The grading scale for the first six-week grading cycle is based entirely on the student’s accumulated grant monies at the end of that grading cycle. Progress reports will be sent out after the 3rd week of the grading period. Progress report grades will be based on the expectation that students should have earned ½ of the monies required to meet the end-of-cycle grade. Please refer to the following table for the end-of-cycle grading scale for the first six-week period.

1st Six-Week Scale: 2 percentage points / $1,000 earned (maximum grade 100%)

$45,000 – $50,000……………………………………………………………………...…………A

$40,000 – $49,999……………………………...…………………………………………………B

$37,500 – $39,999………………………………………...………………………………………C

$35,000 – $37,499…………………………………………………...……………………………D

$0 – $34,999………………….………………………………………………...…………………F

General Guidelines for Project Submissions

Deliverables

A deliverable is the work product that must be submitted to the teacher for award consideration. The primary consideration is that all submissions are of professional quality. All completed deliverables which receive payment must be kept in a documentation portfolio that remains in the classroom until the end of the grading period. Only submissions that meet all of the project requirements and are of high quality will be granted the prearranged award. In order to avoid denial of the award, students are encouraged to turn in work well before the last available due date. Early submission assures that work that fails to meet the expectations may be improved and resubmitted. Early submission of projects may also qualify the student for bonus awards.

Document Submissions

Most deliverables require some written content. All written submissions must be created using a word processing program and include a right justified header with the author’s name, date, and period unless otherwise indicated. Some projects also require the submission of document file. All document file submissions must be viewable in Microsoft Word. Unless otherwise noted, all text should be double spaced with margins no greater than 1 inch. The main body of text should usually be 12 points but may be 10 points in some situations. Titles, headings, and subheadings should be no larger than 18 points, 16 points, and 14 points respectively but may be as much as 2 points smaller according to individual tastes and applications.

Other Submissions Types

Other types of submissions include but are not limited to formal presentations, displays, question and answer sessions, models, structures, drawings, diagrams, and physical constructs. Detailed submission requirements will be explained under each of the project descriptions but all must meet quality professional standards.

Academic Integrity

All cheating and plagiarism (intentional or unintentional) is a serious violation of ethical principles. Below is an excerpt from the Student-Parent Handbook that should be well understood by all John Jay Science and Engineering Academy students and their parents. The following is taken directly from the Northside Independent School District 2002-2003 Student-Parent Handbook, Section B Academic Policies & Procedures, page B-1:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY

All students are expected to be honest and to display a high standard of integrity in the preparation and presentation of work for credit in all classes. The attempt of any student to present as his/her own work such work not honestly performed will be regarded as a serious offense which may subject the offender to a grading penalty and/or disciplinary action. School staff will contact the parents or guardians of any student who is found to be in violation of this policy.

Cheating

Dishonesty of any kind on a test or examination, written assignment, or project, illegal possession of test or examination questions, the use of unauthorized notes during a test or examination, obtaining or giving information about a test or examination from or to another student, assisting others to cheat or altering grade records are instances of cheating.

Plagiarism

Offering the work of another as one’s own work without proper acknowledgement is plagiarism; therefore, any student who fails to give credit for quotations or essentially identical material taken from books, encyclopedias, magazines, and other reference works or from the themes, reports or other writings of a fellow student is guilty of plagiarism.

Students who engage in any of the above activities forfeit all possible awards for the submission in question. Additional consequences may also be imposed in compliance with any and all applicable Northside Independent School District policies.

Suggested Project Descriptions (1 st Six-Weeks)

Attendance

Award: $50 / Day

Requirements: Students must be in their seat and appropriately prepared for class when the bell rings and remain on task for the entire class period in order to qualify for this award. If a student is absent (even excused), tardy, leaves early, fails to stay on task, or is unprepared, no award will be given for that day.

Deliverables: Students are required to track their accumulated grant awards for attendance and report them on an earnings report in order to receive credit.

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Assorted Minor Projects

Award: $50 – $250

Requirements: Minor projects are offered by the teacher on a periodic basis as deemed appropriated by the teacher. The specific requirements will be given at that time. Each project will relate to an important concept addressed in class and will generally have a short time frame of completion.

Deliverables: The deliverables will vary as to the project and will be explained at the appropriate time. Students are required to track their accumulated grant awards and report them on an earnings report in order to receive credit.

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Time Management Report

Award: $500 / weekly report

Due Date: Every Friday

Requirements: Students must keep track of their activity for each class period and any out of class time spent working on class projects. Students must include the approximate number of minutes expended towards specific project related goals. The report must account for at least 5 days per week.

