RESEARCH PROJECT INSTRUCTIONS Dear Parents and Students, We wish to extend to you a most cordial greeting on behalf of our Science Department! Through this document, we are presenting valuable information that will facilitate the completion of the Research Project for this school year 2020-2021. We expect it to be helpful. Any questions should be directed to your child’s Science facilitator. Research Project: What should I do, and when should I hand in my project? I) Each teacher will indicate the due dates for each part of the research project. The project should be handed-in in a binder, preferably spiral, without plastic sheets, or a PDF document. II) The cover page must have the school’s name (Radians School), the title of the project, the student’s name and homeroom. No pictures or drawings should be included. The identification of the project will be removed before being evaluated by the judges during the Final Stage. III) The parts of the research project that are to be handed-in, either for correction or final work, must be written in computer format with double spacing. The font that is accepted is Times New Roman, size 12. APA style must be followed, according to discussions. Each page should be numbered in the top right corner. The title of the project should be written in the header of each page using capital letters. IV) Each teacher will use uniform evaluation standards established in accordance with the students’ grade and level. The investigation will receive two grades, which are divided in the following manner: a. The first project grade will be granted during the first semester, and will depend on the students’ responsibility to hand in on time each of the documents asked by the teacher. In addition, the student must make the necessary corrections stated by the teacher. Revised August, 2020 Page 1 RESEARCH PROJECT INSTRUCTIONS b. The second project grade is given during the initial stages of the second semester, when the student turns in the final work in a clean and organized manner. The recommendations indicated by the teacher during the first semester must be present. No project will be accepted after the final hand-in date. V) The Research Project is a science class requirement. THE PROJECT MUST BE COMPLETELY WRITTEN IN ENGLISH. Below you will find the order in which the project must be organized. Also, a brief description of the components of each of the parts for the investigation is presented. First part: TITLE– title of the project, full name and the student’s homeroom. The first letter of every word in the title, except words like in, on, of, or, etc., must be capitalized. Second part: ABSTRACT– in this section, the student must present a summary of the investigation. It must include part of the introduction, purpose, methodology, results conclusion. It is limited to no more than 250 words. The abstract must be written at the end of the research and must include verbs in the past tense. Third part: TABLE OF CONTENTS– name each section of the project according to the title of the page in which it is found, and label in numbers. Fourth part: INTRODUCTION– in this section, the student will establish the purpose of the investigation, as well as provide background information, and explain the importance of the research to Science and society. Fifth part: PROBLEM– It is the question that needs to be answered in the experiment. It must be stated and written in the form of a question. Sixth part: HYPOTHESIS– It is a possible answer to the question that is to be investigated. It is stated before the investigation and must directly answer the question posed in the PROBLEM. Seventh part: METHODOLOGY (Materials and Procedure/ Methods)– In this part, the student must enumerate each of the materials and equipment used, and the procedures necessary to complete the experiment. Dependent, independent and constant variables, and also control and experimental groups should be identified as part of the procedures. Pictures may be used, only if they strictly demonstrate the procedure. Revised August, 2020 Page 2 RESEARCH PROJECT INSTRUCTIONS Eighth part: RESULTS or DATA– In this part, the student will present the data obtained, in the form of tables, diagrams, and graphs. It is important that the data reflects the quantitative nature, correct units of measurement, and repetition of testing or treatments. Every graph must be appropriately labeled. Ninth part: ANALYSIS or DISCUSSION– In this part, the student must profoundly evaluate the results, and compare them to the corresponding theoretic context. It is very important that an interpretation is made regarding the results. Tenth part: CONCLUSION– In this part, the student must make a summary of the results in brief sentences. It is here where the hypothesis is accepted (supported) or rejected. The reason for the hypothesis’ rejection or acceptation must be present. For example, if the hypothesis states that vinegar helps the growth and development of a corn plant and later the student, in his results, finds this to be false, then a good conclusion could be the following: Based on the obtained results, it was demonstrated that vinegar is not effective in the growth and development of a corn plant. Eleventh part: PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS– In this part, the student must focus on a particular project purpose that is related to society or worldwide. This focus should have possible uses in Science, Medicine, Public Health or others. For example: application of electronics to medical diagnosis. How can the results of the investigation be applied in solving a particular problem. Twelfth part: FUTURE PROJECTIONS– In this part, the student must visualize the project prediction for the future, based on present data or trends, implementing a plan for the continuation of the project. Thirteenth part: REFERENCES– In this part, the student must present those references that were used to develop the investigation. APA style is required. All sources of information used must be present. A minimum of 5 updated references (less than 10 years) are required. A variety of resources can be used, such as: Science journals, magazines and textbooks, and the Internet (reliable sites). If there are only 5 references, Only two (2) of the five (5) references can be from Internet Websites. The other references may come from the internet, but must be from science journals, newspapers, magazine articles and eBooks in order to be accepted, if the retrieved date is included. Fourteenth part: APPENDIX– In this part, the student will place information that is relevant to the investigation such as: background documents, pictures, permits, “ISEF Forms”, and others. Pictures and documents must be labeled. Pictures must not be personal and must not include human subjects, unless a written authorization exists. Revised August, 2020 Page 3 RESEARCH PROJECT INSTRUCTIONS RESEARCH PROJECT DEADLINES ***************************************************************************************************************** 1. DRAFT #1 (15 points) (Title, Problem & Hypothesis) ✓ September 8, 2020 2. DRAFT #2 (20 points) (Title, Introduction, Problem, Hypothesis, Methodology and References) ✓ September 25, 2020 3. DRAFT #3 (55 points) (Title, Introduction, Problem, Hypothesis, Methodology, Results, Analysis, Conclusion, References & Appendix) ✓ October 16, 2020 4. FINAL PROJECT (100 points) (Title, Abstract, Table of Contents, Introduction, Problem, Hypothesis, Methodology, Results, Analysis, Conclusion, Practical Applications, Future Projections, References & Appendix) ✓ Friday, November 13, 2020 5. ORAL PRESENTATIONS (100 points) ✓ January, 2020 (To be announced) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Research Project Document PARENT SIGNATURE ___________________________________________ STUDENT SIGNATURE __________________________________________ DATE _____________________ Revised August, 2020 Page 4