What Judges Look for in a Science Fair Project

What Judges Look for in a Science Fair Project How do you know what makes a great science fair project? Here are some pointers for making sure you have a good project, based on what science fair judges are looking for in your project. Be OriginalScience fair judges are looking for inventions and innovations. Try to come up with an original idea for your science fair project. Find a new way to test something or a fresh application for a product or a novel way to process data. Look at something old in a new way. For example, rather than compare different types of coffee filters, you could compare different household materials (paper towels, napkins, toilet paper) for use as coffee filters if you ever ran out. Be ClearHave a well-defined, easy-to-understand goal or objective. Make sure the title of your project is related to your purpose. Make it crystal clear what you are doing and why. Understand Your Science Fair ProjectIts not enough to have an easy-to-understand poster or presentation. Judges will ask you questions about your project, in part to see whether or not you understand what you have done. This weeds out people who basically had their parents, friends, or teacher do their project for them. You need to understand what you did, why you did it, and what conclusions you could make based on your results. Be ProfessionalHave a neat, professional-looking poster and dress nicely for the science fair. While you should do your project yourself, its fine to enlist help from a parent or teacher in putting together a poster and an outfit. You are not being graded on your appearance, but taking pride in your appearance will help you radiate confidence. Neatness counts with your project since good organization will be  making it easier for the science fair judge to follow what you have done. Time EffortScience fair judges reward effort. You can get excellent marks on a science fair project that only took you an hour to do, but you should realize investing time and energy in your project will give you an edge over other good projects. A project does not need to be time-consuming or complicated, but one which requires you to collect data over time will do better than a project you whipped out in a weekend. Spending time on your project demonstrates your interest in it, plus taking the time t o think about it usually means you come out of the project with a better understanding of how science works. Answer QuestionsYou can impress science fair judges by answering their questions politely and completely. Try to radiate confidence. If you dont know the answer to a question, admit it and try to offer a way you could come up with the answer. Here are some common questions asked by science fair judges:How did you come up with the idea for this science fair project?How long did you spend on the project?What background research did you conduct? What did you learn from it?Did anyone help you with the project?Does this project have any practical applications?Did you try anything that did not work or did not give you expected results? If so, what did you learn from this?What would be the next step in this experiment or study if you wanted to continue your work? Do you need more help? Here are 10 tips to help you impress the science fair judges.

Compare or constrast the differences in Asian and European traditions Essay

Compare or constrast the differences in Asian and European traditions - Essay Example People from china and Italy have a common way of celebrating their historical heritage. The Chinese, like the Italians, have a strict sense for their ethical values which define their conduct and principles. The Chinese and the Italians have reverence for their languages. Most Italians and Chinese prefer speaking their respective languages. Individuals from both countries attach much value to their ancient traditional practices, with a strong connection to their traditional lives. Bianco talks about Alfani lineage, which is a known old family in his country(Baca, & Martines 108). The Romans in Italy have held on to the ancient roman traditional worship practice. Whereas the Chinese have had divided tradition practices, their cultural practices have helped in uniting them. Historically, the Great Wall of China played a significant role in uniting the Chinese people. The historical archives on the Roman Empire have acted as a uniting factor for the Italians. Although Italians may be di vided due to economic and social reasons, the country has been united by the Italian national football team. The team has won world cup for a couple of times. On the other hand, the Chinese have been united by the performance of the Chinese Olympic team. Italy is one of the hospitable countries in Europe. The Chinese shares this similarity. The Chinese strongly condemns contempt for the foreigners. Most Italians prefer living in peace with foreigners. Compared to most European countries, the country has scored highly in terms of growing its relations with the immigrant population. The Chinese people are respectable to foreigners and immigrants. The Chinese government is a member of the United Nations organization that has a mandate of protecting the human life. The Chinese government has acted within the mandate of the United Nations when dealing with the problem of

Corporate Social Responsibility Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 2

