Submitting the Abstract and Suggestions for Writing the Research Paper

(Due dates are tentative.)

The Abstract

A 200-word abstract must be submitted electronically to conferences@unh.edu. Abstracts are due January 29, 2010.  The abstract that accompanies the completed research paper due by February 19, 2010, may be a modification of the original abstract to reflect updated results of the research.  The abstract  should be formatted with one-inch margins, 10- or 12-point font (Times or Times New Roman), and cannot exceed 200 words. The header preceding the abstract body must include: 
         1) Title of the research;
         2) Author's name(s);
         3) High school, high school city, high school state;
         4) Name of teacher/mentor/sponsor and his or her organization.
             Precede the individual's name with a subheading, i.e. teacher, mentor, sponsor;
         5) Include a space between the heading and the abstract body.

Example:

CCD Photometry of Asteroid Light Curves

Morgan MacLeod

Greely High School, Cumberland, Maine

Teacher: Mr. O'Neill

The goal of this project was to photometrically determine the rotation rate of an asteroid through the use of amateur astronomy equipment. A Meade 10" telescope and SBIG ST-7XE CCD camera were used to collect time series of images of the main belt asteroid 1181 Lilith. The brightness of the asteroid was measured in each frame using differential photometry. The asteroid's light curve was plotted, suggesting two possible rotation periods for the asteroid: 7.5 hours or 15 hours. Finally, while the use of common amateur astronomy hardware and software proved effective in the photometric study of asteroids, limitations in image scale and limiting magnitude did complicate the photometry.

The Research Paper

Research Papers are due on February 19, 2010. Papers should be a minimum of 5-6 pages and a maximum of 20 pages. The paper must be typed, double-spaced on white paper, one side only. Use black type. Tables, diagrams, charts, photographs, or other graphic representations should be done neatly and in black ink.

Cover Page: The cover page states the student's name, school name, school address, and title of research. Make your title concise and descriptive. Your title should indicate the nature of your research.

Acknowledgment of major assistance: Students are encouraged to obtain assistance from teachers, mentors, parents, or other students. Include a statement on where and when the research was done and acknowledge those who assisted you with the study.

Table of Contents: List the topics and sub-topics in order and the page numbers on which they start. Add to the table of contents a list of all graphs, tables, and other representative figures. These should have a title and page number.

Introduction: A number of items are included in this section. Keep in mind though, you are writing the introduction providing background, details, or the setting of your specific research problem. Presume that the reader will be scientific literate, but he or she may not be familiar with the details. First in the introduction, state the purpose of the research study. Secondly, state the hypotheses that you are testing. Lastly, describe what is already known about the research as reported in relevant and referenced literature.

Materials, methods and procedures: State the materials, methods or procedures used to conduct the research in a step by step manner. This section should be written specifically enough so that the research could be replicated.

Results (Data or Findings): Present the results of your research findings in logical order. Use graphs, tables and/or other representation. Tables and graphs should be numbered separately and include captions. Numbering will enable you to refer to them in text quite easily.

Even though you may present your results in graphic form, you must explain in text the important features of each table, graph, etc. This is also the appropriate place to report the results of statistical analyses of your data. Remember to report the type of statistical test used.

Discussion and Conclusions: You interpret your results in this section. First restate your hypotheses, and explain how your data either support or reject your initial research questions. Discuss your research findings in relationship to what is already known about the research problem (reported in the introduction section). Draw conclusions based upon your research findings (as reported in the results section).

Acknowledge any limitations, which affect the research results. For example, what further experiments need to be performed? Statistical techniques used to manipulate the data may have limitations. Some of the treatment effect might have been caused by a random, uncontrolled intervening variable. Again, acknowledge these limitations and other factors over which the researcher had no control, and state how these might have influenced the study outcomes.

Literature Cited: This is a list of citations for every article cited in your text. Endnotes are needed for all direct quotations and for all-important statements of facts or opinions that are taken from written sources. Figures, dates, descriptions of situations, scientific data, opinion, representations and the like which are presented to advance the subject of the paper need a stated source. Check with your teacher or other advisors if you need further advice about the format for endnotes.

Appendices: In some cases you may wish to include large tables of raw data in your report. You should include such items in an appendix at the very end of your research report. Label and paginate your appendices.