Science Fair Due Dates and Timeline ( )

Transcription

1 Science Fair Due Dates and Timeline ( ) Nvember 21, 2014 Tpic and Research Plan Deadline (20 pints) Paperwrk Deadline (ISEF Frms (typed), SRC Checklist) (20 pints) see p.4-5. December 1, 2014 Intrductin Deadline (20 pints) Research Plan fllwing Frm 1A frmat. See specific guidelines. ISEF Frms 1, 1A,1B Animal, bacteria, human participants need additinal frms: 2-3 pages, see specific guidelines. December 5, 2014 Prcedure & Materials Deadline (20 pints) December 12, 2014 Results Deadline (20 pints) December 19, 2014 Analysis/Cnclusins (25 pints) Abstract Deadline (20 pints) January 6, 2015 Display Bard Deadline Mandatry fr Everyne January 7, 2015 Clumbus High Schl Science Fair January 9, 2015 Reginal Science Fair Paperwrk due February 17, 2015 Reginal Science Fair, See specific guidelines. In rder t begin yur experiment yu must have yur research plan apprved and ISEF frms cmplete. See specific guidelines. See specific guidelines. 1 page Abstract See Descriptin. See Rubric. One bard per grup See picture and descriptin. Mre inf t cme Paperwrk will be given t Schl Science Fair winners $25 fee Extra Credit: 15 pints added t 4th quarter test grade. Mississippi State University Late Prjects: Max f 1/2 credit will be given n any missed Deadline. Everything turned in must be TYPED and ED t turnerchem2013@gmail.cm! Anything handwritten will NOT be scred! Links t fillable frms and details can be fund n zturnerchemistry.wikispaces.cm 1

2 Guidelines Nvember 21, 2014 Tpic and Research Plan Deadline (20 pints) (See research plan frmat) A. Tpic Questin being addressed B. Hypthesis/Prblem/Purpse C. Methd r prcedures (brief) Minimum 5 Sentences Include: IV/DV, cntrl/experimental grups Data Analysis: Hw yu will analyze data (brief), include and statistics D. Bibligraphy: APA Style 5 minimum schlarly references included. A. Tpic The subject f interest that will be explred. This shuld be smething f interest t the student and t which he/she can relate. Refer t page n tpics t avid. A gd tpic has a prblem that can be answered nly by experimenting. If a tpic is brad r general, t many (variables) will exist that cannt be cntrlled, and yu will find it difficult t prduce reliable results. Anther gd surce wuld be ging t websites f lcal universities and finding ut what type f research they are ding. Many prfessrs and graduate students are welcming and may share research results with yu. CAUTION: Plants take sme time t grw r smetimes will nt wrk. Chse yung seedlings t wrk with and nt seeds. B. Hypthesis An educated guess presuming the utcme f the experiment. Fllws the backgrund research and definitin f the prblem. Written in If then because frmat, present tense. Prblem The scientific prblem that is ging t be investigated. State this in the frm f a questin. Purpse A statement abut what will be discvered during the experiment. C. Methd r prcedures - brief explanatin f hw yu will cnduct the experiment. ) 5 Sentences minimum Include: IV/DV, cntrl/experimental grups. The grup receiving the variable r treatment is called the experimental grup, and the grup nt receiving the variable r treatment is the cntrl grup. The cntrl grup establishes a baseline fr reading ability in this experiment. The researcher cmpares the perfrmance f the experimental grup with that f the cntrl grup. An independent variable is the item that a scientist changes when cnducting an experiment. Variable that causes change. It starts the experiment and is the first/nly thing that is changed by the student. I 2