Corporate Social Responsibility - Essay Example For long-term benefits to the organization, CSR should be made a part of the firm's strategic perspective and operations. This paper proposes to discuss Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), taking into account various factors including consumer rights, the significance of ethical consumerism, fair trade consumerism, ecological sustainability, and the cause commerce approach which promote the implementation of CSR. It has been recognized that the activities of an organization influence the external environment, hence it is important that the organization should be accountable to not only its stakeholders, but also to a wider community. This concept initially took root in the 1970s, and grew as a concern for the company as a member of society, with a wider view of company performance including its social performance (Crowther & Rayman-Bacchus, 2004: 3). Though community accountability was acknowledged as essential, the focus of big business on financial results was observed to be an impediment to social responsiveness, especially in the early years of the accountability concept taking shape. There is now an increasing move towards accountability of companies towards all participants, and this recent phenomenon of corporate social responsibility is becoming the norm with all organizations (McDonald & Puxty, 1979: 53).Corporate social responsibility (CSR) refers to a company including in its deci sion making and operations, ethical values, employee relations, compliance with legal requirements, transparency, and overall respect for the communities in which they operate. CSR is more than occassional community service action, it is a corporate philosophy that is the driving force behind strategic decision making, selection of partners or collaborators, hiring practices and ultimately brand development (Werther & Chandler, 2006: 8). CSR includes how businesses and organizations manage the impact that they have on the environment and society: particularly how organizations interact with their employees, customers, suppliers, and the communities in which they operate. Also significant is the extent to which they attempt to protect the environment, and solve new corporate problems such as the exploitation of child labour which may be occurring thousands of miles away as part of the corporate activity (Crowther & Green, 2004: 174)."Corporate social responsibility encompasses the ra nge of economic, legal, ethical and discretionary actions that affect the economic performance of the firm" (Werther & Chandler, 2006: 10). This includes legal or regulatory requirements faced in day-to-day operations. Being socially responsible and adhering to the law is an important aspect of any ethical organization. However, legal compliance is only a basic condition of CSR; strategic CSR gives priority to the ethical and discretionary concerns that are less precisely defined and for which there is often no clear or collective consensus from the part of society. Corporate social contract is related to the social responsibility that companies have towards the consumers and to the society at large. Thomas Hobbes' concept of social contract regards corporate activity as morally good if it maximises human welfare, in which collective welfare would be considered above

Statapult (catapult) strike experiment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Statapult (catapult) strike experiment - Essay Example Afterwards, 6 trials of that best possible angle are done and checking done to see whether we are getting similar distances as those we obtained theoretically. The results gotten indicate nearly similar distances as those obtained from equation which is 160cm.Furthermore,we have to determine the 95 percent CI from Minitab which is (151.99,168.01)cm ,whereas the anticipated confidence level is in the range of 95 percent CI. Introduction This experiment assists in coming up with a prediction equation for the statapult to strike a specific target. Multiple projectiles will be fired at differing angles, arm and peg settings. Through doing this; adequate data can be collected so as to establish the equation that controls the distance of the projectile. By utilizing this equation the maximum as well as the minimum distances that the projectile can travel can be figured out. A target distance that we can hit is then provided. By use of the Minitab software, the optimal settings will be computed and so as to establish the needed target distance and then 6 trials of the distance we get from the optimum settings are done. After trials are done, the uncoded angle (1500) is then converted to coded angle (-0.5) so as to determine the theoretical target distance of Y (-0.5, 1, 1) = 164.05 cm which is almost near the specified targeted value; 160 cm. Finally we have to determine the confidence interval from those 6 trials data wh ich is (154.76, 165.90) and it lies well within the confidence for interval for the mean, (151.99, 168.01), found out in the Minitab.

