The Science Fair Research Paper is not like a traditional research paper, although it does share some common elements.   It is similar to a typical research paper in that there are no headings between paragraphs.  You must use transitional sentences to make your paragraphs and information flow smoothly. You must avoid using "I" statements.  You must not list items.  This is especially true for the materials and procedures sections which must be written in paragraph form.  A science research paper is different than a traditional research paper in that your hypothesis will function as your thesis and your entire paper will be in support of this idea. 

 

The background research portion of the paper must be 1-2 pages.  The information should include information about the topic, as well as the history and information specifically related to the project.  If you want full credit then you must do 2 full pages which is 44-46 lines.

 

Your paper must be formatted as follows:

 

• Times New Roman 12-point font  

• Double spacing between lines (do not triple space the paragraphs by hitting the return twice)  

• 1” margins

 

Your bibliography must have a minimum of five sources.  Please be sure that the resources are credible.  What does credible mean?  It means that they should be a reliable source with true, up to date and accurate information.  How do you know if they are credible?  Credible websites will have information from respected authors or researchers, will have been published in the last 10 years, academic databases, and materials from Google Scholar.

 

The following page includes an outline, which shows exactly what is needed in each paragraph or section.   Please make sure you include each of theses items and check them off as you go.  Your paper should have proper flow.  It is recommended that you talk to your Language Arts teachers if you have questions about this.

 

 

• Title Page – Needs to contain the following; Title (be Creative), Your name, the project name (Research paper), The date

 

• Table of Contents Page – This should contain the page number of each item. (Ex. Introduction…pg. 1)

 

• Introduction -   This sets the scene for the whole paper, capture the reader’s attention

  • Problem or Question – Stated in a full and complete sentence, how does it relate to the outside world

  • Hypothesis – This is a statement about what you think the results will be AND an explanation of why you believe this.

  • An explanation of what prompted this project.

  • An explanation of what is hoped to achieve (This should not be “I want to prove my hypothesis!”) It should explain how it can benefit others.

 

• Background Research -  This is the core of your research for this project.

  • Define the subject (i.e. if it has to do with physics explain what physics is and how it pertains to your project.

  • Give a history on the subject matter (for some this may actually have 2 parts for example; 1 about physics and 2 about the history of the football)  You should also include historical figures.

  • Use this research to support your project specifically.  (Looking up information about why a football was designed the way it was, was it because of the unique way it makes it fly when thrown?)

 

• Materials and Procedures –  This needs to be detailed and written out in paragraph form not a listing)

  • Describe in details the Materials and procedures you used to do your project, collect your data,  make observations, make an apparatus etc. (This needs to be detailed enough that someone else could take this experiment and recreate it from just your paper.)

  •  Include detailed drawing or photographs of any self designed equipment or apparatus’s used.

  • Describe your vairiables; all of your constants/control variable, your independant variable, and you dependent variable.  Make sure you describe why these are your variables.

 

• Results -  This should be written out in paragraph form and should include detailed descriptions and then either table or graph. All four items below are necessary.

  • Quantitative Data – Your measured results should be described in a paragraph.

  • Graphs – You must have at least one graph with your numeric values in it.

  • Qualitative Data - You need a paragraph of your observations for each trial.

  • Put your observations in a table.

 

• Discussion – This is the second part that will contain research must contain all of the following.

  • Describe if your data supported or did not support your hypothesis and describe why it did or did not.

  • Compare your results with theoretical values, published data commonly held belief and/or expected results.

  • Include a discussion of possible errors.

  • How did that data vary between repeated observations of similar events?

  • How were the results affected by uncontrolled events?

  • What would should be done differently if this project was repeated?

  • What other experiments could be conducted after doing this project

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• Conclusion – Be specific and summarize your project.  Do not introduce new material at this time.  This should be a full paragraph.

 

• Acknowledgements – Always credit those who assist you.  Individuals, business’s, educational or research institutions.

 

• Bibliography Page - include any work that is not your own, use the MLA guide as your model how to cite references properly.  (Easybib.com is a great resource for this)