2013-14 SCIENCE FAIR PROJECT TIMELINE
Action
Topic Selection and Preliminary Research Plans (Summer
Assignment)
• Experimental Designs completed with two possible project ideas.
• Must include 3 reliable sources in bibliography using APA style
Sciencecitations.
Fair Research Plan for Approved Topic
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Must be typed. Use ISEF Form 1A for formatting.
Must include minimum of 5 reliable sources in bibliography using
APA style citations.
Science Fair Forms
http://www.societyforscience.org/isef/document Completed
forms 1,1A and 1B due (for All Projects) with attached Research Plan
Additional ISEF Forms (for Special Projects) – see Teacher for Details.
All forms must be typed or they will not be accepted.
Begin Data Collection and Experimentation
In order to begin experimentation, you must have an approved research plan
and all required science fair forms must be filled out completely and
correctly. This is for your safety and the safety of others.
Submit Introduction and Literature Cited for Graded Feedback
Follow specific guidelines in Assignment Checklist.
Submit Materials and Methods, and Results Statistics and Graphs for
Graded Feedback
Follow specific guidelines in Assignment Checklist.
Submit Discussion/Conclusion for Graded Feedback
Follow specific guidelines for Assignment Checklist.
Full Research Paper or Powerpoint Presentation Due (25% of your
final exam grade)
• Follow specific guidelines in Assignment Checklist.
• Must include Abstract, Introduction, Materials and Methods,
Results, Conclusion, Literature Cited, and Appendix.
Due Date
Week of September 9
th
Week of September 30th
When ISEF Forms
Approved
Week of November 4th
Week of December 2nd
Week of December 16th
Week of January 13th
Washington Lee High School Science Fair
Students willing to participate in the WLHS Science Fair will receive extra
credit.
January 25th, 2014
Regional Science Fair
Those students selected as winners at the WLHS Science Fair may have the
opportunity to attend the Regional Science Fair.
Early March 2014
VJAS Symposium
Those students selected by the VJAS to present will attend the symposium at
Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia
State and International Science Fairs
Those students selected as winners at the Regional Science Fair may have the
opportunity to attend either the State or International Science Fair or both.
May 20th – May 22nd, 2014
State Fair – Early April
International Fair
in Los Angeles – Mid May
IMPORTANT: IF YOUR DUE DATE IS A SNOW DAY YOU MUST TURN IN YOUR REPORT ASAP ON THE
FOLLOWING SCHOOL DAY – EVEN IF YOU DO NOT HAVE CLASS THAT DAY.
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SCIENCE FAIR PROJECT EXPECTATIONS
This year, you have the option to choose whether you want to write a full research paper or simply create and
give a PowerPoint presentation. The requirements are the same for both options but the final package (what
you turn in) will be different. Please note that your choice of final package does not change your experiment
in any way. The Final product of your Science Fair Project will count 25% of your Final Exam Grade.
Option A: Research Paper
More Rigorous
Maximum Grade Possible: A (100%)
If you choose this option, you will complete a full research paper
that follows VJAS guidelines. For extra credit, you may wish to
submit your paper to the VJAS for selection.
Option B: PowerPoint Presentation
Less Rigorous
Maximum Grade Possible: B (86%)
To earn the maximum grade, your presentation should include the
same elements as the Research Paper. You will also be required
to present it orally to your teacher.
Extra Credit Option: W-L Science Fair
Regardless of which option you choose for your final project, to participate in the WLHS Science Fair, you will need
to create a display board. Your teacher will award extra credit for successful participation in Science Fair.
How Will My Choice Affect My Grade?
Before you choose which option to pursue, you need to consider the implications each have on your grade.
If you choose option A, you can receive a maximum grade of a 100% (A) for your science fair project.
However, an A is not guaranteed – your research paper will be graded based on a rubric and if any parts are
missing or deficient, you will lose points accordingly. Likewise, if you choose option B, the maximum grade
you can receive is an 86% (B). If you presentation is perfect, you will earn the B – if it is deficient in any way
based on the rubric you will lose points.
Can I Earn Extra Credit?
There are two ways you can earn extra credit towards your science fair project:
1. Enter the WLHS Science Fair – regardless of which option you choose for your final project, you
may participate in the WLHS Science Fair. To participate you need to be available from 7:30am-1
pm on Saturday, January 25th AND you need to create a teacher approved display board.
