ENGINEERING FAIR PROJECT
GUIDELINES
A. Laboratory Report Guidelines/General Instructions: You must word process your laboratory
report. It must be done with twelve point font using either Times New Roman font or Calibri
font. The report should be single spaced. You need to include a cover page or title page.
You also need to include a table of contents. Number all pages. You may have more than
one section on each page. Make sure to use correct spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
Avoid the use of personal pronouns. You will be evaluated on the items below based on
completion and quality.
B. Order of the Lab Report: The following sections must be in this order and each section must
have a title. Remember, you need to include a title page and a table of contents. The abstract
will actually go on the title page.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Abstract
Purpose
Introduction
Summary of Research
Materials
Procedure
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
Project Diagram
Photographs
Data Table and Graph
Conclusion
Acknowledgements
Bibliography
C. The individual sections in your lab report will be graded using the following criteria. Be sure
to read each part carefully.
1. Title Page
 The title page of your report will be page one of the report.
 The title page should include a catchy title.
 Include your name, school, and grade.
 The abstract should be placed on the title page.
 Include a picture/graphic that relates to your topic.
2. Table of Contents
 The table of contents will be page two of the report.
 The table of contents should list sections starting with the purpose and
ending with the bibliography.
 Include the page number(s) the sections can be found.
3. Abstract
 This is a summary of your entire project. It should be 200 words or less.
 Begin by restating the purpose.
 Include a summary of your procedure.
 Include a summary of your results/conclusion.
 Use past tense (verb usage).
 The abstract should be placed on the title page.
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4. Purpose
 It should be in a complete sentence.
 It should explain the purpose or goal of the contest.
 Use correct grammar and spelling.
5. Introduction
 Include an overview of the goals of the contest. Include the constraints and
challenges the contest requires participants to adhere to.
 Refer to the contest rules of the Engineering Fair section of the Oklahoma
Engineering Foundation website as a resource.
http://oef.org/programs/engineering-fair/contest-rules
 The introduction should be at least five sentences in length.
 Eliminate use of personal pronouns such as I, me, and we for a more
professionally sounding section.
6. Research
 Summary of the research you collect.
 Must be written in your own words, unless you use quotations or
paraphrases. Do not include an entire paragraph that is one big quote. If
plagiarism is suspected, you will receive a zero on this section.
 Information must be relevant to your project.
 The research should be at least a page in length (A minimum of four
paragraphs; minimum of 400 total words; minimum of 32 sentences).
 Make sure the information is separated into manageable paragraphs.
 Eliminate use of personal pronouns such as I, me, and we for a more
professionally sounding section.
7. Materials
 List all materials used.
 Use a listing method (1, 2, 3)
 Use a capital letter for the first word of each item listed.
 Include the materials not only needed to make the project, but also to test it.
 Refer to the contest rules of the Engineering Fair section of the Oklahoma
Engineering Foundation website as a resource.
http://oef.org/programs/engineering-fair/contest-rules
 Indicate quantities, amounts, sizes, colors, etc.
 Be specific!
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8. Procedure
 Step by step (Use listing method)
 Capitalize first letter of each item.
 Include no more than five steps on how to build the engineering device.
 Include at least five steps on how to test and analyze the effectiveness of the
engineering device.
 Refer to the contest rules of the Engineering Fair section of the Oklahoma
Engineering Foundation website as a resource.
http://oef.org/programs/engineering-fair/contest-rules
 Be very specific and detailed. A stranger should be able to read your
procedure and follow the project just as you had performed it exactly
(especially the testing of the project)!
 Eliminate use of personal pronouns such as I, me, and we for a more
professionally sounding section.
9. Project Diagram
 Include a detailed diagram or sketch of the project device.
 Include labels when appropriate.
 The rough draft of the diagram can be done using a pencil or pen.
 The revised and final draft of the diagram is expected to be done using a
computer drawing program on your computer. If you do not have a drawing
program on your computer, the following website has free software that can
be downloaded and used to complete the project diagram.
http://www.autodesk.com/education/home
10. Photographs
 Include at least four photographs of the project with captions.
 At least two of the photographs must be from the construction and testing of
the prototype or initial device (one photograph of you building the device
and one of you testing the device). The testing of the initial device will at
school on December 3.
 At least two of the photographs must be from the construction and testing of
the final product or device. The testing of the final product or device will be
done at the school’s engineering fair on February 4.
 The captions do not need to be in complete sentences, but should describe
what each photograph is showing.
 Eliminate use of personal pronouns such as I, me, and we for a more
professionally sounding section.
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11. Data Table and Graph
 One data table and one graph will need to be made.
 Must be done using a computer graphing program. They look much neater!
 Correctness in labeling the data table and graph will be graded.
 They should include the data collected from the initial and final testing of the
project.
 Only one trial from the initial testing needs to be recorded and presented in
the data table and graph, except for the rubber band powered vehicle contest
which will be tested three times.
 Only one trial from the final testing at the school engineering fair needs to be
recorded and presented in the data table and graph, except for the rubber
band powered vehicle contest which will be tested three times at the school
engineering fair.
 The data from the initial testing of the project will be collected during school
on December 3. The data from the final testing of the project will be
collected at the school’s engineering fair on February 4.
12. Conclusion
 Explain what the results of the testing of your project were, both initial and
final.
 Explain whether the project or device was a success or not.
 Include suggested improvements that could make the device or process even
more successful.
 Include a statement of recommendation for future work.
 Use past tense.
 Should be at least five sentences in length.
 Eliminate use of personal pronouns such as I, me, and we for a more
professionally sounding section.
13. Acknowledgements
 Thank those who helped through part or all of the project.
 Include names and how each person helped you.
 You can use personal pronouns in this section.
14. Bibliography
 At least five sources. The more the better.
 These can be from books, journals, encyclopedias, and websites. Please
avoid the use of Wikipedia as a source.
 The citations should be alphabetized based upon the first word that appears
in the citation.
 Use APA format. This is the format that scientists use.
 See the research and bibliography handout for guidance.
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