Science Research Project

CENTRAL GWINNETT HIGH SCHOOL SCIENCE RESEARCH PROJECT

I. Science Research Project Rationale:

The science research project allows the student a chance to demonstrate an in-depth knowledge about a science topic of his or her choosing. Coursework concentrates on scientific factsand formulas, but conducting a scientific investigation gives a student the opportunity to research a topic, design and implement acceptable methods of collecting data, and draw valid conclusions.

II. General Information:

For this project, you will have complete the following during 1st Semester.

1. Develop your own original idea for a scientific investigation (you must solve a problem)

2. Do research into the background of your field

3. Develop your own hypothesis

4. Develop the experimental procedures (along with identifying an experimental and a control group)

5. Gather necessary materials (and fill out any necessary forms in a timely manner)

6. Perform the experiment, take photographs and collect data

7. Organize your data

8. Interpret your data in summary form

9. Analyze your data and draw conclusions

10. Write a formal report

III. Materials:

  • A bound log book(plain), preferably with graph paper
  • Materials for experiment (students must supply all materials needed for experimentation)
  • Tri-fold Project board (for display)
  • Pen (BLUE/BLACK ONLY)
  • Small photo album
  • 3 ring binder with pockets

IV. CalendarDue

Media Center (Research topic)Thurs, Aug 25

Parent letterFri, Aug 31

Topic/Narrow ScopeFri, Sept 7 Preplanning Sheet Fri, Sept 21

1st Logbook CheckFri, Oct 5

Completed forms & typed introductionFri, Oct 12

Typed researchFri, Oct 19

Typedexperimental designand dataFri, Oct 26

Typedabstract, conclusion and discussionFri, Nov 2

Forms and Logbook Fri, Nov 16

Final Paper Fri, Nov 30

Backboard, Photo album Fri, Dec 7

School Science Fair (select entries)TBD

County Science Fair(only 1st place School Science Fair Projects)Feb 22nd

Science Research Project Name______

Date Due: Friday, Aug 31

Dear Parents:

Science research projects are required in all gifted and honors level science classes at Central Gwinnett High School. Gifted and honors level science students have shown promise and interest in advanced-level science classes and are encouraged to pursue careers in medicine, engineering, and other highly-skilled and research-based fields. By allowing students to do the independent scientific research of their choice, we believe that our students gain insight to the scientific process (research, creative thought, experimental procedure, use of controls, analysis, etc) which is in many ways more important than learning scientific facts. We ask for your assistance in helping your child understand that this is part of the learning process that supplements the classroom experience.

To assist you, we have answered several frequently asked questions…

I. Q – Can my child do the same project as he/she did in a previous year? (Or a project done by a relative or friend?)

A – No, but a student may do a related project (complete with new research and new variables) if the instructor permits. It is essential that the student notify the instructor that he/she would like to do a related project prior to starting the project.

II. Q – When is my child’s science project due?

A – The final project must be completed by Dec 2. However, there will be several interim grades taken which will help keep your child on task that will be due from August through November. The dates and details of the exact assignments are detailed in the Science Research Project Packet.

III. Q – What if my child turns in his/her project late?

A-This is a long-term assignment. Thesame rules that apply to all major grades apply to this project. A 10% point deduction (from the “earned credit”) if any or the entire project is not turned in by the beginning of the class period on the date it is due, 20% if two days late and 50% if 3 days late. This applies to all members of a group.

IV. Q – What type of projects are not allowed?

A - Projects which involve taste testing or explosives are not allowed. Projects which are deemed too simplistic by your teacher are not allowed (ie, detergent effectiveness, plant growth w/different lights, antacid effectiveness, etc.)

B - Projects which involve humans,vertebrate animals, recombinant DNA, pathogens/bacteria, controlled substances, human or animal tissue or hazardous substances or devices -- UNLESS – the student is willing to:

1. Work in a lab with a qualified adult supervisor (outside of school) AND…

2. Submit the numerous proper certifications on a timely basis (prior to and after experimentation)

V. Q – To what extent should I (the parent) be involved in my child’s Science Research Project?

A - 1. Please read the packet and grading information.

2. Assist in transportation to library, lab, store to purchase equipment, or to regional, state, or national Science Fair.

3. You (or a friend) may be qualified to serve as a project “Supervisor” if your child needs one (See V.A.2 above)

4. Checking on your child’s progress on a regular basis. You should be aware that part of your child’s grade will be based on frequent log book entries. (at least TWICE a week)

5. Parents are strongly discouraged from supplying ideas or manual labor involved in any aspect of the project.

VI. Q – OK, now how should we get started?

A - 1. Please read the Science ResearchProject Packet and put pertinent dates, etc. on your family’s calendar

2. Purchase a Science Log Book (a bound, NOT SPIRAL, plain composition book, preferably with graph paper). SAVE ALL RECEIPTS.

