Social Studies Fair

Social Studies Fair

Social Studies Disciplines

Anthropology History

Economics Political Science

Geography Sociology/Psychology

Social Studies Fair

Avoid topics that are limited.

Example: What crops are grown in our county?

A student cannot write a report on a topic that can be explained in a few words or a sentence.

Better Topic: What is the economic impact of peanut production in our county?

Social Studies Fair

Avoid topics that are too broad.

Example: What happened during the Civil War?

A student cannot write a report on a topic that is too big to find all of the information.

Better Topic: What was the role of Gettysburg during the Civil War?

Social Studies Fair

Avoid topics that are confusing.

Example: What do people of Japan like?

We know that the people of Japan may differ in their likes and dislikes.

Better Topic: A comparison of Japanese and American women in sports competition.

Social Studies Fair

Avoid topics that people cannot agree on.

Example: What’s the most powerful country in the world?

The topic must be supported with facts.

Better Topic: Why might Japan be one of the strongest economic powers worldwide?

Social Studies Fair

Research the topic from a Social Studies view point rather than from a natural science topic.

Example: Nuclear power as a political issue rather than “how it works”

Social Studies Fair

1. List 10 questions that deal with your topic.

2. Ask each of these questions about your research topic.

A. Is the topic relevant?

B. Can you do original research on your topic?

C. Does the question use words that need to be defined?

D. Did you avoid questions with “yes” or “no” answers?

Social Studies Fair

Continued..

2. Ask each of these questions about your research topic.

E. Do you already know the answer to the question?

F. Are you biased or prejudiced about the topic?

G. Will you be able to draw a conclusion to the topic?

H. Can you find information in your community on the topic?

Social Studies Fair

Continued…

3. Narrow your list of questions to three.

A. Discuss the questions with parents, teachers, and friends

B. Choose the best research question.

Social Studies Fair

A. Begin in the media center.

1. Books

2. Magazines

3. Newspapers

4. Government Documents

5. Online Search Engines

Social Studies Fair

B. Choose at least 1 (preferably 2 or 3) original means of research.

1. Interviews 6. Photographs

2. Polls 7. Movies/ Sound Recordings

3. Oral Histories 8. Experiments/ Observations

4. Case Studies 9. Maps

5. Questionnaires 10. Unpublished Manuscripts

Social Studies Fair

1. Front cover sheet- The research paper should be bound in a folder with a cover sheet that includes the following:

A. The title of the project in the form of a question

B. The student(s) name, school name, grade level, and the name of

the teacher

C. You may include any necessary illustrations.

Social Studies Fair

2. An abstract should follow cover page. It should include:

A. Title of the project in the form of a question.

B. The student(s) name who completed the project

C. Statement of the problem. In a sentence, tell about the purpose of the project/ what you set out to prove.

D. Methodology: How did you collect the information?

E. Conclusion: State your position based on research.

Social Studies Fair

2. The body of the summary paper should follow the cover page. It should include:

A. Statement of the question being explored. Clearly states why the research topic was chosen.

B. Methodology: Steps followed to complete the project

C. Research findings presents adequate and balanced information in a sequential and convincing manner.

D. Conclusion is a complete summary and answers the question being explored.

Social Studies Fair

3. The reference page should follow the conclusion page. It should include:

A. Alphabetize by the first letter in the reference.

B. Italicize the title of the book or magazine.

C. Put quotation marks around the titles of articles.

D. Include the month, day, and year for publications.

E. Indent if the reference takes more than one line.

F. End each citation with a period.

Social Studies Fair

4. The verification page should follow the reference page.

Reports must be typed or word processed. Should the report be typed by or word processed by someone other than the student, include the following statement:

“I verify that this paper, typed or word processed by _________, is exactly as I prepared it.”

______________________

Student’s Signature

Social Studies Fair

Do We

Left Panel

Statement of the problem

Procedures used Materials used

Have a Gas Center Panel

ChartsGraphsPhotos

Crisis? Right Panel

Conclusion

Social Studies Fair

September 10 Social Studies and Science Fair Parent Night

September 11 Social Studies Fair Announced to Classes

September 18 Social Studies Fair Contract Due

September 25 Social Studies Fair Final Topic Selection/Question Due

September 26- October 29 Begin Research Process

October 30 Research Paper Rough Draft Due

December 4 Final Draft of Research Paper Due

December 11 Visual Presentation Due (tri-board)

January 4-8 Local Social Studies Fair

Mid-January (TBA) Muscogee County District Social Studies Fair

February (TBA) Regional Social Studies Fair

March/April (TBA) State Social Studies Fair