School projects can be hard work. But with a solid effort, you can walk away with the bright and shiny “A.” Here are a few simple guidelines that will lead you to a perfect grade:
Follow the Criteria
It sounds obvious, but the fact is, so many students forget to read the criteria and follow it properly. Your teacher put it there for a reason. And sometimes the criteria can even show you that the project isn’t as big and frightening as you thought.
Research
All projects involve at least some research, whether it’s a science fair project, a novel study, or a social studies project. Use your resources: the internet, books, people with first-hand experience and of course the oh-so-old-school encyclopaedia (or maybe Wikipedia will do). With research, there are two important things to remember: site your sources, meaning keep track of every website or book that you take information from; and always paraphrase! Copying another person’s facts word for word is called plagiarism, and it’s illegal.
Writing
There’s a written component to every project. The best way to get a great mark is to (a) get your facts right, and (b) have someone else, like a parent or another teacher, read it over for you. Even if you’ve spellchecked your work, the computer might not pick up on some mistakes like missing words or word confusion. Having someone with “fresh eyes” read your work will let them find mistakes even you missed.
Presentation
Presentation is key, especially with projects that involve a backboard. Eye-pleasing presentations will add quality to your work that your teacher will definitely appreciate. If you’re working on a science fair project backboard for example, makes sure all of your pictures and writing segments are cut straight and placed evenly on the board. Use consistent colors and fonts. And for an extra finishing touch, add colored boarders to each segment.
Combine all of these components and you’ll be getting A’s in no time!
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