Deliverables: A hard copy of the time management report that meets the above requirements. Students are required to track their accumulated grant awards and report them on an earnings report in order to receive credit.

Download Example Time Management Report

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Earnings Report

Award: $500 / weekly report

Due Date: Every Friday

Requirements: Students must outline their entire accumulated award monies granted up to an including the day of the submission of the earnings report. A portfolio record of the completed and paid for project submissions must be kept and presented as documentation at each earnings report submission. Students will only receive credit for projects delineated in an earnings report.

Deliverables: An earnings report sheet and documentation portfolio. Students are required to include the assumed grant award for the current earnings report on the earnings report turned in at the end of any given week.

Download Example Earnings Report

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Science Project Topic

Award: $1,000

Last Available Due Date: September 2

Requirements: Students must state the independent science project to be pursued. The problem addressed should be stated clearly and unambiguously. Originality in the questions asked and any unusual or unique approaches to solving the problem should be expressed. The potential applications of intended research should also be discussed.

Deliverables: A science project topic sheet. Bonus money is awarded at the rate of $50 for each calendar day the science project topic is turned in prior to the last due date. Students are required to track their accumulated grant awards and report them on an earnings report in order to receive credit.

Download Example Topic Sheet

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Hypothesis

Award: $500

Last Available Due Date: September 7

Requirements: Students must state the proposed hypothesis. The hypothesis should be a statement that makes a testable prediction concerning exactly two variables. Each variable must be operationally defined and the expected effect of, or relationship between, the independent variable and dependent variable must be clearly evident.

Deliverables: A hard copy of the hypothesis. Bonus money is awarded at the rate of $50 for each calendar day the hypothesis is turned in prior to the last due date. Students are required to track their accumulated grant awards and report them on an earnings report in order to receive credit.

Download Example Hypothesis

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Null Hypothesis

Award: $500

Last Available Due Date: September 9

Requirements: Students must state both the proposed hypothesis and null hypothesis. The null hypothesis if true must nullify or disprove the hypothesis. The hypothesis as stated must also meet the requirements as listed in the hypothesis project.

Deliverables: A hard copy of the hypothesis and the null hypothesis. Bonus money is awarded at the rate of $50 for each calendar day the null hypothesis is turned in prior to the last due date. Students are required to track their accumulated grant awards and report them on an earnings report in order to receive credit.

Download Example Null Hypothesis

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Experimental Design Report

Award: $5,000

Last Available Due Date: September 14

Requirements: Students must include and or address the following in outline format:

Project topic

Hypothesis

Null hypothesis

Plausible approach that tests hypothesis

Clearly recognizable and operationally defined variables

Reasonable range and value of variables

Use of recognized units of measurement

Controls identified and utilized correctly

Efficient and reliable method for testing the hypothesis

Sound sampling techniques

Practicality and/or ability to generalize the study

Adequate data to support a conclusion

Data obtained using the required techniques and equipment

Necessary supervision

Safety considerations

Deliverables: A hard copy of the experimental design report. Bonus money is awarded at the rate of $50 for each calendar day the experimental design is turned in prior to the last due date. Students are required to track their accumulated grant awards and report them on an earnings report in order to receive credit.

Download Example Experimental Design Report doc pdf

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Procedures

Award: $5,000

Last Available Due Date: September 19

Requirements: The procedures should be written as though all the experimentation was already completed (final publication will occur after experimentation). It should be assumed that the experiment will be replicated by other serious scientists. The procedures must meet or exceed the following expectations:

Clarity

Easy to understand, no confusing language

Proper grammar, spelling and tense

Consistent use of third person

Passive voice, no personal pronouns

Recognizable and operationally defined variables

Appropriate

Use of recognized units of measurement

Plausible approach that tests hypothesis

Adequate data collected to support a conclusion

Controls identified and utilized correctly

Sound sampling techniques

Proper techniques and equipment

Supervision as required

Safety considerations addressed

Reasonable

Analytical and logical

Organized

Discussion of how the results were analyzed

Topic and/or approach

Efficient and reliable method for testing the hypothesis

Range and value of variables

Detailed

Complete and thorough

Replicable

Makes good assumptions about:

What the reader should already know

What the reader probably doesn't know

Succinct

To the point, no rambling or “wasted words”

No “throw away” language

Compact but precise expression

Deliverables: A hard copy of the procedures. Bonus money is awarded at the rate of $50 for each calendar day the procedures are turned in prior to the last due date. Students are required to track their accumulated grant awards and report them on an earnings report in order to receive credit.

