Kentucky Junior Academy of Science

Steps to a successful presentation:

 

       Finding a project
    Writing the Research Paper
    Preparing the Presentation
    Presenting Your Work









FINDING A PROJECT:
  [adapted from: Northeastern New Mexico Science & Engineering Fair]

 
1) CHOOSE A SUITABLE TOPIC
When trying to decide on a project, look to things that interest you.  Is there a question that you have always wanted to know the answer to?  Did something you study in school or read about strike a spark?  Follow up on that idea.
2) RESEARCH YOUR TOPIC
Go to the library, search the internet, etc.  and read everything you can on your topic. Gather existing information on your topic. In addition, talk to professionals in the field or write to companies for specific information.
3) ORGANIZE YOUR INFORMATION
Organize everything you have learned about your topic. At this point you should narrow down your hypothesis by focusing on a particular idea.
4) ESTABLISH A TIMETABLE
Choose a topic that not only interests you, but can be done in the amount available.   Use a calendar to identify important dates.  Allow plenty of time to obtain or build        any equipment you need, perform the experiment and collect the data.  Remember even the simpliest experiments do not always go as you might expect the first time, or even the second time. Also leave time to write a paper and put together your presentation.
5) PLAN YOUR EXPERIMENTS.
Once you have a suitable topic, write a research plan. This plan should explain how you will do your experiments and exactly what it will involve.
6) CONDUCT YOUR EXPERIMENTS
 Give careful thought to experimental design.  During experimentation, keep  detailed notes in a bound notebook of each and every experiment, measurement, and observation. Do not rely on your memory.  The bound notebook will keep everything together in one place. This will save time later when you are writing your report.  Remember to change only one variable at a time when experimenting, and make sure to include control experiments in which none of the variables are changed.  Make sure you include sufficient numbers of test subjects in both control and experimental groups. To be statistically valid, a group must have five or more subjects.
7) EXAMINE YOUR RESULTS.
After completing your experiments, examine and organize your observations.  Did you obtain the expected results. Why or why not? Was your experiment performed with the exact same steps each time?  Were there errors in your observations? What were they?  How did these errors change your results?  If possible, statistically analyze your data.
8) MAKE YOUR CONCLUSIONS.
Which variables are important? Did you collect enough data? Are additional experiments needed?  Keep an open mind -- never change results to fit an answer.  If your results do not support your original hypothesis, you still have accomplished successful scientific research. An experiment is done to prove or disprove a hypothesis.

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   WRITING THE RESEARCH PAPER:
        A good research paper should include the following:

    1) Title Page. Center the project title, and put your name, address,
        school, and section at the bottom center.

    2) Abstract.
        After finishing the research and experimentation, you are required
        to write a (maximum) 250-word, one-page abstract. The abstract
        should include the purpose of the experiment, the procedure(s)
        followed, the data obtained and the conclusions.  For additional
        information, see the abstract guidelines.

    3) Introduction. The introduction gives the reader an overview of
        your paper. It should include your hypothesis, an explanation of
        what prompted your research, and what you hoped to accomplish.

    4) Theory. In this portion of the paper, discuss any necessary
        theory behind the experiment.  It should go into more detail than
        the abstract. Also in this section, develop any equations or
        mathematical relationships which will be used in the calculations.

    5) Experiment/Procedure. Describe in detail the methodology used
        to collect your data or make your observations. Your procedure
        should be detailed enough so that someone would be able to repeat
        the experiment from the information in your paper. Include
        detailed photographs or drawings of self-designed equipment.

    6) Discussion. This section of the report allows you to comment on
        the experiment itself.  What observations did you make? Comment
        on the data you obtained.  Compare your results with theoretical
        values, published data, and expected results. Did anything
        unexpected happen during the experiment?  What kind of errors
        occurred while performing the experiment? What could have
        caused them?  How did the data vary between repeated trials?
        How were your results affected by uncontrolled events?  If you
        repeated the experiment, what would you do differently? What
        other experiments should be conducted?

    7) Conclusion. Briefly summarize your results. Be specific, do not
        generalize. Never introduce anything in the conclusion that has
        not already been discussed.

    8) Acknowledgments. You should always credit those who assisted
        you, including individuals, businesses, and educational or research
        institutions. Identify any financial support or material donations
        received.

    9) References. Your reference list should include any documentation
        that is not your own (i.e., books, journal articles). The format for
        the reference should be appropriate for your discipline.


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       PREPARING YOUR PRESENTATION:
    When preparing for your presentation, keep these ideas in mind:

    1)     A Interesting Title.
            The title of your presentation is an important attention grabber.
             It should simply and accurately present your research. The title
            should make a person want to know more about your work.

    2)    Use at least 20-point fonts on your slides and transparencies.
            Avoid giving your audience too much information at one time.
            Do not place more than ten (10) lines on each transpancy sheet.

    3)    Make a drawing or slide of the apparatus that you used in your
            work.  This will save time during your presentation when you
            describe it.  In addition,  this visual will help your audience
            "picture" your work better.

    4)    Data Presentation.
            a)  Do not present long tables of numbers.  The listener can easily
                 get "lost" in the numbers and miss the point you are trying to
                 make.  A graph is usually a better way to show the data.
            b) Avoid bar graphs when regular plots will work.  Be careful on
                the color selection for the graph as well as the number of
                different colors that you use.  Remember you do not want to
                overwhelm your listener.
            c) Be sure that diagrams and graphs are clearly and properly
                labelled.


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    PRESENTING YOUR WORK:
[from the Illinois State Junior Academy of Science Student Guidebook]
Here is a guideline to use when presenting your work.


 1) INTRODUCTION
     • be sure to introduce yourself to your audience

 2) PURPOSE AND HYPOTHESIS
     • state exactly what the investigation is at tempting to discover.
     • what results or outcome did you expect?
     • why did you do this project?  how did you get interested it?
        what were the reasons for choosing this particular project?

 3) BACKGROUND INFORMATION
     • background explanation for your project (to familiarize the
        judges), scope of your study, etc.

 4) PROCEDURE
     • be complete - do not leave out necessary details.
     • proceed in a logical manner, telling what you did step by step.
     • use visual aids: charts, pictures, graphs, etc.
     • explain how your apparatus was used.  Did you constructed it
        yourself? If not, give credit to those who helped you.

 5) RESULTS (DATA AND DISCUSSION)
     • explain both your controls and your experimental variables.
     • remember to use proper units of measure with your data.
     • point to graphs, charts, etc., when you refer to them

 6) CONCLUSION(S)
     • state in a concise and logical order the conclusions you
        can validly draw from the experimentation you have
        done and the data and/or observations obtained.
     • admit any deficiencies or limitations in this regard.

 7) FUTURE PLANS
      • be sure to tell how you plan to continue your project.

  8) ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
     • give credit to those whom you have contacted and to those
        who have helped you.
     • any work done in the past pertaining to your project.

  9) ANY QUESTIONS
     • when you have finished, ask the judges if there are any
        questions they would like to ask.
     • when they ask you questions, think before you answer
        them. Answer slowly! If you don't know the answer say,
        ''I'm not sure but I think...".
     • if they ask you a question which is not related to your
        project and you don't know the answer, then say, ''I
        really haven't been concerned with this in my project,
       but it might be interesting to look into it.''
     • thank them for any suggestions they may have for
        bettering your research.

10) OTHER SUGGESTIONS
     • speak slowly and clearly!
     • be forward but polite, dynamic, and above all interested
        in what you are doing.
     • your presentation should not exceed 10 minutes

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created: 19 April 2000 -- updated: 2 October 2001