3 change! The dependent variable is named because it is affected by the independent variable and it s what s bserved and measured. Shuld have 3-4 trials when cnducting actual experiment. Data Analysis: Hw yu will analyze the data nce it is cllected (brief). Any statistics tests that will be dne with yur data nce it is cllected. D. Bibligraphy: APA style (at least 5 schlarly references, may have mre) The American Psychlgical Assciatin Style r APA style is the mst widely accepted and preferred way f presenting dcumentatin and supprting infrmatin when it cmes t writing, especially in terms f research and reference writing. The Literature cited is a list f all bks, publicatins, and cmmunicatins frm which significant materials were cited in the paper. The listing is alphabetical by the last name f the first authr f a citatin. Schlarly Cmputer surces shuld be archived (library digital archives, files, databases, bks, etc. which are available fr inspectin but are digitized and put n-line fr easy access and cnvenience) r refereed n-line jurnals. One f yur nn-schlarly surces must be the surce where yu fund yur idea fr yur science fair experiment. Make sure yu make mdificatins t yur experiment and it s nt just a carbn cpy f an experiment that s been dne. Use t easily put surces in the crrect frmat. The ntes shuld be paraphrased in yur wn wrds. Direct qutes shuld be in qutatin marks. Watch ut fr plagiarism in yur final reprt. Nvember 21, 2014 Paperwrk Deadline Internatinal Science & Engineering Fair (ISEF Frms (typed), SRC Checklist (20 pints) FORM 1B Only ne per persn even if wrking in grups! All prjects must submit ISEF frms. These are the frms yu use t apply fr permissin t d the prject. They must dcument that the prject fllws the rules f the ISEF. The prject is evaluated by yur teacher fr preapprval. Sme prjects require additinal apprval by a schl Instructinal Review Bard (IRB) r a cunty Science Research Cmmittee (SRC). These are fficial frms and must be carefully and meticulusly cmpleted befre submissin. Data cllectin may NOT begin until the prject has been fficially apprved. Link t Frms can be fund n zturnerchemistry.wikispaces.cm. They must be typed! Every student must cmplete frms 1, 1A and 1B. If yu are ding a prject invlving humans, micrbilgy r hazardus materials r a cntinuatin prject, yu need t access the frm wizard t see which additinal frms are required : OR (link n zturnerchemistry.wikispaces.cm) OR type ISEF Frms using any search engine Fr frm #1 Type in yur student name and prject title. List yur teacher s name as the adult spnsr. The phne number shuld be the schl s phne The shuld be yur 3

4 teacher s turnerz@clumbus.k12.ms.us. The nly blanks n this page shuld be the checklist and the spnsr s signature. Yu are required t type in the rest. Fr frm #1A. Fill in the student check list. The schl s address is 215 Hemlck Street Clumbus, MS Leave the actual start date blank, but d estimate when yu will start and when yu will finish experimentatin. This sectin als requires the REVISED RESEACH PLAN n a separate piece f paper. Type each f these headings and then fill in with the infrmatin fr yur prject. Remember: If yu are ding a human prject, vertebrate animal r a micrbilgy prject r ne invlving any type f hazard there are additinal requirements listed n the research plan dcument. READ THEM and INCLUDE the extra dcumentatin. Fr frm #1B, type in yur full name and yur parent s full name. Bth yu and yur parent must sign and date this frm. If yu are ding a grup prject, bth team members must cmplete frm 1B. December 1, 2014 Intrductin Deadline (20 pints) Intrductin Learning abut the tpic by reading bks, newspapers, and magazines/jurnals. Infrmatin gathered is 2 3 pages in length using the frmal writing prcedures (Passive vice: d nt use I, we, r yu). In the passive vice the subject is the recipient f the actin. The subject is placed at the end f the sentence r mitted. "The bike was ridden by the girl," is an example f passive vice. Passive vice sentences include a be-verb such as am, is, was, were, are r been. This is where yu include citatins thrughut the bdy f using the surces in yur literature cited. The intrductin starts with a brad basis and then narrws it dwn t yur particular field f study, explaining the ratinale behind each step. In the intrductin, yu are attempting t infrm the reader abut the ratinale behind the wrk, justifying why yur wrk is an essential cmpnent f research in the field. Yu can include infrmatin frm previus research, explanatins r theries, methds r equatins. The intrductin des nt have a strict wrd limit, unlike the abstract, but it shuld be as cncise as pssible. The intrductin gives an verall review f the paper, but des address a few slightly different issues frm the abstract. It wrks upn the principle f intrducing the tpic f the paper and setting it int a brad cntext, gradually narrwing dwn t a hypthesis. A gd intrductin explains hw yu mean t slve the research prblem, and creates leads t make the reader want t delve further int yur wrk. Define terms yu are using in yur experiment and explain what they are. Research ther experiments like yurs and state what their utcmes were. December 5, 2014 Prcedure & Materials Deadline (20 pints) 4

