1.
Title
Try to make it an accurate description of the project. For example, I could entitle a project, 'Why is the sky blue?'. Avoid unnecessary words, while covering the essential purpose of the project.
Try to make it an accurate description of the project. For example, I could entitle a project, 'Why is the sky blue?'. Avoid unnecessary words, while covering the essential purpose of the project.
2.
Introduction and
Purpose
Sometimes this section is called 'Background'. Whatever its name, this section introduces the topic of the project, notes any information already available, explains why you are interested in the project, and states the purpose of the project.
Sometimes this section is called 'Background'. Whatever its name, this section introduces the topic of the project, notes any information already available, explains why you are interested in the project, and states the purpose of the project.
3.
The Hypothesis or
Question
Explicitly state your hypothesis or question.
Explicitly state your hypothesis or question.
4.
Materials and
Methods
List the materials you used in your project and describe the procedure that you used to perform the project. If you have a photo or diagram of your project, this is a good place to include it.
List the materials you used in your project and describe the procedure that you used to perform the project. If you have a photo or diagram of your project, this is a good place to include it.
5. Research Data and Results
Data and Results are not the same thing. Data refers to the actual numbers or other research information you obtained in your project. Data can be presented in tables or charts, if appropriate. In this case, the data is the internet research you did to solve the answer to your question.
Data and Results are not the same thing. Data refers to the actual numbers or other research information you obtained in your project. Data can be presented in tables or charts, if appropriate. In this case, the data is the internet research you did to solve the answer to your question.
Results section is where the data is manipulated or the hypothesis is tested.
Sometimes this analysis will yield tables, graphs, or charts, too. For example,
a table listing the minimum concentration of salt that I can taste in water,
with each line in the table being a separate test or trial, would be data. If I
average the data or perform a statistical test of a null hypothesis, the
information would be the results of the project. The research data and the experiment will be done for the class.
6.
Conclusion
The Conclusion focuses on the Hypothesis or Question as it compares to the Data and Results. What was the answer to the question? Was the hypothesis supported (keep in mind a hypothesis cannot be proved, only disproved)? What did you find out from the experiment? Answer these questions first. Then, depending on your answers, you may wish to explain ways in which the project might be improved or introduce new questions that have come up as a result of the project. This section is judged not only by what you were able to conclude, but also by your recognition of areas where you could not draw valid conclusions based on your data.
The Conclusion focuses on the Hypothesis or Question as it compares to the Data and Results. What was the answer to the question? Was the hypothesis supported (keep in mind a hypothesis cannot be proved, only disproved)? What did you find out from the experiment? Answer these questions first. Then, depending on your answers, you may wish to explain ways in which the project might be improved or introduce new questions that have come up as a result of the project. This section is judged not only by what you were able to conclude, but also by your recognition of areas where you could not draw valid conclusions based on your data.
