Science Fair Data Book

Part of the process for science fair is to create a data book. The data book needs to be a professional looking, bound folder (1/2 inch to 1 inch three ring binders work the best). Use your Formal Lab Write-up rules for help and for more details. The pages of the data book will need to be TYPED in Times New Roman size 12 font. Each section listed below needs to be its own page in your data book. The data book will need to include the following pages in this order.

 Outside cover o Your science fair entry number – this will be given to you by your teacher the day before the science fair o Title of experiment (NO PERSONAL PRONOUNS) o You may NOT put your name on the outside cover  Title page o Title of your experiment – centered and bolded in middle of page o Your full Name – centered and not bolded underneath the title o Acknowledgement centered and several blank lines below the title and your name. This section is a small paragraph where you give thanks to your parents, neighbors, friends, and anyone else who helped you with your science fair project. o YES PERSONAL PRONOUNS.  Introduction Page o The word “Introduction” bolded and centered at the top of page o Down the side of the page you should have the following categories. Each category needs to be underlined and followed by a : then your answers to each category should appear. . Category: . Experimental Question: . Hypothesis: . Why (your topic) was chosen. (This section should be a brief paragraph explaining why you choose your science fair topic and what you hoped to learn by completing your science fair project.) Example: Why batteries were chosen. This experiment will explore how long batteries can power a flashlight. This topic was chosen because flashlights are often used in emergency situations and knowing what battery can provide consumers with the longest amount of information can be very helpful. The information would be helpful because……………. . NO PERSONAL PRONOUNS  Initial Observations o The words “Initial Observations bolded and centered the top of the page o A paragraph describing the observations you made before starting your experiment. What are you going to study? What does it look like? How does it smell? What size is it? Etc. o NO PERSONAL PRONOUNS  Research Page o The word “Research” bolded and centered at the top of the page o Your Research Paragraph(s) o NO PERSONAL PRONOUNS  Works cited page o The word “Works Cited” bolded and centered at the top of the page o Your resources need to be in MLA format o NO PERSONAL PRONOUNS  Materials o The word “Materials” bolded and centered at the top of the page o List of all material used. The list should be a strait column down the left side of the page NO NUMBERS OR BULLETS. o NO PERSONAL PRONOUNS  Procedure o The word “Procedure” bolded and centered at the top of the page o Step by step directions for how to complete your experiment. o Steps need to be numbered. There should be a return between each step. o NO PERSONAL PRONOUNS  Data o The word “Data” bolded and centered at the top of the page o Data charts should be included. Do not forget to give each chart a title, label all columns, and label all units of measurement. o Experimental observations paragraph. o NO PERSONAL PRONOUNS  Analysis o The word “Analysis” bolded and centered at the top of the page o Analysis Graph – make sure the graph has a title, labeled axis, and if needed, a key. o Analysis Paragraph – make sure that you give facts not easily read on graph (example trial #1 had 4% more color than trial #2) o NO PERSONAL PRONOUNS  Conclusion o The word “Conclusion” bolded and centered at the top of the page o Conclusion paragraphs . Paragraph One: State if hypothesis correct/incorrect and WHY Explain WHY you think you go the results you got – lots of details . Paragraph Two: Explain how what you learned is helpful in the real world. Make recommendations. Explain troubles/challenges or changes you would make. . Paragraph Three: Future Questions. If you where to continue to experiment, what would you new experimental question be? What more would you like to know about your topic? . NO PERSONAL PRONOUNS  Abstract o The word “Abstract” bolded and centered and at the top of the page o Abstract paragraphs – one paragraph for the purpose and hypothesis, one paragraph for the procedure, and one paragraph for the conclusion. Essentially, the abstract is an outline of your entire experiment just in paragraph form. o NO PERSONAL PRONOUNS  Experimental Journal o The word “Experimental Journal” should appear at the top. o You will need to keep a journal of the process of coming up with a science fair question, researching information, and doing the experiment. o Each journal entry will need to be dated o You will need a minimum of 12 journal entries. Each Journal entry should be from a different day. Journal entries should be a MINIMUM of 3 sentences each. o YES PERSONAL PRONOUNS o Journal entries can include, but are not limited to, . Brainstorming . Questions you had about where to buy supplies . Questions you had about procedures and what to do . Questions you had about your subject . Troubles or challenges that you encountered during the experiment or experimental set up . Pictures of ideas for procedure . Project preparation (days you went to the store to buy supplies, or day you gathered supplies, etc) . After thoughts – ideas for the future . Sections of science fair worked on that day . Anything else that you feel is important or part of your science fair project