Writing and Introduction and Aim
This week (week 2) you need to have decided on your project focus/question and write your draft introduction and aim. Your introduction is where you will explain how you came up with your idea and why you want to find out more. Your aim is a one sentence statement that clearly explains what you are aiming to find out (experiment) or create (invention).
Have a look at the slideshow of some examples of Introductions and Aims from previous years projects. I have also included examples of hypotheses as these are closely linked to your aim.
Please note: these are a selection and are not necessarily perfect examples - they give you the general idea.
This week (week 2) you need to have decided on your project focus/question and write your draft introduction and aim. Your introduction is where you will explain how you came up with your idea and why you want to find out more. Your aim is a one sentence statement that clearly explains what you are aiming to find out (experiment) or create (invention).
Have a look at the slideshow of some examples of Introductions and Aims from previous years projects. I have also included examples of hypotheses as these are closely linked to your aim.
Please note: these are a selection and are not necessarily perfect examples - they give you the general idea.
Useful Science & Technology Fair Docs:
- Timeline
- Scoring rubric
- What you need in your log book
- How to write a hypothesis
- Writing a method
- Example of a display board
- Scoring rubric
- What you need in your log book
- How to write a hypothesis
- Writing a method
- Example of a display board
Here are some of the boards from the students in Room 13 (2013). Consider carefully which displays are most effective and why.
Method:
Plan and write your method for your investigation/experiment. Write down all the materials and equipment you will need. Write this as a list.
Next, write your method. This involves step by step of how you are conducting your experiment. Remember the steps must be in order. Your method must be clear enough for someone else to pick your method and copy your experiment perfectly.
Fair testing:
Fair testing finds relationships between variables. A single variable is changed while keeping other variables the same.
Identify what the variable (the one thing you are changing) and then observe or measure the change to your results.
Example: for Crazy Canisters; we changed one variable, the amount of water used, but kept the amount of baking soda and tartaric acid the same. We then recorded the difference it made to our results.
Fair testing also involves repeating the experiment 3 times (if possible). This allows for you to check if you can get the same results each time and prove the validity of your experiment.
Record:
What are your variables:
Which variable are you changing?
Why?
Which variables are you keeping the same? Why?
Plan and write your method for your investigation/experiment. Write down all the materials and equipment you will need. Write this as a list.
Next, write your method. This involves step by step of how you are conducting your experiment. Remember the steps must be in order. Your method must be clear enough for someone else to pick your method and copy your experiment perfectly.
Fair testing:
Fair testing finds relationships between variables. A single variable is changed while keeping other variables the same.
Identify what the variable (the one thing you are changing) and then observe or measure the change to your results.
Example: for Crazy Canisters; we changed one variable, the amount of water used, but kept the amount of baking soda and tartaric acid the same. We then recorded the difference it made to our results.
Fair testing also involves repeating the experiment 3 times (if possible). This allows for you to check if you can get the same results each time and prove the validity of your experiment.
Record:
What are your variables:
Which variable are you changing?
Why?
Which variables are you keeping the same? Why?
Here are some methods to look through for ideas. Please look at them critically. Decide whether they are worded or set out clearly. These have been selected as an example only and are not necessarily the 'best' methods.
SCIENCE FAIR VOCAB:
Aim: Statement telling the reader what you are trying to do/achieve.
Hypothesis: A prediction of what you think will happen BEFORE you do your experiment or investigation.
Method: A list of instructions in order of how to do your experiment.
Observation: Description in words and/or pictures of what happened during your experiment.
Conclusion: Report your findings. Was your hypothesis correct? Why or why not….
Fair Test: An investigation or test in which you only change ONE variable.
Variable: A part of your experiment that is able to be changed. In a fair test you must only change ONE variable throughout the testing.
Aim: Statement telling the reader what you are trying to do/achieve.
Hypothesis: A prediction of what you think will happen BEFORE you do your experiment or investigation.
Method: A list of instructions in order of how to do your experiment.
Observation: Description in words and/or pictures of what happened during your experiment.
Conclusion: Report your findings. Was your hypothesis correct? Why or why not….
Fair Test: An investigation or test in which you only change ONE variable.
Variable: A part of your experiment that is able to be changed. In a fair test you must only change ONE variable throughout the testing.