Format
1 inch margins all around
Size 12
Times New Roman
Double spaced
Title page
Title: needs to be very specific about what your project is about
Running head: short version of your title to use in the header at the top of every page next to the page number
Class: Chemistry or Biology
Category: for science fair
Ex. Behavioral sciences
Engineering
Animal science
Abstract
Abstract: 200-250 word summary of your project
Includes: question or problem, specific hypothesis, general materials and procedures, results and conclusion
In other words: quickly describe your entire project
Body: 2-5 pages describing your project in great detail
Introduction: Describes the question and hypothesis
First, describe what the question is and why you decided to investigate that question.
Then, describe your hypothesis and why you think that is the hypothesis.
Literature review:
Discuss and explain the background research, vocabulary, ideas, explanations, etc that helped you develop your project. Be sure to give the name of the author or institution who wrote it, article name, and year in the sentence.
Ex. According to the CDC article “Germs, germs, everywhere” (1998), infectious bacteria is everywhere, and is commonly found in public places.
Ex. Bacteria are single celled organisms that can sometimes invade the body and cause disease (CDC, “Germs, germs, everywhere”, 1998).
After you quote information, always explains it in your own words and describe how it helps you project.
Materials:
List all materials used for the project, including any surveys, measurements tools, interview questions, etc.
Procedure:
Write the procedures in complete sentences. Include words like, “first”, “second”, “third”, “then”, “afterwards”, etc.
Be detailed. Explain the amount of time needed, especially if the project took several days or weeks to complete. Include what data you were collecting and how you collected it, where recorded it, etc.
Safety:
List all safety hazards and dangers associated with your project
Ex. Glassware: handle with care, dispose of properly if it breaks, such as putting it in a cardboard box before disposal so no one gets cut.
Results:
This section is for graphs, charts, and table displaying your collected data. Paragraphs should explain what is displayed in the graphs, charts etc.
Conclusion:
Summarizes your results and explain whether or not the results support or disprove the hypothesis. There is no right or wrong: just proven or disproven.
Explain the good and bad parts about your investigation and how you would change the project if you needed to do it again.
Ex. Based on the finding, my hypothesis was incorrect. If I were to re-do this experiment, my new hypothesis would be ______and I would change the materials and procedure by doing the following: ______
Also explain how this investigation helped you to learn something new and how this information would be of help to others.
Reference page
Use the following websites to help create a proper reference page. Simply choose MLA or APA (whichever you choose, use for all references).
Then plug in the information you have available about your reference and click submit.
http://citationmachine.net/index2.php
http://www.easybib.com/
http://www.makecitation.com/1.php