5 Prcedure/Methds Step-by-step instructins describing the entire experiment. Steps shuld be explained s that anther persn culd duplicate the experiment. Graphics r drawings f setup may be included in mre cmplex experiments. D nt include any results in this sectin. Any changes must be added as an addendum t the prcedure. Use paragraph frmat, nt ckbk frmat. Use Passive Vice Ex: Passive The windw was brken yesterday vs. Active: Dave brke the windw yesterday. Materials Incrprate int the paragraph f yur prcedure. Example: A slutin f 50ml f vinegar was used t cver ne egg. Include equipment, chemicals, rganisms, etc. (be specific ). Emphasis n Safety: List all necessary precautins yu tk while cnducting yur experiment. Take a lk at the safety cntract. Include Quantities! December 12, 2014 Results Deadline- 25 Pints Results The infrmatin r raw data (weights, temperature, etc.) yu gained frm the experiment. The results are usually presented in the frm f data tables, figures, graphs, and phtgraphs, which shuld then be referred t in the bdy f the paper ( and then explained in detailed in the analysis/cnclusin part). Data Table A table cntaining all f the data cllected. If there are multiple trials in the experiment an average r mean shuld be included. Give each data table a name. Ex: Table 1: The effect f sunlight n plant grwth. Graph A visual representatin f the data. Usually nly the averages are graphed. D nt graph raw data. Give each graph a title. Ex: Graph 1: Crrelatin between time and grwth. ( Graph is NOT a title!) December 19, 2014 Analysis/Cnclusins -25 pints Statistical Analysis: Statistical analysis is a frm f statistical measuring. It invlves asking a questin, analyzing as apprpriate and evaluating the raw data. Cllect as much data as pssible s yu can run statistical analysis n yur data that is meaningful. That is why 3-4 trials are encuraged. Key descriptive statistics include the mean (the arithmetic average) and the standard deviatin (the amunt f dispersin in the measures f a particular variable). Yu can use these descriptive statistics, fr example, t summarize average rates f grwth in plants under different climate cnditins. Cnclusin In the discussin and cnclusin sectin, the data cllected are interpreted in relatin t the hyptheses r purpses prpsed in the intrductin. It will take a minimum f 1-3 pages t d this. Yur findings shuld be related t existing knwledge n the tpic. Yu shuld als be able t suggest future experiments that might clarify areas f dubt in yur results. This sectin shuld nt just be a restatement f the results, but shuld stress interpretatin f the data, relating it t existing 5

6 thery and knwledge. In writing this sectin, yu shuld explain the lgic that allws yu t accept r reject yur hyptheses. December 19, 2014 Abstract Deadline (20 pints) Abstract A summary f the entire experiment describing majr results and cnclusins. It shuld be abut 2 paragraphs lng; n mre than ne page duble spaced. The purpse f an abstract is t allw the reader t judge whether it wuld serve his r her purpses t read the entire reprt. Write the abstract LAST, after cmpleting the rest f the reprt, even thugh the abstract cmes just after the title. The abstract shuld never cntain images r reference citatins. It is written in past tense, passive vice, and includes the fllwing: Purpse Hypthesis Summary f prcedure (very few wrds here) Summary f principle results and cnclusins January 6, 2015 Display Bard Deadline Mandatry fr Everyne Instructins and samples will be prvided in early December. A tri-fld bard will be required! 6

7 Research Plan Frmat fr Frm 1A (FIND yur cpy n zturnerchemistry.wikispaces.cm t type int) Tpic: Prblem/Purpse: What is the effect f n? Hypthesis: If then because. Independent Variable: Dependent Variable: Cntrl Grup Experimental Grup 1 Experimental Grup 2 Experimental Grup 3 Describe Each Grup # f Trials (At Least 3-4) Cnstants (cntrlled variables): Materials: (list here, but in paragraph frm fr paper) Prcedure: (brief) Data Analysis: (i.e. hw will yu cllect data and analyze this data) (brief) Bibligraphy: (APA- 5 minimum-varied surces, 5 schlarly references, reference cite f mdified idea) 7

8 Tpics T Avid The fllwing cntains examples f tpics that yu will want t avid fr yur science fair prject. Tpic t Avid Any tpic that bils dwn t a simple preference r taste cmparisn. Fr example, "Which tastes better: Cke r Pepsi?" Mst cnsumer prduct testing f the "Which is best?" type. This includes cmparisns f ppcrn, bubblegum, make-up, detergents, cleaning prducts, and paper twels. Any tpic that requires peple t recall things they did in the past. Effect f music r talking n plants Effect f running, music, vide games, r almst anything n bld pressure Effect f clr n memry, emtin, md, taste, strength, etc. Any tpic that requires measurements that will be extremely difficult t make r repeat, given yur equipment. Any tpic that requires dangerus, hard t find, expensive, r illegal materials. Graphlgy r handwriting analysis Astrlgy r ESP Any prject in vilatin f state law, federal law, state science fair rules, r Internatinal Science & Engineering Fair rules. Why? Such experiments dn't invlve the kinds f numerical measurements we want in a science fair prject. They are mre f a survey than an experiment. These prjects are mre f a marketing prject and nly have scientific validity if the investigatr fully understands the science behind why the prduct wrks and applies that understanding t the experiment. While many cnsumer prducts are easy t use, the science behind them is ften at the level f a graduate student in cllege. The data tends t be unreliable. Difficult t measure. The result is either bvius (the heart beats faster when yu run) r difficult t measure with prper cntrls (the effect f music). Highly subjective and difficult t measure. Withut measurement, yu can't d science. We care abut yur safety and yur parents' pcketbk. Questinable scientific validity. N scientific validity. In brief, yu may nt d a prject that invlves: wrking with bacteria (except in a designated, qualified lab), unacceptable risk (physical r psychlgical) t a human subject, cllectin f tissue samples frm living humans r vertebrate animals, drugging, pain, injury t a live vertebrate animal, r use f illegal r prhibited materials 8

