Name Period Packet Due

Science Fair Project Packet # 4 of 4

“Results, Discussion and Conclusion”

All RESULTS should include three parts.

1. Data chart(s) 2. Appropriate graph(s) (line, pie, or bar graph) 3. Written explanation of results, da ta chart, and graph. 4. **Photographs and diagrams are optional but will help the viewer understand the data.

1. Results: Data Chart

Your chart or table should have room for date/time, observations, repeated trials or different variables. Label the different rows and columns of your chart or table. Also include a title. You may use the chart given (suggestions written in parenthesis) OR create your own below to organize your findings.

Title (Date/Time/Trial) (Independent Variable) (Independent Variable) (Independent Variable) (Independent Variable)

Results

Science Fair Project Packet # 4

2. Results: Graph Types of Graphs

When choosing a graph, be sure to use the most appropriate one. Line graphs should be used to display continuous data. Experiments that have dependent variables that involve temperature, time, mass, height or distance will usually result in data that can be graphed on a line graph. On a line graph, the x-axis is always the independent variable and the y-axis is always the dependent variable. It should also have:

o Numbers on each axis in even intervals o (1ʼs, 2ʼs, 5ʼs, 10ʼs, 100ʼs, etc.)

o Labels for the horizontal and vertical axes. o A title that reflects the information being graphed.

Bar Graphs should be used to display data that is separate or distinct from other pieces of data. The data in a bar graph can be displayed either vertically or horizontally. A bar graph should include:

o Numbers in even intervals o (1ʼs, 2ʼs, 5ʼs, 10ʼs, 100ʼs, etc.)

o Labels for each Bar o Labels for the horizontal and vertical axes. o A title that reflects the information being graphed.

Pictographs are useful for showing and comparing quantities. The simple symbols or pictures on a pictograph represent a specific amount. A pictograph should include:

o Simple symbols or pictures to represent a specific amount.

o Labels for each line of symbols. o A key to show how much each symbol represents. o A title that reflects the information being graphed.

Pie Charts should only be used when the results are best shown as a percentage of a whole. The data of a pie graph should include:

o A circle that is divided into the necessary number of parts.

o Sections (or slices) of the pie should be sized accurately according to the data percentage.

o Each section of the pie should be labeled or color coded with a key.

o A title that reflects the information being graphed. Be extra careful when using a computer to create your graphs. The computer will create any graph you want, whether it is the correct graph or not. Also, many computer graphs leave off important titles and labels. See Ms. Ogden’s Website for more help and tools to create graphs.

Remember to find the AVERAGE or MEAN of your DATA before graphing.

Science Fair Project Packet # 4

Create Your Graph Below

**you may add additional pages if needed

Science Fair Project Packet # 4

3. Results: Written Explanation A “Written Explanation” is also required and should be at least a paragraph long(4-5 sentences). The purpose of the written explanation is to help briefly explain the data displayed in the chart and graph. It can include any trends that may occur in the data. This is not the discussion of why or the conclusion, it is simply a summary of what the data shows

Answer the following questions then combine your answers to create your RESULTS WRITTEN ANALYSIS.

A) Introduction Sentence: What do your overall results show? (What are you going to be talking about in the rest of the questions?) (1 sentence) B) What does your chart and/or pictures show? (What is the overall trend? Increased or decreased?)(1-2 sentences) C) What does your graph show? (What type of graph is it? What is the overall result? Which variable did better?) (2-3 sentences) D) Conclusion: What was the overall result? (What did you talk about above? Sum it up!) (1 sentence) Rewrite or TYPE above in order to create

“Results Written Explanation”

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Science Fair Project Packet # 4

The discussion is where you explain exactly how you reached your final results and compare your data to your initial hypothesis. This is where you discuss what you learned about the topic by completing this experiment.

Answer each of the questions below, then join them together in paragraphs to complete your DISCUSSION section. A) Was your hypothesis/prediction correct or incorrect? (OPTIONAL STARTER: My hypothesis was (correct/incorrect/partially correct) because I predicted that…) B) What is the answer to your topic question? Support your answer with data collected (OPTIONAL STARTERS: I was trying to find out (restate question here) and learned that… My data showed… The overall results…) C) Were there any problems with the investigation or things you would do differently? (OPTIONAL STARTERS: I think the results were inaccurate because… If I were going to do this experiment again I would…) D) What other things would you like to investigate about your topic?(OPTIONAL STARTER: In the future I would like to investigate more about…) E) How does what you learned apply to the real world? (OPTIONAL STARTER: My experiment has applications in the real world because…) Rewrite or TYPE above in order to create

“Discussion”

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Discussion

Science Fair Project Packet # 4

The CONCLUSION is simply a summary of your “Experiment”, “Results” and “Discussion”. Do NOT discuss anything that hasnʼt already been mentioned in another section.

NO NEW INFORMATION IN CONCLUSION! Answer each of the questions below, then join them together in paragraphs to complete your CONCLUSION section.

A) Restate Question: What did you test? B) Restate Hypothesis: What did you think would happen before completing experiment? C) Restate Overall Experiment: What did you do? Brief explanation. D) Restate Overall Results: What happened during the experiment? What were the results? E) Restate Overall Discussion: What did you learn? Rewrite or TYPE above in order to create

“Conclusion”

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Conclusion