The abstract must have the following parts: (250 words or less)

• Problem/ Hypothesis: State the goal, or hypothesis upon which the project is based. This is the experimental question!

• Materials and Methods: Indicate the materials, methods, and experimental design used in the project. Briefly describe the experiment or engineering methods.

• Results: Summarize the results of the experiment and indicate how they pertain to the objective. Brief data can be included here.

• Conclusions: Indicate if the results supported the hypothesis or enabled you to attain your objective. Discuss briefly how information from this project expands knowledge about the category subject

Criteria:

• The title: what is on your board?

• It is written in 3rd person:  this is scientific writing.

• It is 1.5 spaced

• One inch margins

• 12 point font (Times, Tahoma, Century Gothic, or Arial)

• Black ink; do not use colors

• There is one extra return between each section

• 175-250 words: keep it simple… 

• DO NOT cut and paste from a word processing program!  If you must paste, paste as “text only.”

What do you think will happen? Why do you think so? 

One way to write a hypothesis:

"If _____[this is done] _____, then _____[this]_____ will happen." (Fill in the blanks with the appropriate information from your own project.)

Another way to write a hypothesis:

“I think ________________________ because _____________________

THE PROBLEM and BACKGROUND: (real-world connection) Whether it is a problem within our local communities or a global level concern, how will the results of your experiment become a part of the solution?  Provide some background information related to the problem being addressed.

• Problem Statement: What is the problem to be solved by your experiment? You may add a graphic or photo to represent the problem.

• Background: Research and explain the major topics related to the problem (why is it important, what is the problem, who/what is impacted?)

EXAMPLES:

1. Problem/Background: I am designing an effective hillside erosion control system, which may lead to a reduction of damage to parks, homes, and native habitats. After extensive research, it reveals a significant negative impact of the erosion of hillsides especially post-wildfire.  In addition, research indicates that...

2. Problem/Background: I am engineering a way to absorb then transport water as a method to reduce water shortages in one area by redistributing it from flooded areas to those experiencing drought.  Many areas of our country experience one of the two extremes, prolonged drought or extreme flooding research indicates that...

• Brief summary of the background research needed to understand your problem.

• For engineering, include the criteria/constraints necessary to solve your problem.  Example: size, reusability, safety; time, money, materials that must or may not be used.

• Include citations when referencing other scientists’ work.

Optional: an explanatory graphic, species photo, map of field research location, etc. 

• Type a bulleted list of the items you needed to complete your project.

• Be specific about the amounts used. 

A very detailed description of how you are going to do your experiment.  Someone else needs to replicate your work exactly! 

• List and number all of the steps used in completing your project, including any retesting you did.

•  Every time you write a new step in your procedure, you should be considering questions such as who, when, where, how much, how many, what type, …

• Add photos (with captions) to show the steps of your procedures. Include pictures or diagrams of any complicated set-ups (these should be referred to as Figure 1, 2… with a title)

• Everything needs to be in metric.

1. What are you trying to measure and observe?

2. What are you doing so that you can compare your results?  How are you analyzing your data?  Do not say “I am making a graph”, say “I am using  _____ statistical method”.

3. Write your procedure. Reminder: Keep procedure to describe your experimental design. Do not include buying or gathering as steps. Do not say “record results”.  Everyone can safely assume that you are writing down stuff. Do not list materials or number steps.

What do you observe? 

• Include any data you collected while testing your hypothesis or prototype.

• If your testing procedures had repeated trials, make a data table AND/or graph(s) to show your results.

• Add your written qualitative observations (color, smell, behavior, etc.) as well

• For Engineering Projects, if you changed your solution/prototype after testing your original solution, then:

  • include any new data from the re-testing

  • also include labeled drawings of your REVISED solution/prototype and WHY you made those changes

Up to 2 pages if absolutely necessary 

What do you learn from your results?

Type a brief summary here of what you discovered based on the results of your testing. You need to indicate whether or not the data supports your hypothesis or proposed solution and the reason for your conclusion. (no more than 250 words)  

EXAMPLE of NON-PRINT SOURCES

General Structure: Last, F. M. (Year, Month Date Published). Article title. Retrieved from URL

(author: Last, F. M.)     (date)        (article title)