Procedures

=**Procedures**=

Here are some tips:

 * Have a friend read your procedure. Ask them if anything is confusing. Then give it to another friend. Then let a parent read it.
 * Be extremely clear about all variables you plan to control
 * Number your procedure in steps
 * Be sure to include units

**1. Start with your experimental design diagram.**
Title: The Effect of Amount of Salt Dissolved in Water on the Evaporation of the Water Hypothesis: If the amount of dissolved salt in water is increased, then the amount of water that will evaporate will decrease

DV: The depth of remaining water (mm)
 * IV: Amount of Salt (mL) ||
 * = 0 (control) ||= 30 ||= 60 ||= 90 ||= 120 ||
 * = 3 ||= 3 ||= 3 ||= 3 ||= 3 ||

C: Liquid Distilled water, 22°C, 500 mL Solutes Iodized salt, Brand X Containers 15 cm x 15 cm square, white plastic, no lid, 6.5 cm deep Environment No air movement

**2. Really, really, REALLY think about your constants.**

 * What room will you conduct your experiment in?
 * Are there windows? Will the shades be up or down?
 * Will people be walking in and out of the room?
 * What is the temperature in the room? Does it vary throughout the day?
 * Do you know where the thermostat is in your house? Did you talk with a parent about changing it?
 * Will family pets or siblings be near the project?
 * What brand are your materials? Did you include the dimensions, ingredients, and traits of all objects?

===**3. Once you have reviewed your constants, as well as at least two peers and an adult, you are ready to write the steps. Think logically about what order you will need to use the materials. Assume that you audience knows absolutely nothing about the project or how to run the experiment.**===

A good starting point is to make two columns. One for the step needed, and one for the specific materials or units used. These sample steps match the experimental diagram above.

I bet that you can find ways to make the steps even more specific!
 * Step 1 || Obtain plastic containers || "Keep Fresh" plastic, 15 cm x 15 cm, white ||
 * Step 2 || Obtain iodized salt || "Brand X" ||
 * Step 3 || Obtain distilled water || "AquaPure" ||
 * Step 4 || Measure salt and place in container || 0, 30, 60, 90, 120 mL ||
 * Step 5 || Adjust distilled water temperature || 22° C ||
 * Step 6 || Measure distilled water || 500 mL ||
 * Step 7 || Mix the water with the salt ||  ||
 * Step 8 || Stir the mixture until all the salt is dissolved ||  ||
 * Step 9 || Measure and record the depth of the solution || mm ||
 * Step 10 || Measure the solution's depth every other day ||  ||

Once you have the two columns, you can combine the step with the specific material and unit to make your procedure complete.

Step 1 Obtain identical "Keep Fresh" 15 cm x 15 cm white plastic containers Step 2 Obtain 1000 mL of "Brand X" iodized salt Step 3 Obtain 4 L of "AquaPure" distilled water Step 4 Measure 30 mL of salt and place in a container Step 5 Label the amount of salt in the container Step 6 Adjust the temperature of distilled water to 22° C Step 7 Measure 500 mL of distilled water Step 8 Mix the 500 mL of water with the 30 mL of salt Step 9 Stir the mixture until all salt is dissolved Step 10 Measure and record the depth of the solution Step 11 Measure the depth of the solution every other day Step 12 Repeat steps 1-11 two more times for a total of three trials Step 13 Repeat steps 1-12 for 0, 60, 90, and 120 mL of salt


 * source Cothron, J., Giese, R., and Rezba, R. __Students and Research__ ©1987