3. Read your student’s Topic Sheet for his/her plans and a cost estimate on the project

3. Sign below & have your child return byFriday, August 31st.

Parent Signature:______Student Signature:______

Please feel free to email me with any comments or questionsthat you may have regarding the Science Research Project.

CHOOSE A TOPIC

Date Due:Wednesday, September 5th

Name: ______

Get an idea of what you want to study. Ideas might come from hobbies or problems you see that need solutions. Places to look for ideas include texts, magazines, newspapers, television, or conversations with professionals in your area of interest. You may also refer to the enclosed 2011 Student Handbook which includes information on how to choose a topic. Remember that a scientific project is not a model or a demonstration. You are going to have to work with this topic for a semester so choose carefully!

BRAINSTORMING: Make a quick list of topics or areas in science that interest you in the space below.

Looking over your list, circle your top 5 topics or areas. Take some time and really think about your top 5 topics.

What is your final topic/area: ______

How many sources did you find on your topic? ______

______

NARROW TOPIC SCOPE

Date Due: Friday, September 7th

Once you have a specific area chosen for your topic, form a hypothesis in an IF/THEN format. Remember that you are trying to test your idea. IF you do this THEN this will happen

IF ______

THEN______

Having trouble? Talk to your teacher.

Once you have your IF/THEN think about how you are going to test this.

How much time do you think it will take you to test your idea? ______

Do you have the equipment necessary to do this project? ______

Will this project cost too much for you to do? ______

Think about the above answers. If you don’t have the time or the money to do what you have come up with, go back and rethink your topic.

PREPLANNING SHEET

Name:

Due Date: Friday, September 21st

  1. Proposed Title:

(*Your title, including spaces, cannot exceed 65 characters)

  1. Circle your Category: If you are not sure of the category, ASK!

Animal SciencesEnergy & Transportation

Behavioral & Social SciencesEnvironmental Management

BiochemistryEnvironmental Sciences

Cellular & Molecular BiologyMathematical Sciences

ChemistryMedicine & Health Sciences

Computer ScienceMicrobiology

Earth & Planetary SciencePhysics & Astronomy

Engineering: Electrical & Mech.Plant Sciences

Engineering: Materials & Bioeng.

3. a)Independent Variable:

Measured by:

b)Dependent Variable:

Measured by:

c)Control Variables:Measured by:

______

______

  1. Adult Sponsor’s Name:

Location:

  1. Bibliography/works cited: (if you are having trouble with MLA format try using

a)

b)

c)

d)

e)

  1. Experimental Procedure: Write this in numbered stepsON SEPARATE PAPER! First list the equipment and supplies needed with the approximate quantities. Draw a sketch of your equipment setup if needed. Grading will be based on your thoroughness and brevity, but you must use complete sentences. Finally, label a new section as Sample Data Table. This table won’t have any data in it as it will only be a sample of the table(s) you will use to collect your data. Show the correct column and row labels that you will use to record your actual data. Once approved, copy this procedure to your log book.

______

7. TEACHER COMMENTS: (Students: Leave this part blank!)

___ topic seems too simple for your grade level; choose another topic

___ topic requires university help – do you have access?

___ narrow your topic –too broad/too many variables

___ unclear what you might be testing

___ topic will require special permission, supervisor, & many forms

___ you may not use plants / people / surveys / sampling / partners

___ SEE ME within 3 days – you will need to re-do the Preplanning Sheet, due by ______ but we must speak first!

Things I’ll be looking for in Logbook Check #1First Check: Fri, Oct 5

I. When purchasing a log book, look for:

  • A bound logbook, such as a “Composition Book” (plain, marble-type) (NOT: spiral, 3-ring, loose leaf)

II. These are things you must keep in mind when doing entries and/or research:

  • All entries in BLUE or BLACK INK (colored pencil may ONLY be used to color-code graphs).
  • You MUST put the correct chronologicaldate on each entry.
  • Your logbook must show that you frequently are thinking and working on your science project (min. 2x/wk).
  • OK to state: “Purchased materials at Home Depot” (& tape the receipt on the front of the page), or “Emailed Dr. Smith with these questions:” (and list them!)
  • All your entries should be meaningful; i.e.: you should not have a page stating “today I did nothing”. You may put several entries on a page, but skip a line and make sure you date each entry. If you ran out of things to say on one page and went to the top of the next page, draw a diagonal on the blank area and sign your initials across the diagonal line.
  • If you made an incorrect entry that is more than 1 line in length, draw a diagonal line across the incorrect statement or information and sign your initials across the diagonal line
  • No printed material should be taped or stapled into the logbook (i.e.: no background from the Internet that you printed out) with the exception of: PHOTOS, RECEIPTS, and computer generated GRAPHS.