Agile methodology

Agile methodology Agile methodology is an approach to project management, typically used in software development. It refers to a group of software development methodologies based on iterative development. Requirements and solutions evolve through cooperation between self-organizing cross-functional teams, without concern for any hierarchy or team member roles. It promotes teamwork, collaboration, and process adaptability throughout the project life-cycle with increased face-to-face communication and reduced amount of written documentation. Agile methods break tasks into small increments with no direct long term planning. Every aspect of development is continually revisited throughout the lifecycle of project by way of iterations (also called sprints). Iterations are short time frames (timeboxes) that normally last 1-4 weeks. This inspect-and-adapt approach significantly reduces both development costs and time to market. Each iteration involves working through a complete software development cycle characterized by planning, requirements analysis, design, coding, unit testing, and acceptance testing. This helps minimize overall risk, and quicker project adaptability. While iteration may not have enough functionality necessary for a market release, aim is to be ready with a release (with minimal bugs) at the end of each iteration. Typically, the team size is small (5-9 people) to enable easier communication and collaboration. Multiple teams may be required for larger developmental efforts which may also require a coordination of priorities across teams. Agile methods emphasize more face-to-face communication than written documents when the team is in the same location. However, when a team works at different locations, daily contact is maintained through videoconferencing, e-mail, etc. The progress made in terms of the work done today, work scheduled for tomorrow and the possible roadblocks are discussed among the team members in brief sessions at the end of the each working day. Besides, agile developmental efforts are supervised by a customer representative to ensure alignment between customer needs and company goals. Software Development was initially based on coding and fixing. That worked well for smaller software, but as the size and complexities of software grew a need for a proper process was felt because the debugging and testing of such software became extremely difficult. This gave birth to the Engineering Methodologies. The methodologies became highly successful since it structured the software development process. One of the most popular models that emerged was the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) that developed information systems in a very methodical manner. Waterfall method is one of the most popular examples of Engineering or the SDLC methodology. A paper published by Winston Royce in 1970 introduced it as an idea. It was derived from the hardware manufacture and construction strategies that were in practice during the 1970s. The relationship of each stage to the others can be roughly described as a waterfall, where the outputs from a specific stage serve as the initial inputs for the following stage. During each stage, additional information is gathered or developed, combined with the inputs, and used to produce the stage deliverables. It is important to note that the additional information is restricted in scope; new ideas that would take the project in directions not anticipated by the initial set of high-level requirements are not incorporated into the project. Rather, ideas for new capabilities or features that are out-of-scope are preserved for later consideration. Agile Methodology: Engineering methodologies required a lot of documentation thereby causing the pace of development to slow down considerably. Agile Methodologies evolved in the 1990s to significantly eliminate this bureaucratic nature of engineering methodology. It was part of developers reaction against heavyweight methods, who desired to drift away from traditional structured, bureaucratic approaches to software development and move towards more flexible development styles. They were called the Agile or Light Weight methods and were defined in 1974 by Edmonds in a research paper. Some of the most popular agile methods that subsequently evolved were Scrum in 1995, Extreme Programming in 1996, Adaptive Software Development, Dynamic Systems Development Method and Feature Driven Development. In 2001, a team of 17 pioneers in agile software development coined the terms Agile Software development and agile methods. An Agile Manifesto was declared that was regarded as a set of canonical rules for agile software development methods and accompanying principles. Similarly, some of these people formed The Agile Alliance, a non-profit organization that promotes agile development. Extreme Programming: One of the several popular agile processes which stresses on customer satisfaction is Extreme programming. It improves a software project by focusing on communication, feedback, simplicity, courage and respect. Empowerment of the developers ensures speedier responses to changing customer requirements. Teamwork and collaboration is an integral part of extreme programming that improves the productivity and efficiency of the problem solving approach. Comparing Agile With Waterfall Model; Agile methodology can be compared and contrasted with traditional Waterfall model under the following heads. Conceptual Difference: Sequential Vs Iterative: Waterfall method is a sequential process of software development. Similar to a waterfall, the development team in such a model proceeds to the next stage of development once the first step is entirely accomplished. The waterfall model phases of software development are: requirement specification, conception, analysis, design, coding, testing debugging, installation and finally maintenance. A good amount of time is spent in each stage of development, till all requirements are met. Compared to this set-in-stone approach of waterfall models, the agile models focus on adaptability and agility during development. As an alternative to one rigid development schedule, agile models involve multiple iterative development schedules. Each iteration goes through the entire steps of design, coding and testing. A closely-knit, cross functional and self-organizing team structure exists. Documentation: Substantial Vs Minimal: While emphasis is placed on documentation at every stage of software development in a waterfall model, agile methodology emphasizes increased face-to-face communication and reduced documentation. Suitability: Predictive Vs Adaptive: While waterfall model is suitable for development of stable programs, agile methodology is best suited for web based applications because of its iterative nature that helps in incorporating correcting the different bugs that arise over time. Nature: Process oriented Vs People oriented: Waterfall Methodology is Process-oriented as it focuses on pre-planning of processes in great detail and subsequently coming up with a defined overall process to be used by whosoever uses it. Agile Methodologies on the other hand are People-oriented as they believe process definition is not an independent thing and the development of software relies heavily on the skills of the development team rather than on defined processes. Agile Methodologies use processes only to support the development team in doing their work more effectively and efficiently. Process never takes a lead in agile methodologies. Efficiency: Low Vs High: Efficiency is determined by the quality of software product, the lead development time and the number of bugs. Due to the adaptability of agile methods and the rigid development cycle of waterfall model, agile methods can incorporate changes and release products in lesser time. http://www.extremeprogramming.org/. http://www.buzzle.com/articles/waterfall-model-vs-agile.html.

