PickATopic

Think about what you want to study or learn about. Your choice of topic should be something that interests you. All of your teachers are resources who can help you with picking a topic, not just your science teacher.

Is there something in your environment that regularly captures your attention? Has there been an interesting phenomenon in the news recently that got you thinking about science? Have you observed something in the world that makes you wonder //Why?// or //What if?// Use this [|worksheet] to brainstorm ideas and capture information from your preliminary research.
 * 1. Find an area that interests you (Week 1)**

Does your area of interest fall into any of these categories? For full descriptions of the categories, click here http://www.chicagostudentsciencefair.org/Main/categories.html Having trouble categorizing your area? Ask your science teacher. What kind of endorsements are needed for the category you are considering? Work with your science teacher on obtaining your endorsements as early as possible.
 * 2. Categorize your topic (Week 1)**

For information about endorsements, click here http://www.chicagostudentsciencefair.org/Student/stu-endorse.html 
 * Worksheet. ** Use this [|worksheet] to capture your category information and endorsement requirements.

Do some research to learn the fundamentals of your subject matter. Be sure to note facts that are of particular interest to you. These facts will help you narrow your topic. **Worksheet. ** Use the [|Research Planning Worksheet] and Research Note-Taking Form for [|web sites] and [|print materials] to help you keep good notes about your topic as you go along. These forms will help you keep track of the sources you find. 
 * 3. Investigate your topic (Weeks 1 and 2)**
 * Definition**. Research is a disciplined process that involves reading widely in an area that interests you, taking careful notes to document the sources of your inquiry, and seeking answers to the questions that arise as you go along.