SciTech

Your Written Presentation
A research paper and data book should be prepared and available with any other necessary forms or relevant materials for display at PRSEF.

Project Data Book
A project data book is your most treasured piece of work. Record accurate and detailed notes to make a logical and winning project. Good notes show consistency and thoroughness to the judges and will help you when writing your research paper. Judges highly recommend displaying a data book.

Abstract
After finishing research and experimentation, you are required to write a (maximum) 100-word, one-page abstract. An abstract should include: (a) purpose of the experiment, (b) procedures used, (c) data, (d) conclusions, and (e) project number. It also may include any possible research applications. Only minimal reference to previous work may be included. The abstract should focus on work done since the last PRSEF and should not include: a) acknowledgments, or b) work or procedures done by the mentor.

Research Paper
A research paper should be prepared and available along with a project. A research paper helps organize data as well as thoughts. A good paper includes the following sections:
Title Page and Table of Contents. The title page and table of contents allows the reader to follow the organization of the paper quickly.
Introduction. The introduction sets the scene for your report. The introduction includes your hypothesis; an explanation of what prompted your research, and what you're hoped to achieve.
Experiment. Describe in detail the methodology used to collect your data or make your observations. Your report should be detailed enough so that someone could repeat the experiment from the information in your paper. Include detailed photographs or drawings of self-designed equipment. Only include this year's work.
Results. The results include data and anaylsis. This should include statistics, graphs, etc.
Discussion. Be thorough, the discussion is the essence of your paper. Tell your readers exactly what you did and thought. Compare your results with theories, published data, commonly held beliefs, and expected results. Discuss possible errors. How did the data vary between repeated observations of similar events? How were results affected by uncontrolled events? What would you do differently if you repeated this project? What other experiments should be conducted.
Conclusion. Briefly summarize your results. Be specific. Do not generalize. Never introduce anything in the conclusion that has not already been discussed. Also, mention practical applications.
Acknowledgments. Credit those who assisted you, including individuals, businesses, and educational or research institutions. Note any financial or material donations. Do not list teachers, parents, school, etc. by name.
References. Include any documentation not your own (i.e., books, journal articles). See an appropriate reference for format, ISEF handbook, page 3.

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