2. Submit your Research Paper to VJAS – if you chose option A, you are eligible to earn extra credit by
submitting your paper to the Virginia Junior Academy of the Sciences. To submit, you must have
teacher approval and fill out the VJAS application in its entirety. If your paper is selected, you must
attend the VJAS Symposium at Virginia Commonwealth University inMid-May.
Can I Switch Options?
If you start with option A and decide that writing a paper is taking too much time, you may switch to option
B – but you will no longer be eligible for VJAS or an A. Option B is a less rigorous product and can only earn a
maximum grade of B. You do not have to make this choice until the end. All deadline until that point will be
the same.
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Requirements for Final Paper (100% maximum grade) / PowerPoint Presentation (86% maximum grade)*
*The point total for a PowerPoint Presentation (Option B) will be multiplied by .86 to obtain a final grade. The PowerPoint Presentation (Option B)
should cover all the material as the paper orally and on the written PowerPoint slides. Students doing PowerPoint Presentations instead of a
written paper must arrange a presentation time outside of class and prior to the end of 2nd quarter for full credit. (Lunch, Before School or After
School). Students doing the written paper will not be required to present their papers orally.
Overall Experimental Design and Execution (25 points) – The overall design and execution of the experiment is a very important part
of the final grade. Be sure your paper reflects accurately all research, procedures and knowledge you acquired when carrying out
your experiment at the high school level.
Nuts and Bolts (5 points) Label each section when it begins in the paper or on the PowerPoint: Abstract, Introduction, Methods and
Materials, Results, Conclusion, Literature Cited, Appendix (Raw Data Tables, Pictures and Diagrams if available).
Abstract (5 points) The purpose of an abstract is to allow the reader to judge whether it would serve his or her purposes to read the
entire report. A good abstract is a concise ½ to 1 page summary of the purpose of the report, the data presented, and the author's
major results and conclusions. Write the abstract after completing the rest of the report, even though the abstract comes just
after the title. The abstract should never contain images or reference citations. For PowerPoint presentations, a typed abstract
should be handed to the teacher prior to beginning your presentation.
Introduction (15 points): The introduction defines the subject of the report. It must outline the scientific purpose(s) or objective(s) for
the research performed and give the reader sufficient background to understand the rest of the report and what has been done
previously. It should include at least 5 citations.
Materials and Methods (15 points): This section explains the equipment and supplies and methods employed in the research. All
procedures should be sufficiently detailed and clearly stated to allow duplication of the experiment. The number of organisms
(sample size), experimental replications, and/or type of statistical analysis should be included and the method of data analysis
should be clearly explained
Results (15 points): The results section should summarize the data from the experiments without discussing their implications. The
data should be organized into tables, figures, graphs, photographs, and so on. This section of your report should enable the
reader to develop an appreciation of the general trends in your data and the degree of variability in the results.
Discussion and Conclusion (15 points): In the discussion and conclusion section, the data collected are interpreted in relation to the
hypotheses or purposes proposed in the introduction. Your findings should be related to existing knowledge on the topic. You
should also be able to suggest future experiments that might clarify areas of doubt in your results. This section should not just be a
restatement of the results, but should stress interpretation of the data, relating it to existing theory and knowledge. In writing this
section, you should explain the logic that allows you to accept or reject your original hypotheses.
Literature Cited (5 points): The Literature cited is a list of all books, publications, and communications from which significant materials
were cited in the paper. The listing is alphabetical by the last name of the first author of a citation. “Scholarly” Computer sources
should be archived (library digital archives, files, databases, books, etc. which are available for inspection but are digitized and put
on-line for easy access and convenience) or refereed on-line journals.
Late Penalties
Turning in the project requires either the written paper for option A or the PowerPoint Presentation printed in note form and
arrangement for a presentation time with the teacher for option B.
10% penalty for projects not turned in by the due date until the end of the 2 nd quarter
25% penalty for projects not turned in by the end of the 3rd quarter.
50% penalty for projects not turned in by June 12th (Last day of school prior to Exams)
No credit will be awarded for papers/PowerPoint presentations not turned in by June 12th
The final grade on the science project will count 25% of the final exam grade.
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