How to Write Scientific Statements

Example We Will Use Changing the amount of sunlight changes how tall plants will grow

Independent Variable - IV The variable that “I” (the scientist) changes Be specific Don’t just write “sunlight” Should be “amount of sunlight” Include units in ( ) How are you going to measure it? Written correctly: Amount of Sunlight (hours)

Dependent Variable - DV The variable that “depends” on the other variables What will be measured? Be specific Don’t just write “how tall a plant grows” What are you measuring? Height Height of what? Should be “height of plant” Include units in ( ) How are you going to measure it? Written correctly: Height of Plant (cm)

Hypothesis Use the IV and DV you just identified Hypothesis is… IF THE IV IS CHANGED, THEN THE DV WILL CHANGE. Make sure you are specific about HOW the variables will change. What do you think will happen? Written correctly: If the amount of sunlight is increased, then the height of the plant will decrease.

Title Always capitalized like the title of a book The Effect of IV on DV Written Correctly: The Effect of the Amount of Sunlight on the Height of Plants