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Protocol Documentation

Award: $4,500 – $15,000

Last Available Due Date: September 23

Requirements: Students must properly complete all the required International Science and Engineering Fair forms and get the necessary approval to prior to beginning experimentation. Each required form submitted is valued at $1,500. All experiments require the first 3 forms listed below. Some experiments may require 2 -3 additional forms. Few, if any, experiments will require more than a total of 6 forms. Only forms that are truly required will be awarded grant monies. All required forms must be submitted and receive approval before any awards are granted. Forms submitted for approval by Scientific Review Committees or Institutional Review Boards, if approved, may be granted bonus awards based on original submission date.

Forms which qualify for award monies:

Form 1: Checklist for Adult Sponsor / Safety Assessment Form
Form 1A: Research Plan and Research Plan Attachment
Form 1B: Approval Form
Form 2: Qualified Scientist Form
Form 3: Designated Supervisor Form
Form 4: Human Subjects and Informed Consent Form
Form 5: Vertebrate Animal Form (5A and 5B)
Form 6A: Potentially Hazardous Biological Agents Form
Form 6B: Human and Vertebrate Animal Tissue Form
Form 7: Continuation Projects Form

Deliverables: A hard copy of all the required forms properly completed and signed. Bonus money is awarded at the rate of $50 for each calendar day the forms are turned in prior to the last due date. Students are required to track their accumulated grant awards and report them on an earnings report in order to receive credit.

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Introduction

Award: $5,000

Last Available Due Date: September 19

Requirements: The introduction should be written to engage the reader with the big ideas and current knowledge that influenced, inspired, guided, or framed the student’s experiment. It should be assumed that the introduction will be read by serious scientists that may or may not have experience in this particular field of study. The introduction must meet or exceed the following expectations:

Clarity

Easy to understand, no confusing language
Proper grammar, spelling and tense
Consistent use of third person
Passive voice, no personal pronouns
Gradually moves the reader from the “big picture” to the specific topic of study

Appropriate
- Proper application of the scientific literature
- Source information that relates well to the project
- Makes good assumptions about:
  - What the reader should already know
  - What the reader probably doesn't know
Reasonable
- Organized and logical structure
- Discussion of research
- Quality, Quantity, & Variety of Sources
  - Uses MLA format in bibliography
  - Citation of scientific literature not just popular literature
  - Correct use of in-text citation
Detailed
- Complete and thorough
- Good content – “rounds out” knowledge
- Provides information that “fills the gap”
Succinct
- To the point, no rambling or “wasted words”
- No “throw away” language
- Compact but precise expressions

Deliverables: A hard copy of the introduction. Bonus money is awarded at the rate of $50 for each calendar day the introduction is turned in prior to the last due date. Students are required to track their accumulated grant awards and report them on an earnings report in order to receive credit.

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Scientific Article Summary

Award: $100 / page

Last Available Due Date: September 23

Requirements: Students must read and summarize a scientific article. The scientific literature must relate to the student’s experiment in some way. MLA format must be used for citation of the article . The “per page” award is solely determined by Mr. Sumpter (not all pages are created equally). A determination of the number of pages awarded for an article should be negotiated with Mr. Sumpter prior to submission.

Deliverables: A hard copy of the scientific article summary report with a photocopy of the article attached. Bonus money is awarded at the rate of $5 / page for each calendar day a scientific article summary is turned in prior to the last due date. Students are required to track their accumulated grant awards and report them on an earnings report in order to receive credit.

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Peer-Reviewed Research Summary

Award: $300 / page

Last Available Due Date: September 23

Requirements: Students must read and summarize peer-reviewed scientific research. The research must relate to the student’s experiment in some way. MLA format must be used for citation of the article . The “per page” award is solely determined by Mr. Sumpter (not all pages are created equally). A determination of the number of pages awarded for an article should be negotiated with Mr. Sumpter prior to submission.

Deliverables: A hard copy of the scientific article summary report with a photocopy of the article attached. Bonus money is awarded at the rate of $20 / page for each calendar day a scientific article summary is turned in prior to the last due date. Students are required to track their accumulated grant awards and report them on an earnings report in order to receive credit.

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Student Evaluation

Award: $50 – $250

Last Available Due Date: See requirements

Requirements: Students must read another student’s work and provide a both a verbal and written evaluation of that work. A hard copy must be provided to the evaluator for the purpose of annotation. The evaluator must then attach a fully completed student evaluation sheet and return the work product to the author. Both the author and the evaluator are awarded for the completed process. Evaluations must be completed 3 days prior to the payment date for the respective project. This is to assure that the recipient of the evaluation or consultation has time to process and respond to each of the suggested improvements. Authors are limited to 3 student evaluations awards per project submission listed below. Evaluators are limited to 10 evaluation awards per project type listed below.

