Write the Paper

08/15/2022

 Everything you need to know to write a phenomenal Research Plan or Scientific Paper!

A well-written paper is the crux of your science fair project. Depending on the type of science fair you're participating in, you'll likely end up writing either a research plan or a research paper/scientific paper. Knowing what to include (and what to leave out) is vital, so make sure you're writing the right kind!

For either type of paper, use a standard font, type size, and spacing. Include a title page with the name of the project and the student's name. Page numbers are a useful addition, especially if the paper gets printed.

Research Plan:

**Read the official ISEF guidelines for writing a research plan here!**

Specific to ISEF-affiliated competitions, a research plan is written before experimentation begins and summarizes your project and how you plan to carry your procedure out. Length will depend on the age of the student and the complexity of the project, but a ballpark range for a middle schooler is 1000-2000 words. It typically has 6 sections:

  • Rationale
  • Research Question/Hypothesis
  • Procedure
  • Risk and Safety
  • Data Analysis
  • Bibliography

Your rationale is the introduction to your paper. It typically includes the origin of the idea, background information for your project, and the practical application of your work. These are all important components, so be specific.

A research question is the question your project is trying to answer. A concrete research question is critical to a successful project; if you need help coming up with one, see our tips here. Your hypothesis is your projected answer to the research question. If you're doing an engineering project, you'll also have an engineering goal, which is a statement explaining what you will be creating and how it will work.

The procedure is a summary of the materials you will need and the steps you will complete to carry out your project. Be as specific as you can ahead of time, the goal is that if your instructions were followed someone else could replicate your project.

Risk and safety is the section of your research plan where you outline any and all parts of your project that could pose a risk to you or anyone else, and what precautions you plan to take to keep everyone safe. For some projects with no real risks involved this section seems useless, but it is always required, so it's ok if the content sounds a little ridiculous.

Because the research plan is written before experimentation, the data analysis section should only include information on how the data will be organized and interpreted, and no actual data. Visuals such as empty charts can be a nice addition for getting your point across.

A bibliography is a list of resources referenced for the project. It should start at the top of its own page and be written in a proper format, such as MLA. When conducting research for a project, make a list of links used and include a brief excerpt or summary of the site, including the date the resource was first accessed. Use a bibliography website to get the formatting correct, and make sure to list sources in alphabetical order in your paper.


Research Paper/Scientific Paper:

Unlike a research plan, a research paper is written after experimentation in past tense and is an in-depth exploration of your project, including your findings. It has more sections, the main ones being:

  • Abstract

  • Introduction*

  • Research Question/Hypothesis*

  • Experimental Methods/Procedure*

  • Challenges

  • Data Analysis

  • Conclusion

  • Bibliography*

*Information on the starred sections can be found above, under the Research Plan section.

An abstract is a summary of your entire project, including the results of your experimentation in 250 words or less. All scientific papers contain an abstract, and it is a quick way for the judges to learn the basics of your project.

In the challenges section, address 1 or 2 of the most difficult challenges you faced during your project and how you overcame them. It's an excellent way to demonstrate perseverance and tenacity to the judges.

In the data analysis section, compile all the charts and graphs you made with your data. With each, explain what the data you collected suggest and why that is significant. If you used any equations, explain how they were formulated and what they do. This should be the longest and most time-intensive section of your paper.

Your conclusion is where you interpret your results and connect them back to your research question and hypothesis. Explain whether the data you collected supported or did not support your hypothesis. can prove very few things, so it's important to use the right terminology when describing the relationship between the data and your hypothesis. Finally, readdress your practical application and explain why your findings are significant. It's ok to dream a little here, your work should be presented as important to the field of research it's contributing to.