Name:_________________________________________ Date: ________________________
Science Fair Research Paper:
The purpose of your research paper is to give you the information to understand why your
experiment turns out the way it does. While you record information on this outline, make sure
you also record all the sources of information you have used. You need at least three
sources of information cited. (Look below to make sure you have cited your source
correctly.) If you copy text from one of your sources, then place it in quotation marks in addition
to following it with a citation. Be sure you understand and avoid plagiarism! Do not copy
another person's work and call it your own. Always give credit where credit is due! Never quote
an encyclopedia. Do not use Wikipedia as a source!
Final papers must be typed in Times New Roman Font, size 12, double spaced.
Research Outline:
Introduction Paragraph:
Sentence 1: Attention grabber
Sentence 2: introduce sub topic 1
Sentence 3: introduce sub topic 2
Sentence 4: introduce sub topic 3
Sentence 5: Transition
Body Paragraph 1:
Sentence 1: Introduce sub topic 1
Sentence 2: 1st supporting detail
Sentence 3: 2nd supporting detail
Sentence 4: 3rd supporting detail
Sentence 5: Transition
Body Paragraph 2:
Sentence 1: Introduce sub topic 2
Sentence 2: 1st supporting detail
Sentence 3: 2nd supporting detail
Sentence 4: 3rd supporting detail
Sentence 5: Transition
Body Paragraph 3:
Sentence 1: Introduce sub topic 3
Sentence 2: 1st supporting detail
Sentence 3: 2nd supporting detail
Sentence 4: 3rd supporting detail
Sentence 5: Transition
Conclusion Paragraph:
Re-state your introduction, in new
words, but the same order
Breakdown of Sub Topics:
Sub Topic 1:
What is your science fair concept?
Sub Topic 2:
History of your concept.
Sub Topic 3:
How does this concept relate to
your science fair project?
You will find your supporting
details in your search notes.
How to site sources in your Works Cited:
Internet:
Author Last Name, First Name, "Title of Article:
Subtitle of article." Title of Website. Name of
publisher. Date of publication. Web Address.
Date of access.
Book:
Last name, First name. Title of Book. City of
Publication: Publisher, Year of Publication.
Medium of Publication.
Order of your typed paper:
1. Research Paper
2. Key Vocabulary Terms (on a separate sheet of paper)
3. Works Cited (on a separate sheet of paper)
Name:_________________________________________ Date: ________________________
Science Fair Research Outline:
Sub Topic 1: What is the concept you will be testing in your science fair project?
(ex: buoyancy, elasticity—that’s potential energy, heart rates, chemical reactions, potential
energy of Carbon Dioxide etc. If you need help identifying your key concept, see me)
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Supporting Details: Give a clear definition explaining your concept in at least 3 sentences
(these will be your supporting details)
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Sub Topic 2: History of your concept
Supporting Details:
Who invented/ discovered it?
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When did he/she discover it?
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Why was it an important discovery?
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Interesting Facts about your concept. (you may use these where you feel they best fit in..
attention grabbers?)
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Name:_________________________________________ Date: ________________________
Sub Topic 3:
How does your concept relate to your science fair project?
Supporting Details: You will need to include at least three supporting details.
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Works Cited: At least three sources!
Don’t forget to cite every source you use! If you use quotations, you must include the sources
within your writing….
Ex: “Sally likes dogs,” according to the website All About Sally.
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Type Key Vocabulary Terms—You should have AT LEAST 3 on a separate sheet of
paper with clear definitions (cite where you found the definitions in your Works Cited
Vocab Terms:
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