Deliverables: The author submit a hard copy of the completed student evaluation attached to both the actual work evaluated (with evaluator annotation), and the improved work product. The evaluator is only required to include the author’s name and type of project submission on an earnings report (awards are subject to confirmation of evaluation). Experimental design report evaluations are worth a grant award of $50 to both the author and the evaluator. Evaluations of a student's procedures is worth a grant award of $100 to the author and $150 to the evaluator. Evaluations of a student's introduction is worth a grant award of $150 to the author and $250 to the evaluator. As always, both the author and the evaluator are required to track their accumulated grant awards and report them on an earnings report in order to receive credit.

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Adult Evaluation

Award: $250 – $750

Last Available Due Date: See requirements

Requirements: An adult must read the student’s work and provide a both a verbal and written evaluation of that work. A hard copy must be provided to the evaluator for the purpose of annotation. The evaluator must then attach a fully completed student evaluation sheet and return the work product to the author. Evaluations must be completed 3 days prior to the payment date for the respective project. This is to assure that the recipient of the evaluation or consultation has time to process and respond to each of the suggested improvements. Authors are limited to 3 adult evaluations awards per project submission listed in the table below.

Deliverables: The author submit a hard copy of the completed student evaluation attached to both the actual work evaluated (with evaluator annotation), and the improved work product. Experimental design report evaluations are worth a grant award of $50 to the author. Evaluations of a student's procedures is worth a grant award of $100 to the author. Evaluations of a student's introduction is worth a grant award of $150 to the author. Students are required to track their accumulated grant awards and report them on an earnings report in order to receive credit.

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Teacher Consultation

Award: $10 / minute

Last Available Due Date: See requirements

Requirements: Consultation monies are granted for meeting time with Mr. Sumpter outside of scheduled class periods. Only time spent discussing aspects of forthcoming project submissions count as awardable time. The amount of the award will be negotiated at the end of the consultation time. Teacher consultation awards are limited to $2,000 for the 1 st six-week grading period. Evaluations must be completed 3 days prior to the payment date for the respective project. This is to assure that the recipient of the consultation has time to process and respond to each of the suggested improvements.

Deliverables: Students are required to track their accumulated grant awards and report them on an earnings report in order to receive credit.

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Expert Consultation / Collaboration

Award: $250 – $3,000

Last Available Due Date: September 28

Requirements: Consultation or collaboration with an expert professional (doctor, professor, engineer, graduate student, or industry representative) can be very beneficial and take many forms. Consultations include but are not limited to email, letters, or telephone correspondence. Multiple or lengthy correspondences, such as personal interviews or tours of facilities are likely receive greater awards. Collaborations will customarily receive the largest awards and necessitate the direct participation of the professional in the student’s experiment. All award values will be negotiated on an individual basis. A student may have more than one professional consultation or collaboration, but each instance must involve a different expert.

Deliverables: Appropriate documentation of expert involvement will be required prior to the awarding of monies. Specific deliverables and awards will be negotiated on a case by case basis. Students are required to track their accumulated grant awards and report them on an earnings report in order to receive credit.

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Annotated Bibliography

Award: $5,000 – $10,000

Last Available Due Date: September 28

Requirements: The annotated bibliography is a record of the author’s sources and a guide for the reader to find those sources if so desired. All citations must adhere to the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers (6th edition). Each citation must be followed by a brief (2-5 complete sentences) explanation of the source material, why it is relevant to the current experiment, and any potential biases or limitations of the source. At least 5 non-web page sources must be included, 3 of which must be peer-reviewed research. The annotated bibliography must meet or exceed the following expectations:

Clarity

Adheres to MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers (6th edition)

Easy to understand, no confusing language

Proper grammar, spelling and tense

Consistent use of third person

Passive voice, no personal pronouns

Appropriate

Proper application of the scientific literature

Quality, quantity, & variety of Sources

Citation of 5 or more reliable scientific sources

Minimum of 3 peer-reviewed research references

Source information that relates well to the project

Reasonable

Well organized

Ties current project to related research

Quality, Quantity, & Variety of Sources

Discussion of research

Detailed

Complete and thorough

Good content – “rounds out” knowledge

No obvious gaps in source material

Succinct

To the point, no rambling or “wasted words”

No “throw away” language

Compact and precise expressions

Deliverables: A hard copy of the annotated bibliography. Bonus money is awarded at the rate of $50 for each calendar day the annotated bibliography is turned in prior to the last due date. Students are required to track their accumulated grant awards and report them on an earnings report in order to receive credit.

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