How to write a research paper.

Heerbeeck International College

Grade 2

When you are doing research, you need to write down your findings in a research paper. A research paper always consists of the following parts:

Title page

• With your name(s), the name of your teacher and the date
• The title must explain the experiment

Table of contents

• The contents of your paper, with page numbers.

Introduction

In your introduction you describe why you do this research, what your research question is, and what your hypothesis is.

• Once you find a general topic that interests you, write down the question that you want to answer. A research question usually starts with: How, What, When, Who, Which, Why, or Where. For example, if you are interested in fish, your question might be "How much does a sunfish eat per day?"
• Your research question should involve factors or traits that you can easily measure using a number. Or, factors or traits that are easily identified, like colors.
• Can you design a fair test to answer your question? A "fair test" requires that you change only one factor (variable) and keep all other conditions the same. If you cannot design a fair test, then you should change your question.
• Name the independent variable and the dependent variable.
• Mention at least 2 control variables.
• A hypothesis is an educated guess about how things work. Most of the time a hypothesis is written like this: "If _____[I do this] _____, then _____[this]_____ will happen." (Fill in the blanks with the appropriate information from your own experiment.)
• The hypothesis must be specific about your independent variable
• Your hypothesis should be something that you can actually test, what's called a testable hypothesis. In other words, you need to be able to measure both "what you do" and "what will happen."

Materials and methods

• With what materials did you do your experiment?
• Explain the use of the materials.
• Write the experimental procedure like a step-by-step recipe for your science experiment. A good procedure is so detailed and complete that it lets someone else duplicate your experiment exactly!
• Name the hazards
• The risks and the prevention must be explained

Results

• Calculate an average for the different trials of your experiment. You have to repeat your experiment at least 3 times.
• Make sure to clearly label all tables and graphs. And, include the units of measurement (centimeters, grams, etc.).
  • Put the quantities and the units only in the upper row of the table
  • The table must contain the independent variable in the first column
  • The table must contain the dependent variable in the upper row
  • The results must be visible (as cross or bog dot) in the graph.
  • Place the quantities and units at the axes of the graph
  • Place independent variable on the x-axis and dependent variable on the y-axis

Conclusion

• Your conclusions summarize how your results support or contradict your original hypothesis:
• Summarize your science project results in a few sentences and use this summary to support your conclusion. Include key facts from your background research to help explain your results as needed.
• State whether your results support or contradict your hypothesis.
• Summarize and evaluate your experimental procedure, making comments about its success and effectiveness.
• Suggest changes in the experimental procedure (or design) and/or possibilities for further study.