III. These are things you can do as soon as you get your logbook:

  • On the cover, put Central Gwinnett High School and your name (first and last) – BE NEAT!
  • Number the front of each page from beginning to end of logbook IN BLUE OR BLACK PEN at the bottom outside corner. Start with the very first page!
  • Page 1 is the Title Page. Print your project title, your name, teacher’s name and date you started project. Center and use this format:

Title of Your Project (65 characters max, including spaces)

Your Name

Teacher Name

Date Started

  • Page 2 is for the Table of Contents. **DO NOT NUMBER YOUR TABLE OF CONTENTS UNTIL YOU ARE COMPLETELY DONE WITH YOUR PROJECT! *These page numbers are just a suggestion. Your sections may be bigger or smaller depending on the project.

PageItem

1 Title Page

2Table of Contents

3-15Research

16-40Dated Entries

Etc.Experimental Outline

Revisions

Data

Graphs

Rough Draft of Paper

Bibliography/Works Cited

Acknowledgements

  • After the Table of Contents, the next section is for the beginning of your Research. Since all research is to be completed before beginning the experiment, this section should be complete for the first notebook check. Use the following format:
  • #1*Number each source
  • Author
  • Title
  • Name of Publication (Journal or Website the article is from)
  • Pages cited
  • Website address
  • Exact Quotes
  • Other information
  • Next, label a section called Dated Entries. This is where you will record everything you do (and the date you do it) that had anything to do with your project. This is where you would tape any receiptsyou might have and say, “Today I went to Home Depot and purchased ______.”
  • After Dated Entries, begin your Experimental Outline. This section should be a list of materials and a step-by-step procedure of what you will be doing in your experiment. Include any drawings that you may need.

Final Logbook Grade

Due Date: Fri, Nov 16th

  • Additional dated entries (min. 2x week!)
  • After the experimental outline section, leave a page or two for any revisions you might need to make in order for your experiment to work. Call this the Revisionssection. It might never be needed, but you never know….
  • Next is the Datasection. This is where your data tables and other collected data will go. All experimental work should be repeatable. This means you will need to run multiple trials with a large number of samples (minimum of 5) for each trial (run at least 3 trials).
  • Photos: You should include at least 3 (but no more than 8) photos of your project IN VARIOUS STAGES OF

EXPERIMENTATION (not just photos of your project from various angles). Your photos should be neatly taped (not glued) and should have brief descriptions. DO NOT SHOW THE FACE OF ANYONE IN PICTURES.

  • Computer Generated Graphs – Include any graphs you have. Make sure to label all graphs properly (title, each axis, units…)
  • Rough Draft of paper – You should have begun a rough draft of your paper. Include it here.
  • References/Bibliography (at least 5 sources including a personal interview; documentation of all sources as described). One bibliographical reference must be documentation of an interview you conducted with someone who is an expert in the field you’ve studied. Each reference should include at least 3 facts per reference. Thorough bibliographical info is necessary even for internet-derived sources
  • Acknowledgements you should make (teachers, parents, others who may have given you advice, suggestions, etc).

How to Write A Research Paper

EACH SECTION SHOULD BEGIN ON A NEW PAGE! YOU MAY LABEL THE SECTION, BUT DO NOT WRITE THE LETTER!

a) Title Page –Center the research project title. Put name, school, school address, and grade at the bottom right.

b) Table of Contents – Number each section when you finish writing.

c) Introduction/Purpose - This sets the scene for your report. The introduction should explain what prompted your research and what you hoped to achieve. Conclude by stating the purpose of the study and your hypothesis for your experimentation.

d) Abstract -This is a brief summary of the project. It should include purpose, hypothesis, brief description of procedures, a statement of results, and the conclusion. This should be done in complete sentences and in a clear, concise manner. The Abstract cannot be longer than 250 words. This is the same Abstract that will be inserted into the Abstract form.

Helpful Hints

Use past tense and third person.

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 the results, conclusions, or findings in a clear concise fashion.

e) Research - This section will be a formal paper written in third person that summarizes all the information that you have collected. Think of this section as a paper within a paper. It should have an introduction, body and conclusion. It should include background information about your topic and the reasoning behind your choice of study. Refer to previous research as well as your own experiments. From the review of the literature, summarize information essential for understanding the research project. This should include only critical background information on the independent and dependent variables and research studies that directly relate to the research problem. Establish a strong rationale for the study by emphasizing unresolved issues or questions. Don’t forget to cite! Use MLA format (just like you would in your Language Arts class).

d) The Experimental Design: Materials& Procedures– Describe in detail the methodology used to derive your data and observations. Your report should be detailed enough so that someone would be able to repeat your experiment just by reading your paper. Use photographs and drawings of your equipment to describe your experiment further. Step listings are not acceptable. Include a precise description of your materials and procedure.