Writing a
Hypothesis
L.O. — Students will understand how to write
a testable question and a hypothesis and then
proceed to do so.

Reminders I
Bring me your textbooks—or else.
I should see two outlined sources by the end of
the period.
If I haven’t seen your research planning sheet
(given out yesterday) or your second source
yet, I need to see it by the end of the period.

Reminders II
Don’t get out of your seat for any reason at all.
People are working and I’m conferencing, please
keep a respectful tone.
First Warning—10 points off classwork
grade.
Second Warning—Zero in classwork for
the day (separate from your project
grade).

Upcoming Deadlines
Tomorrow: Field Trip to the Botanical Garden
Friday: Revised proposals due.
Friday: Bring in your third source.
Monday: All three outlines due to me for
review.

Experimental Design
Your project should have a testable question.
A testable question is one that is answered by
experimentation, not by the turning of pages in
a book.

Answering a Testable
Question
The answer to a testable question is typically
developed by identifying and controlling
variables and reflects the elements of a well-
designed investigation such as multiple trials.

How to Answer a
Testable Question
A testable question can often be written in the
form \"How does _____ affect ______?\"

Hypotheses
Your hypothesis is an educated guess to your
testable question based on the research you’ve
done so far.
It’s like a topic sentence.

Writing a Hypothesis
It’s often an “If... then... because...” statement.
If the temperature of a gas is increased, then
the volume will increase. If the length of a
pendulum increases, then the period of swing
will decrease.

What needs to be
done today.
You should have your first two outlines done.
You should have a testable question and your
hypothesis for your project written and
submitted to me.
If you finish early, you can work on your
revised proposal or begin drafting your
research paper.