Politics and Government - Neoconservatism Movement and the Ashes of Fai

The Neoconservatism Movement - Out of the Ashes of Failed Liberalism Neoconservatism is a relatively recent term, no more than thirty or forty years old. In fact, many of its members never truly accepted the term at all. And while its name may be relatively easy to pinpoint, its roots refuse to be tied to any one person, event, or movement. Rather, neoconservatism stems from a number of social and political factors. One of the largest sociopolitical factors in the development of neoconservatism revolves around the 1960s liberal movement. Himmelstein states in his book, To the Right, that a number of "factors contributed to a general crisis of confidence in American institutions and created a political opening for . . . the Right, which presented itself in the late 1970s as a ‘revitalization movement’" (6). It seems that Himmelstein is describing a progression parallel to the liberal movement of the 1960s, on a smaller scale and with an alternative ideology hindered by fewer limitations. Accordingly, Francis states, in Beautiful Losers, that "the emergence in the 1970s of the political and intellectual movement known as "neoconservatism" is generally regarded as a response to the failures of conventional liberalism to deal effectively with the challenges of that decade [i.e. 1960s]" (95). So, are we to believe that neoconservatism stems exclusively from disenchanted 1960s liberals? I rving Kristol, a noted fore-founder of the movement, attaches an even more specific label, describing neoconservatism as "the erosion of liberal faith among a relatively small . . . group of scholars and intellectuals, and the movement of this group toward a more conservative point of view," without completely conforming to the traditional Repub... ...Cited Dorrien, Gary. The Neoconservative Mind: Politics, Culture, and the War of Ideology. Philadelphia: Temple University Press, 1993. Ehrman, John. The Rise of Neoconservatism: Intellectuals and Foreign Affairs 1945- 1994. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1995. Francis, Samuel. Beautiful Losers: Essays on the Failure of American Conservatism. Columbia: University of Missouri Press, 1993. Himmelstein, Jerome L. To the Right: The Transformation of American Conservatism. Berkely: University of California Press, 1990. Kaiser, Charles. 1968 in America: Music, Politics, Chaos, Counterculture, and the Shaping of a Generation. New York: Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 1988. Kristol, Irving. Neoconservatism: The Autobiography of an Idea. New York: The Free Press, 1995. White, Theodore H. The Making of the President—1968. New York: Simon & Schuster, Inc., 1969.

Compare and Contrast Essay Essay

In the stories, â€Å"The Lie,† by Kurt Vonnegut and â€Å"Barn Burning,† by William Faulkner, the main characters mature from childhood into adulthood. This maturity either develops from support of one’s family and upbringing or it grows internally from one’s conscience. We see from both stories that the main characters use this maturity to courageously speak up. In the story, â€Å"The Lie,† Eli matures into adulthood. Due to his parents’ lack of understanding of his individuality in the beginning of the story, Eli has to deny his own feelings. When Eli receives the letter that he was rejected from the esteemed high school, Whitehill, he secretly tears it up since he is nervous of his parents’ disappointment. Eli’s mother, Sylvia, helps him transition into maturity as she begins to recognize her son’s individuality. At the beginning of the story, Sylvia thinks of her son as just another Ramenzal that will be attending W hitehill and even gives him â€Å"number thirty one† (Vonnegut, 2) in the honored list of the Ramenzals who have attended the institution. Sylvia fails to realize that Eli has unique qualities that are different from the rest of the Remenzels until the end of the story. When the Remenzels discover from the headmaster that Eli has not been accepted to the school and realize that Eli has ran away because of the tough situation he got himself into, Sylvia finally recognizes that Whitehill is not the best place for him. This allows Eli to open up and express his feelings comfortably. We see this when Eli expresses his feelings of anger at his father for trying to get him into Whitehill, for he realizes he will not succeed there. He says, â€Å"You shouldn’t have done that† (Vonnegut, 12). At the point that he is recognized as an individual, he is ultimately able to mature through his new ability to express himself without being intimidated. Sarty from the story â€Å"Barn Burning,† also develops and matures into adulthood. Throughout the story he has an internal conflict between loyalty to his family an d doing what is right. Sarty’s father, Abner, makes this struggle very difficult by pressuring his son to be loyal to a family that is living a life of vengeance, anger and retribution. He  accuses his son of almost telling the justice that his father did in fact burn down the barn. He hits his son and then tells him, â€Å"You got to learn. You got to learn to stick to your own blood or you ain’t going to have any blood to stick to you† (Faulkner, 3). He is faced with a conflict which he describes as â€Å"being pulled two ways like between two teams of horses† (Faulkner, 7). Finally at the end of the story he builds up the courage to run away from his family and tell the landlords that his father is planning on burning their barn. He realizes that he made the right decision of following his conscience and doesn’t regret being disloyal to his blood, as the story ends, â€Å"He did not look back† (Faulkner, 11). We see in these two stories the main characters’ initiation into adulthood. They both are able to openly express what they really thought was the right thing. Eli matures and is able to express his feelings when he is recognized as an individual and not as another Remenzel. Sarty also develops into an adult as he follows his conscience, and speaks out against his family. Sometimes a person, like Eli, needs support in order to mature, yet sometimes a person, like Sarty, matures, regardless of support, by following his conscience. Works Cited Faulkner, William. Barn Burning. Logan, IA: Perfection Form, 1979. Print. Kurt Vonnegut. The Lie. Woodstock, IL: Dramatic Pub., 1992. Print