CMIT ACADEMY 2011-2012. PURPOSE OF THE PROJECT To use science process skills including observation, classification, communication, measurement (metric),

CMIT ACADEMY2011-2012

PURPOSE OF THE PROJECT

To use science process skills including observation, classification, communication, measurement (metric), prediction, inference, and collecting and analyzing data

To design and conduct a scientific experiment that identifies the problem; distinguishes manipulated,responding and controlled variables; collect, analyze, and communicate data; and makes valid inferences and conclusions

To use traditional reference materials and current technologies to explore background, historical, and current information related to a science concept

Lab Report Title Page Introduction Materials/Procedures Experiment Data/Discussion Conclusion

Science Fair Project Choose a Problem Research the problem Develop a hypothesis Write Procedures Experiment Collect data; Discuss Report Results (Research

Paper)

COMPARISON OF THE WRITING OF A LAB REPORT VERSUS THE SCIENCE FAIR PROJECT

SEVEN STEPS TO PREPARE A STEM FAIR PROJECT

SELECT A TOPIC

RESEARCH

PURPOSE AND HYPOTHESIS

EXPERIMENT

RESEARCH PAPER

EXHIBIT

JUDGING

SEVEN STEPS TO PREPARE A SCIENCE FAIR PROJECT

Step 1:

Select a Topic

Select something that is of interest to you!

Be as specific as possible. Time and resources may be limited.

Write it as a question that you want to answer.


STEP 2:

RESEARCHTHIS MEANS YOU LOOK FOR ANY AND ALL INFORMATION ASSOCIATED WITH THE TOPIC YOU HAVE CHOSEN.

USE ANY AND ALL SOURCES OF INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO YOU.(BOOKS, MAGAZINES,

INTERNET, INTERVIEWS, ETC.) KEEP A WORKING BIBLIOGRAPHY IN YOUR LOG BOOK.WRITE A RESEARCH PLAN THAT INCLUDES A PROBLEM, HYPOTHESIS, PROCEDURES, AND BIBLIOGRAPHY. THIS IS TO BE SUBMITTED FOR APPROVAL OF YOUR PROJECT.

IDENTIFY ANY EQUIPMENT THAT YOU MAY NEED.

OBTAIN ALL NECESSARY FORMS.

USE THE INFORMATION TO ESTABLISH A TIME LINE OF EVENTS.


STEP 3:

PURPOSE AND HYPOTHESIS

THE PURPOSE IS A DESCRIPTION OF WHAT YOU WILL BE DOING AND WHY.

THIS IS PART OF THE INTRODUCTION OF YOUR RESEARCH PAPER AND MUST CAPTURE THE ATTENTION OF THE READER.

THE HYPOTHESIS IS THE CONCLUSION OF THE INTRODUCTION. IT IS A TESTABLE, EDUCATED GUESS THAT ANSWERS THE QUESTION POSED BY YOUR TOPIC.


STEP 4:

EXPERIMENTLIST MATERIALS AND PROCEDURES TO BE FOLLOWEDHOW WILL THE EQUIPMENT BE USED?IDENTIFY THE CONTROL AND EXPERIMENTAL GROUPS.IDENTIFY ALL SAFETY CONCERNSPROVIDE A DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXPERIMENT BEING PERFORMEDTAKE DETAILED NOTES OF MEASUREMENTS AND OBSERVATIONS. RECORD THESE IN YOUR LOG BOOK!UPON COMPLETION OF THE EXPERIMENT, PROVIDE A DETAILED DISCUSSION OF THE EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS AND ANY SOURCES OF ERROR .


Step 5

The Research Paper

Compile your work into a comprehensive report that presents:

The background and history of your topic Any information collected Complete description of your experimentA discussion of your findingsA conclusion that refutes or accepts your hypothesis


Step 6

The Exhibit

This is your visual presentation of your project. It should be an organized, eye-catching, attention-grabbing presentation from the title of your project to the construction and presentation.

It must contain: It Cannot contain:Log Book Moving partsResearch Paper Living or dead specimensPhotographs LASERSCharts Live electrical devices (unless approved by SRC)

Graphs Photos or Visuals of vertebrates in Abstract other-than-normal conditionsRequired Forms Chemicals including water

It is restricted to a specific size. Depth: 76 cm (30 in.) Width: 122 cm (48 in.)

