Science Fair Research Paper

Guidelines and Requirements

Here is the uptown, lowdown, yuck of your science fair research paper. Sorry,
but this page is full of NOTHING but requirements.
As part of your science fair project you must collect background information
about your topic.
The background report should include the following:
CONTENT
1 - General information about your variables in your experiment.

Use the If, then method to determine what you should

research

TYPED
1 Use TIMES NEW ROMAN font, 2-3 pages, typed, double spaced, 12 pt.
REFERENCES 1 - Cite five (5) references/sources from different sources.
2 References/sources the websites, magazine articles, books,
encyclopedias, etc, that you used to gather information for your Science
Fair Research Paper.

One source that MUST be included in your bibliography is the

International Science Fair Website. Citing this source is your
acknowledgment to the rules and regulations of Science Fair
"ISEF Rules and guidelines." ISEF Student Guide. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Sept. 2014.
<https://member.societyforscience.org/document.doc?id=398>.

3 - DO NOT use Wikipedia as a reference/source,

BIBLIOGRAPHY
1 - ALL references/sources cit ed in your Science Fair Research Paper must
be included in a bibliography

Use www.bibme.org (an easy-to-use, online bibliography

generator) or personally cit e your sources using MLA format

Use MLA format for your bibliography

2 - You are required to document all research in your data notebook

including the date(s) of when you were researching your topic.

In other words, keep a hand-written document, in your

composition book, of the research you have completed and the
sources you have used

CAUTION
1 - Write your background research paper in your own words. If you are
going to quote someone, make sure to give them credit within the paper
and to write a bibliography entry for the document.
2 There are limits to how much you can quote in your Science Fair
Background Research; there should be NO MORE than a maximum of five
(5) quotes in your paper.

Science Fair Research Paper

Outline
I Introduction
A State your question
B Explain why you asked this question and why it is important to you and/or
other people. What was your rationale for wanting to complete this particular
science fair project?

II Independent Variable
A State the independent variable in your experiment, also include any other
concepts that will be necessary for you to understand the independent
variable.
B Summarize and explain the information that you learned about the
independent variable and related concepts.
Include at least one paragraph for each part of the independent
variable.

III Dependent Variable

A State the dependent variable (the data you will be collecting), and any
other concepts that will be necessary for you to understand the dependent
variable.
B Summarize and explain how this data will help you to understand your
science fair question.
Include at least one paragraph for each part of the dependent variable.

IV Hypothesis
A State your question again, and then write your hypothesis.
B Summarize the facts that you learned and wrote about in sections II and III,
that lead you to believe the relationship you are stating in your hypothesis.
V Closing
A Summarize the main points you learned about your independent and
dependent variables.
B Restate your question and how the knowledge gained from your experiment
will benefit you and/or other people (DO NOT COPY, instead restate your
previous statement (refer to paragraph I) with more information).

Science Fair Research Paper

Note Sheet/Frame
I Introduction
A Your Question
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

B Why did you ask this question, how will it benefit you and/or other people?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

II Independent Variable
A Independent Variable
The independent variable is:
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
Other concepts/ideas that will help me to understand my independent variable
are:
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

B What did you learn about your independent variable?

___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
Where did you learn this information (cite your source, article title and website)?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
Who wrote the article or paper that you learned the information from?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

Repeat the above documentation for each part of the independent

variable (THE OTHER CONCEPTS/IDEAS.
There should be at least one paragraph for each part of the independent
variable that you researched.

III Dependent Variable

A The dependent variable is:
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

Other concepts/ideas that will help me to understand my dependent variable

are:
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
B What did you learn about your dependent variable?
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
Where did you learn this information (cite your source, article title and website)?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
Who wrote the article or paper that you learned the information from?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
Repeat the above documentation for each part of the dependent
variable (THE OTHER CONCEPTS/IDEAS).
There should be at least one paragraph for each part of the independent
variable that you researched.

IV Hypothesis
A Question
The testable question you are asking is:
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
Your hypothesis to your testable question is (write in the IF, THEN, BECAUSE
format):
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
B What are the facts that you learned about your independent and
dependent variable that lead you to write the BECAUSE statement.
Independent variable facts:
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
Dependent variable facts:
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

V Closing
A Main Points (write the most critical points that you learned about your
variables)
Independent variable main/critical points:
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
Dependent variable main/critical points:
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
B Question
Write your science fair testable question:
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
How will your experiment benefit you and/or other people (write a new
statement, not the same from the first paragraph)?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________