Tuesday, May 20th8:30am to 9:30am

Stanwich East Campus

Science Fair Guidelines and Assessment

• Research Paper Cover Page (Title)• (One third down)

• Eighth Grade Science

• Mr. Fletcher 

• John Smith• Grade 8• Stanwich School• May 20th , 2014

• Student’s poster boards should be clear and easy to read. Poster boards must include Project title, Purpose (idea), Hypothesis, Diagrams, Data, and Conclusion.

• Purpose • State your idea and why.•  • Example: • The Purpose of my research is to identify an alternative fuel source to

provide energy for my classroom.•  • Hypothesis • Hypothesis is a possible answer to a question or a reasonable guess about

what will happen.•  • Example:• Since my classroom requires electricity, solar panels may provide enough

electricity for my needs. I need to research the cost of solar panels, investigate and analyze my current electric usage, and conduct a cost analysis and then determine a timeline for a return on my investment. I will also conduct a carbon footprint analysis.

• Diagrams•  • All diagrams must be clear and easy to read. Hand-drawn diagrams are

acceptable. All diagrams taken from books, magazines, websites, or other media devices must be cited.

•  • Example:•  

•  

• Source: www.solarpanels.com

• Conclusion•  • Your conclusion must defend your idea. The use of data, charts, and

interesting/relevant facts will allow you to express your purpose.

• Avoiding Plagiarism•  • Plagiarism is using someone else’s words or ideas without giving proper

credit – or without giving any credit at all – to the writer of the original. Whether plagiarism is intentional or unintentional, it is a serious offense that you can avoid by adhering to the advice below.

•  •  • Citation Guide•  • Stanwich School recommends following the Modern Language Association

(MLA) guide.•  • All sources cited in your research paper must be listed in a section entitled

Work Cited (sometimes referred to as Bibliography), which should be located at the end of your paper.

• Example:•  • Work Cited•  • www.solarpanels.com•  • www.energyworld.org•  • www.windpower.net•  • www.energy.gov

• Citing your research within the body of your paper:•  • If you use someone else’s words or ideas within the body of your research

paper, it must be cited as follows:•  • Example:•  • According to Dr. John Doe www.energy.org within the next ten years, our

dependency on fossil fuel will double.

 • Assessment • Poster Board 40% • Research Paper 60% • Total 100% • Science Fair Project is equal to having 2 science quizzes or 2 lab reports.