9 Yu ve Chsen A Tpic? Hw Des Yur Tpic Measure Up? The fllwing table will help yu check t see if the research tpic/questin is bth narrw and interesting enugh t wrk. What Makes a Gd Science Fair Questin Fr a Gd Questin, Yu Shuld Answer "Yes" t Every Questin Is the tpic interesting enugh t read abut AND wrk n fr the next cuple mnths? Can yu find at least 3 surces f written infrmatin n the subject? (yu will eventually need a minimum f 5 surces) Can yu measure changes t the imprtant variables using a number that represents a quantity such as a cunt, length, width, weight, vltage, time, etc.? Or, just as gd, is yur variable ne that is simply present r nt present? Fr example, Lights ON in ne trial, then lights OFF in anther trial,. Incremental increases f yur variable. If yur data is qualitative, are yu able t make a scale t cnvert it t quantitative data? Can yu cntrl ther factrs that might influence the variables, s that they d nt interfere with yur experiment? Is yur experiment safe t perfrm? D yu have all the materials and equipment yu need fr yur prject, r will yu be able t btain them quickly and at a very lw cst? D yu have enugh time t cnduct many repeated trials fr yur experiment befre the lab reprt is due per the timeline that has been prvided t yu? Des yur prject meet all the rules and requirements fr yur science fair? Have yu checked t see if yur prject will require SRC (Scientific Review Cmmittee) apprval (i.e. is yur prject cnsidered a sensitive tpic and are yu eligible t plan a sensitive prject?) Have yu avided the bad tpic areas listed abve? P Mdified frm: Ms. Jenn Chumil- McLean HS 9

10 Schlarly References Literature Citatins. Yu must have at least 5 peer-reviewed r schlarly references. These are references written fr an audience f schlars and researchers in a particular field and are published in schlarly publicatins. a. Reference Requirements. i. There shuld be a minimum f three peer-reviewed r schlarly references. ii. Each reference must be cited at least nce in the paper. a. Types f References. i. Peer-reviewed r Schlarly. These are references written fr an audience f schlars and researchers in a particular field and are published in schlarly publicatins. Other terms cmmnly used t describe this type f jurnal are peer reviewed, academic, r refereed. Peer review is a prcess used t ensure the quality f articles. When an article is submitted t a peer-reviewed jurnal, the editr(s) send it ut t experts/schlars in the field (i.e. the authr s peers) t review and critically evaluate the article n quality, imprtance, and apprpriateness t the jurnal. Website surces can be peer-reviewed and schlarly. ii. Nn-peer-reviewed. Many website surces such as, magazine articles, are nly judged/reviewed by the editr/writer f the surce/magazine, wh may nt have any knwledge f the article's subject matter. Writers fr ppular publicatins are usually paid fr their articles. The articles are als usually geared t a mre general audience. Nte. If yu are nt sure whether an article is peer-reviewed r schlarly r nt, please check with smene wh might knw r wh culd check n this. iii. See the fllwing fr mre infrmatin: r b. Frmat and Style. i. The citatins are t be listed (divided) int tw sectins: Peer-reviewed and nn-peer-reviewed. See example belw. ii. Use APA style. Als see iii. The list is alphabetical by the last name f the first authr f a citatin. Use single spacing within each listing and duble space between the listings. See example belw EXAMPLE: Peer-reviewed and Schlarly references McCaffrey, Cheryl A. and Raymnd D. Dueser Plant assciatins f the Virginia barrier islands. Va.J.Sci.41: Spry, A Metamrphic Textures. Pergamn Press, New Yrk. 350pp. Strrs, Carina One fr the Ages: Bristlecne Pines Break 4,650-Year Grwth Recrd. < (24 Nvember 2009). Nn-peer-reviewed references Bristlecne Pine < lumber/wd-species-1/bristlecne-pine/> (February 1986). 10