The document discusses how to write a conclusion section for a science experiment. A conclusion reexamines the original hypothesis in light of the experimental results. It describes whether the results proved or disproved the hypothesis. The conclusion also discusses any new questions that arose from the experiment and how the experiment could be modified in the future. An example is provided where the hypothesis that grass prevents soil erosion better than shrubs was disproved by results showing shrubs provide better coverage. The student now wonders how different shrub types compare and would study deciduous versus coniferous shrubs in any future experiments.

1. Writing the conclusion

2.  What is a conclusion? A conclusion is a
reexamination of your original hypothesis in
regards to the data you have collected. Your
conclusion will continue by describing how your
results prove or disprove your hypothesis. Your
conclusion includes what questions you have
developed in doing the experiment. It also
includes how you might change your experiment
if you were to continue this topic in order to
explore those questions that you developed
during the experiment.

3.  Does grass or shrubs do a better job at preventing
soil erosion? My hypothesis was that grass would do
a better job at preventing soil erosion on the hillside
than shrubs. I base my hypothesis on the idea that
there are more roots in the grass than the shrubs.
The results indicate that this hypothesis is not
supported. The dense amount of shrub cover
shielded the underlying dirt better than the grass.
Because of the results of this experiment, I wonder if
different kinds of shrubs have the same effect on
preventing erosion. If I were to conduct this science
fair project again I would try both deciduous as well
as coniferous shrubs.

4.  Then, depending on your answers, you may
wish to explain ways in which the project
might be improved or introduce new
questions that have come up as a result of
the project.
 Your conclusion includes what questions you
have developed in doing the experiment. It
also includes how you might change your
experiment if you were to continue this topic.

5.  My hypothesis was
 The Results indicate that this hypothesis is
supported/not supported…
 Because of the results of this experiment, I
wonder…
 If I were to conduct this science fair project
again I would

6.  Write one or two sentences for your conclusion
that summarize the results you found in your
experiment.
 These sentences should not necessarily include
numbers and data, but rather should compare
the different experimental and control groups.
For example, you could write, "The plants kept in
full sunlight grew more quickly than those in the
shade.“