 0.
Example: I wonder what would have happened if I had changed one of the OTHER manipulated variable choices, or used a rat trap (illegal in assignment but OK for further exploration)? Anything related to mousetrap cars and simple machines is fine. 1 NQ

21. YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO CHOOSE ONE OF THE FOLLOWING THREE OPTIONS FOR THE MANIPULATIED VARIABLE (they were explained in an ENTRY QUESTION and PPT back when this project started) your teacher will subtract 20pts from your lab write-up score LATER if you did not choose one of the three

22. Changing Lever Arm Length
(changing the length of the string doesn’t count since it’s not a simple machine and only transfers the energy of the spring to the DRIVE wheels)

23. Changing the DRIVE Wheel Diameter

24. Changing the DRIVE Axle Diameter

25. Now…
You need to total all the points earned (there are a total of 18 possible) and then record the total up near the person’s name on the front page (should be in the upper right) in a fraction out of 18 and circled (see below).
C.B. Justin Beiber
Taylor Swift
10 NOV 07, Pd 4 14 18

26. When you get your own paper back carefully go through it.
Finally… You will give the paper back to the person for them to double-check your grading is accurate.
When you get your own paper back carefully go through it.
If you disagree with how it was graded, then write near
the grade the code “see DT”
to let the teacher know to look
there and make a final decision.
If you don’t put any notes the
Teacher will figure you are
happy with how it was graded
so check carefully and make
a note if you need to!!
Then initial yourself that
you checked the grading.
C.B. Justin Bieber
Taylor Swift
10 NOV 07, Pd 4 14 18
see DT
T.S.

27. We will use this format to grade REMEMBER: BE NEAT and COMPLETE !!
many lab write-ups. It’s part of the practice needed to do good Lab Write-Ups.
By grading someone else’s it makes you see how hard it is for a state test grader to give you the most points – and then you also learn again what to do by checking your own work was graded properly (i.e. you used the rubric 3 times).
REMEMBER: BE NEAT and COMPLETE !!
end show