Height: 274 cm (108 in.) [Floor Display] 198 cm (78 in.) [Table Display]


Step 7

Judging You will be asked to present your topic to a group of

qualified scientists. Therefore, know your project!

Judges will evaluate you and your project on: How well you followed the scientific method. The detail and accuracy of notes. Whether tools/equipment were used in the best possible way. How well thought out the research was. How freely and confidently you can speak about your project. Be prepared

to answer questions outside the scope of your project. The appearance and presentation of your display.

AREAS OF CONCERN

BIBLIOGRAPHY

PROJECT NOTEBOOK

LOG BOOK

RESEARCH PAPER

ABSTRACT

APPENDICES

FORMS

BIBLIOGRAPHY

This is defined as a listing of the resources and references used during the research phase of your project to develop your hypothesis.

The bibliography should be written in the APA Style. This is the prescribed style for scientific papers. The APA Handbook is available in most libraries. Your English teacher can assist in this format as well.

BIBLIOGRAPHIC EXAMPLES

PROJECT NOTEBOOK

CONTAINS THE ORIGINALS OF THE FOLLOWING:ABSTRACT ON THE OFFICIAL ABSTRACT FORMFORM (1) TEACHER/SPONSOR CHECKLISTFORM (1A) OR TEAM (1A) RESEARCH PLANFORM (1B) APPROVAL FORMANY ADDITIONAL FORMS AS REQUIRED BY YOUR PROJECTRESEARCH PAPER

LOG BOOK

Your log book should contain detailed and accurate notes of everything you do.

Requirements:All entries should be dated It must be written in ink only (blue or black). No computer

generated log books will be accepted! It must be in a composition notebook that is bound (glued and

stitched). It must be divided into sections and each page numbered, It must contain your Working Bibliography. It must contain the rough draft of your Research Plan. It must include your raw data and your thoughts about the

results obtained.

DIVISIONS OF THE LOG BOOK

Division Number of pages

Title Page 1

Table of Contents 1

Review of Literature 25

Description of Experiment 25

Materials 5

Data 25

Conclusion 10

Bibliography 8

Table of Contents Page

Review of Literature…………………………….. ?Description of the experiment…………………… ?Materials…………………………………………. ?Data………………………………………………. ?Conclusion……………………………………….. ?Bibliography……………………………………… ?Appendices………………………………………. ?

(Example of how a page should look)

LOG BOOK

LOG BOOK(CONTENTS OF EACH DIVISION)

Review of Literature [Daily Log] Working Bibliography Notes Sketches Additional questions End with a rough draft of the introduction for your Research Paper


Description of Experiment Step-by-Step listing of Procedures Identify all Safety Precautions List all materials and equipment to be used (include quantities, qualities,

dimensions, etc.)


DATA (DAILY LOG)

ALL NOTES, OBSERVATIONS, SKETCHES, DRAWINGS, PRECAUTIONS, COMMENTS, ETC. ARE TO BE RECORDED IN THIS SECTION.

THERE SHOULD BE A DISCUSSION OF THE DATA AT THE END OF THIS SECTION.


CONCLUSION

REVISIT YOUR HYPOTHESIS. RESTATE IT.

STATE WHETHER YOU ACCEPT OR REFUTE YOUR HYPOTHESIS.

STATE SPECIFIC FACTS, ASSOCIATED WITH YOUR DATA, THAT SUPPORT YOUR CONCLUSION.


BIBLIOGRAPHY

YOU USE SHOULD USE THE APA FORMAT WHICH WILL BE TAUGHT IN YOUR LANGUAGE ART CLASSES.

(A COPY OF THE PUBLICATION MANUAL OF THE AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION IS AVAILABLE IN MOST LIBRARIES)


APPENDICES

(THIS IS ANY INFORMATION THAT YOU REFER TO, BUT DID NOT HAVE ROOM TO PLACE IT IN THE DOCUMENT.)

