Science Fair Literature Review

Science Fair Planning Timeline

Bring research to class

12/8

Hypothesis/ Scientific Question

12/12

Literature Review

12/16

Experimental Procedure/ Research Procedure

12/18

Report on your project status to classmates

12/18-12/19

Experiment write-up/ research paper rough draft

1/7

Project Board Outline

1/9

Ray Science Fair

1/20

Regional Science Fair (for students who qualify)

1/24

Science Fair Literature Review Guidelines

DUE December 16th

• The Science Fair Literature Review includes three parts: a title page, the paper, and a reference page.

• NO PLAGIARISM ALLOWED

• Use only third person – no ‘I,’ ‘we,’ ‘us,’ ‘me,’ ‘you,’ etc.

• You must use at least FIVE resources.

• All three parts must be typed, double-spaced in Times New Roman 12 point type.

• Paper should be 3-5 pages long

• Do not include pictures or graphics on any part of your title page, paper, or reference page.

• Directions for the Literature Review format are on the other side of this paper.

• Title Page should contain the following information centered on the page:

• Title of Project

• Your Name

• Grade Level

• William H. Ray Elementary

• Chicago, Illinois

• Citations should be in APA style

o Put the # of the citation in parentheses after the first statement from the source you’re using.

o Build your bibliography at: http://www.bibme.org/

o Make sure you pick APA style for the format!

• Keep your sentences short and specific – no need to add elaborate adjectives or flowery phrases in a science paper

• Keep it professional – only present the background of your project, this isn’t the place for questions, or to talk to reader.

FORMAT FOR SCIENCE FAIR LITERATURE REVIEW

First Paragraph: Introduction

a) Tell what your science fair topic and purpose of experiment is going to be.

For example: The purpose of this science fair experiment was to discover which plant grows best under certain conditions. In order to better understand the experiment, research was done on the process of photosynthesis.

b) Write your hypothesis, and summarize why you decided on that hypothesis.

c) Explain the variables in your experiment, including independent, dependent, and controlled variables.

d) Write a conclusion sentence that summarizes the most important fact that you learned from your research.

For example: The research led the reader to the basic conclusion that plants must have light in order to complete the process of photosynthesis.

Second Paragraph: First Source

a) Use the handout you filled out for your first source for the bibliographic information. Give the bibliographic information in sentence form. For example: The first source reviewed was a book written by Travis Klein titled The Habitat of Rainbow Trout.

b) Use your notes to summarize the information you found from this source. Remember that if you write any information word-for-word, you must put it in direct quotes. You should have at least three facts from each source!

c) Relate how you will use this information in your investigation.

d) End the paragraph with a concluding sentence that summarizes the information you got from this source.

Third, Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Paragraph: Follow the above process to write the information from your second, third, fourth, and fifth source.

Seventh Paragraph: Conclusion

a) Write a sentence or two that summarizes the overall facts and information you gathered from your research. For example: Overall, the research indicated the importance of genetics in determining the eye color of children.

b) Explain how your research supports the procedure you are going to follow in your investigation.

c) Explain a fact that you found surprising or interesting. For example: One of the most interesting things learned in the research on starfish was the concept of regeneration. When a starfish loses an arm through an accident or disease, it will grow one back.

d) Explain how you think this information will affect your hypothesis. For example: Knowing this information will affect the science fair project because the reader now knows that the controlled variable needs to be the same length of time in each testing situation.

e) Write a conclusion sentence that explains the value of doing this research of literature before continuing with your science fair project. For example: Researching and reviewing these three sources gave the exhibitor a much better understanding of simple machines. This knowledge will help the exhibitor to complete a more successful science fair project.