Requirements, Restrictions & Guidelines
Project Requirements
Your complete Science Fair Project will consist of THREE primary parts (labeled I, II, and III below) and their component details. If you are unsure of any details pertaining to any of these parts at any time, please visit the Project HELP! page or contact your science teacher. A downloadable version of these requirements can also be obtained by clicking HERE.
I. Research Paper
a. Title Page – Project Title in center of page with name, grade and project number
in the lower right hand corner
b. Abstract - CANNOT be written until your experimentation/analysis is COMPLETE. For more help/info on writing your abstract, be sure to visit Project HELP! c. Table of Contents
For more help/info on writing your abstract, be sure to visit Project HELP! d. Project Research Summary and Introduction – informative explanation of your
background research to familiarize the reader with your subject matter and how
such background leads into your project. Include an explanation of what
prompted your research and what you hope to accomplish
e. Statement of Problem & Hypothesis – question/problem being investigated --
BE SURE to use a formal hypothesis as explained at Project HELP!. f. Materials Listing – make sure it is a complete listing with a clearly labeled
diagram of experimental apparatus/set-up where applicable.
g. Experimental Design & Procedure to include:
• All variables [both independent and dependent variables including details of
how you vary the independent one(s)]
• Experimental and control groups [and why they were designated as such]
• Group sizes [and why they were chosen]
• Any repetition [and full explanation as to what warranted such – was the
repetition planned? Something broke the first time? Data didn’t appear
logical?] For more help/info on the your experimental design and
h. Data Summary & Analysis to include:
• Summary table(s) of the data that is detailed in your log book.
• Measures of central tendency, linear/other data and/or statistical relationships
• Appropriate graphical depiction(s) of said data
i. Discussion - a written summary of what the data tells us with continuous
references to your data and your complete analyses of such. For more help/info
j. Conclusion to include:
• Acceptance or rejection of hypothesis [with direct Discussion references]
• Summary of what the project proves [using Background information and data
Discussion for final tie-in]
• Significance of your findings
• Recommendations for further study [where you would like to take this research
before the regional fair or even next year as a continuation project] For more
k. Acknowledgements & Complete Bibliography – MUST be in proper MLA
format according to CURRENT MLA standards to include:
• Written/Published works &/or books
• Internet sites*
• Telephone/Internet/In-person interviews
• Email/Written correspondence
*Internet sites must be limited in their number and formally approved and verified by your Science AND English teacher. Public Informational sites such as Wikipedia, Ask.com, AskJeeves.com et al are UNACCEPTABLE due to the lack of verifiability and even the validity of the science-related information found there.
II. Data Log Book
a. All background reading notes including source and pages.
b. All equipment illustrations and rough (raw) data tables as they were
recorded during your experiment
c. Diary of each date you did something and what you did to show your progress.
d. All notes including rough work and data analyses.
III. Project Display & Board
a. Display/Board Dimensions & Limitations
• Board can be bi-fold or tri-fold made of sturdy, stand-alone, non-toxic material.
• Space occupied cannot exceed 48” wide x 108” high x 30” deep. The “height” is
from floor to top of project -- projects will be placed on a standard 36”-high
tabletop for the day of the fair unless otherwise requested by the student (i.e.,
if a project is 108” high free-standing and must “sit” on the floor). Remember
to note clearly on your WCA Registration Form if you will REQUIRE the full 30”
depth – otherwise, you MAY NOT have enough display room for your project!!
• Total display weight cannot exceed 35 pounds.
• Need for electricity must be specified and sufficiently justified* with your WCA
Science Fair Registration Form. YOU MUST REQUEST electricity for a laptop
if you will be using one as a portion of your display. *Electrical enhancement
for “display only” purposes is strictly prohibited (i.e. neon signs, etc.).
• If you will be utilizing a laptop, you SHOULD plan on providing your own. If you
would like to use a WCA-issued laptop, you MUST RESERVE it for the Fair
Date AS FAR IN ADVANCE AS POSSIBLE. Laptops can be reserved
through the Technology Department on a FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED
basis (please contact Mr. Clay Durrett). Once the few available laptops are reserved, THAT IS ALL there is! Remember, Poor or Insufficient planning
on YOUR part DOES NOT constitute an emergency or crisis on the part
of the Technology Department!
b. Display/Board Content Requirements
• Your Display/Board DOES NOT have your NAME or Westminster Christian
Academy (WCA) ANYWHERE on it except on logbooks and research
paper!
• Your Display includes a vertically-displayed copy of your Abstract Page that is
NOT a part of your board (we suggest a document frame or attaching it
to the front edge of the display table).
• Display/Board should include a data summary and any key graphs that are
clearly and completely labeled.
• All photographs included on the display/board must meet the following criteria:
- They pass the photographic restrictions listed in the Fair Restrictions and
Safety Guidelines section below.
- They have credit lines of origin (“Photograph taken by...” or “Image taken
from...”). Self-taken photographs being displayed can be credited with a
single credit line prominently displayed.
- They are from the Internet, magazines, newspapers, journals, etc., and
credit lines are attached. If all photographs/images are from the same
source, one credit line prominently displayed is sufficient.
- They are photographs or visual depictions of the competitor.
- The photographs of human subjects MUST HAVE signed consent forms
(see Project Regulations and Restrictions link at the top of this page)
on-hand and available at the project.
c. Display/Board Content Suggestions
• Project has a good, attention-grabbing title, is pleasing to the eye and is NOT
TOO BUSY!
• Bigger is usally better -- avoid using a font size smaller than 28 or 30 point
except in very special cases.
• Board/Display is organized and provides good overall visual presentation of
your problem and conclusions.
• When using multiple pages on your board, be sure to mount them using
bindings to avoid a shoddy, "hanging" effect.
• Board can include drawings and/or photographs (see above restrictions) of
your process and/or equipment.
• Display can include your experimental equipment/set-up for demonstration as
long as all items are within the Fair Restrictions and Safety Guidelines given
below.