PHOTOGRAPHSCHARTSGRAPHSDATA TABLESACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

RESEARCH PAPERA PAPER DESCRIBING YOUR RESEARCH IS REQUIRED, AND SHOULD BEDISPLAYED IN YOUR RESEARCH PROJECT NOTEBOOK, ALONG WITH ANYNECESSARY FORMS, OR OTHER RELEVANT WRITTEN MATERIALSA GOOD RESEARCH PAPER INCLUDES THESE SECTIONS:

TITLE PAGETITLE PAGE

Project title, name, address, school and grade

TABLE OF CONTENTSTABLE OF CONTENTS

Number each section as you finish writing

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS/CREDITSACKNOWLEDGMENTS/CREDITS

Credit assistance received from mentors, parents. teachers. And other sources

RESEARCH PAPER

INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION

The introduction should explain the background information about your topic and the reasoning behind your choice of study Refer to previous research aswell as your own experiments. Establish a strong rationale for the study by

emphasizing unresolved issues or questions Conclude by stating the research hypotheses

MATERIALS & PROCEDURESMATERIALS & PROCEDURES

Describe in detail the methodology used to derive your data and observations Use photographs and drawings of your equipment to describe your experiment

further. Include a precise description of the sample, any apparatus that was constructed or modified for the study, and methods of data collection

RESEARCH PAPERRESULTSRESULTS

Present the data collected in the experiment in tables and graphs; summarize the data in narrative form Include statistical analysis of the

data Do not include raw data Include only information collected during the current year's study

DISCUSSIONDISCUSSION

Your results and conclusions should flow smoothly and logically from your data. Be thorough Compare your results with theoretical values,

published data, commonly held beliefs and/or expected results. Acomplete paper should include a discussion of possible errors or

problems experienced

CONCLUSIONCONCLUSION

Briefly summarize your results. Discuss if your data supported of your hypothesis and what your next steps in experimentation may be

RESEARCH PAPERREFERENCES/BIBLIOGRAPHYREFERENCES/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Your reference list should include any material that is not yourown (ie, books, web sites, papers, journal articles and communications

cited in the paper) Follow the prescribed bibliographic style manual

APPENDIXAPPENDIX

Include critical information that IS too lengthy for the main section of the paper, such as raw data, additional tables and graphs, copies of surveys or

tests, and diagrams of specialized equipment.

For additional information: www.uga.edu.oasp

ABSTRACTPREPARING AN ABSTRACTPREPARING AN ABSTRACT

When you finish your research and experiments, you are required towrite a (maximum) 250-word abstract on the Official Abstract Form.

An abstract is a concise summary of the entire research project.The following elements should be included in a proper

abstract:

TITLETITLE

The title should be brief and descriptive. The title must be used for all forms and display. The Title is limited to 65 characters and spaces.

PROBLEMPROBLEM

The statement of the problem tells the reader what specific questions are addressed in the study. The variables and limitations are identified. The intent

and objectives of the research effort are made explicit in this statement.

ABSTRACTPURPOSEPURPOSE

The purpose states the usefulness of the study. It answers the question why the project was undertaken.

HYPOTHESISHYPOTHESIS The hypothesis is an educated guess that shows the relationship between a set of observed facts and a theory. The hypothesis limits the scope of theinvestigation and unifies the research design. Oftentimes it is an IF/Then

statement.

P ROCEDUREP ROCEDURE

The procedure provides a brief summary of what was done.

CONCLUSIONSCONCLUSIONS

The conclusions provide a concise statement of the outcomes of the investigation. They should be written in nontechnical language and be

related directly to the hypothesis. The conclusions should identity unsolvedaspects of the original problem or any new problems identified.

ABSTRACT

RULES FOR ABSTRACTS:RULES FOR ABSTRACTS:

The abstract must be 250 words or less.

ABSTRACTHELPFUL HINTS:HELPFUL HINTS:

.USE PAST TENSE

.USE CORRECT SPELLING AND SENTENCE STRUCTURE

.TRY TO AVOID USE OF HIGHLY-SPECIALIZED WORDS OR ABBREVIATIONS

.RESTRICT PROCEDURE TO IDENTIFICATION OF METHOD OR TYPE OF PROCESS EMPLOYED

.STATE RESULTS, CONCLUSIONS, OR FINDINGS IN CLEAR, CONCISE FASHION

Documents

CMIT ACADEMY 2011-2012. PURPOSE OF THE PROJECT To use science process skills including observation, classification, communication, measurement (metric),