Southfield Social Studies Fair
Friday, January 29 - Southfield Gym

8:15 – 12:00 Student Presentations/judging
12:15 – 2:00 Visitors Welcome
2:15 Awards Presentation in the Southfield gym

SOCIAL STUDIES PROJECT TIMELINE

1. Topic Choice

• Focus Statement
• Research question
• Due Wednesday, October 28

2. Research Timeline

• Research will be done on your own
• Research opportunities will be provided at school when possible
• Research time line November 4 – November 30

3. Report Writing Timeline (body of paper)

• December 1 – December 15

4. Abstract

• Class instruction
• Thursday, January 7

5. Conclusion

• Class Instruction
• Friday, January 8

6. Writing Completion

• January 5 – 15

7. Research Paper is due Wednesday, January 27

8. Classroom Oral Presentations

• Wednesday, January 27
• Thursday, January 28

9. Project Display

• Completed at home
• Bring display to school on the day of the fair (Friday, January 29)

 

SOCIAL STUDIES PROJECT – SELECTING A TOPIC

Topics and Disciplines:

1. Anthropology: Ancient Civilizations, Native Americans, customs, festivals, types of shelter and food, religion, how groups are different from each other, ways of life, archeology

2. Economics: Money, manufacturing, trade, transportation of goods and services, communication, inflation, stock exchange, government, ways in which people use their resources in order to earn a living, how goods get from one place to another, how goods are shared, exchange of goods, services, and money, technology

3. Geography: Ecology, foreign countries, lands and people, maps, flooding, rivers, lakes, cities, conservation, raw materials, natural resources, environment, changes in landforms, physical environment and human activity

4. History: Historical events, places, biographies, personalities, wars, a particular group of people, institutions, communities, regions, historical struggles, changes in civilizations

5. Political Science: Government agencies, FBI, U.S. Constitution, international governments, authority and power in different regions of the world, different ways in which people govern/defend themselves, ways in which leaders are chosen

6. Sociology: Families, family structure, life styles, religion, television, media, language, ethnic groups, ways in which people have changed the land, ways in which people have built cities, use of natural resources and lifestyle

TOPIC SELECTION GUIDELINES

It is important to follow these general guidelines in order to find a good research topic.

1. Some topics are too small.

2. Some topics are too broad.

3. Some topics simply have no information available.

4. Some topics are confusing because we cannot tell exactly what information is requested.

5. Some topics concern questions in which people throughout the world cannot agree.

THE RESEARCH PAPER – 2 copies

1. Title Page

• Name of project (centered on the page)
• Student’s name (name is on the report you turn in to your teacher) (no name on the report used in the Social Studies Fair)
• Grade level
• Turn in date (Wednesday, January 27, 2010)

2. Table of Contents

•  All major elements in the research paper are listed with the appropriate page number.

3. Abstract (you also need a copy of your abstract for your display)

• This is a brief (approximately 250 words) summary of your report and reference sources used in the paper. The abstract is written after the research and report writing process is completed. Guidelines for writing the abstract will be given in social studies class.

4. Body of Paper

• This part of the paper tells the story of the project. It should include the basic purpose of the report, relevant questions asked, and information gathered for the research.

5. Conclusion

• The general ideas discovered or learned from doing the project should be concisely described in this part.

6. References/Works Cited (5 sources required)

•  2 book sources required/1 encyclopedia allowed
• Alphabetical list of all books, articles, and other sources, including interviews, that were used in the report. (any standard reference style used to write this portion of the project is acceptable)

ORAL PRESENTATION

1. State your research question.

2. Explain why you chose the topic.

3. Give the most important answers to your research question.

4. Talk about the most significant discoveries of your research.

5. Clearly state what you really learned from your project.

PROJECT DISPLAY COMPONENTS

Please do not include your name on the display

1. Title

• The title of your project must be on the display

2. Abstract

•  A copy of your abstract is required to be on your display.

3. Research Report

• A copy of your research report (without your name) is required to be on the table in front of your display. (DO NOT PUT THE REPORT ON THE DISPLAY)

4. Research Question

• Your research question is required to be on the display.

5. Illustration

• Use attractive materials and lettering
• Lettering should easy to read from a distance of 3 to 5 feet
• Choose colors that have contrast
• Use a variety of media: maps, charts, graphs, photographs, mural, diagrams, pictures
• Creativity is encouraged

6. Size and Weight Requirements

• Maximum 36 inches wide
• Maximum 30 inches deep
•  Maximum 100 inches high
•  Maximum weight is 100 pounds
•  Projects may not extend below the level of the table top (includes any audio visual equipment)

WRITING REQUIREMENTS

CLEAR REPORT COVER REQUIRED

Template for typing each component is in your folder

1. Title Page

• All information is centered on the page
• Title is first
• Name is second
• Grade level is third
• Turn In Date – Wednesday, January 27, 2010

2. Table of Contents

• Title the page
•  Double space
• Parts of the paper
• Appropriate page numbers

3. Abstract (included in table of contents)

• Approximately 250 words
• Typed on a separate page
• Not part of the body of the paper

4. Body of Paper (included in table of contents)

• 12 font
• allow 1 inch from the top (no title necessary)
• 3 – 5 pages
• double space

5. Conclusion (included in table of contents)

• written on a separate page
• restates your project purpose
• approximately 75 words

6. References/Works Cited (included in table of contents) (5 sources required)

• alphabetical order (examples given in your template)
• double space