Writing a Research Paper
The following format is recommended for organizing and writing the research paper:
Title Page: Project Title, Your Full Name & Date Submitted
Purpose/Question: What question will your project be trying to answer? Should be in the
format of an If....then statement. (Example: Will changing the temperature of a honey cause it's
viscosity to change?)
Variables, Constants and Control: You need to list your Manipulated variable (what you
change), your Responding variable (what you measure that changes based on your change) ,
your constants (what must stay the same) and the control group (what you are comparing the
experimental group to).
Research Section: Before you begin your experiment, even before you make your hypothesis
you should find out as much as you can about the related topics and underlying scientific
principles that will be involved in your project. The purpose of this section is to show that you
understand the branch of science this topic falls under, the related science concepts and
specific vocabulary. This is a retelling in your own words of what experts know about the topic.
Keep track of the sources you use and include them in the works cited page. This section of the
paper may be at least 3 to possibly 4 pages long.
Hypothesis: On this page the purpose of the project is stated. The purpose should include what
you plan to do, the reason you chose the topic, and what you were hoping to learn. The
hypothesis is a written statement that concerns your prediction as to how the manipulated
variable will affect the responding variable.
Materials List/Procedures (Experimental Design): The material list should include everything
you used to complete your project. The procedures should follow a step by step format. The
procedures should be detailed and explain all safety protocols that were followed to protect
the experimenter and the community. If chemicals are used discuss the safe handling and
disposal of the chemicals. This section of the paper may be one to two pages long.
Data & Graphs: Once the experiment starts all possible data should be collected and recorded
in the logbook. For the report, organize this data into charts, tables and graphs. Always the
metric system and line graphs (whenever necessary.) This section of the paper may be one or
more pages long, depending on the amount of data collected.
Conclusion: Follow a three-paragraph format to ensure the conclusion is thorough.
The first paragraph is a discussion of the hypothesis and data. Restate the hypothesis and
decide if the data supported this statement or did not support it. Retell the data using the
numbers, and/or your analysis of the numbers such as the mean, median or mode. State your
inference concerning why the data turned out the way it did. The second paragraph discusses
the problems or concerns you had during the experiment. Include new ideas that came to you
that you might use as the basis of a science project in the future, or ways to change this idea to
use in the future. The last paragraph states what you learned as the result of this project.
Include any observations you made as to how this information can be applied to real life. This is
one page.
Works Cited: Using MLA or APA style, document all books, magazines or electronic information
sources that you used for your review of literature.