This is a template to use for planning and recording an ESS Investigation.

Make a
copy of it, save it with your name and the title of the assignment. The grey boxes
are giving you instructions on how to fill in the report, the green boxes will show
you the assessment criteria. The report should be between 1,500 to 2,250 words
long. External moderators will not read beyond 2,250 words and no grades will be
awarded after 2.250 words.

1.​Identifying the Context

This criterion assesses the extent to which you establish and explore an environmental
issue (either local or global) for an investigation and develop this to state a relevant and
focussed research question

a.​Environmental Issue

What is the environmental issue

(either local or global) that you will
be investigating?
How does your issue connect to
your research question?
What information can you find out
about this issue and what are the
connections to the research
question? Remember to record
your sources in MLA format in
your bibliography at the end of
the document.

b.​Research Question

Very specifically, what is the problem that you will be investigating? Advice,
phrase your research question as: How does the Independent Variable affect the
Dependent Variable?
 c.​Hypothesis

IF (explain how you will change the thing you are testing) THEN (what you think will
happen because of the change you made) BECAUSE (the scientific reason you
think it will happen)

Identifying the context

1-2 3-4 5-6

●​ ​ ●​ ​ ●​ ​
state a research state a relevant research state a relevant,
question, but there is a question coherent and focused
lack of focus ●​ outline an environmental research question
●​ outline an environmental issue (either local or ●​ discuss a relevant
issue (either local or global) that provides the environmental issue
global) that is linked to context to the research (either local or global)
the research question question that provides the context
●​ lists connections ●​ describes connections for the research question
between the between the ●​ explain the connections
environmental issue environmental issue between the
(either local or global) (either local or global) environmental issue
and the research and the research (either local or global)
question but there are question, but there are and the research
significant omissions. omissions. question.

2.​Planning

This criterion assesses the extent to which you have developed appropriate methods to
gather data relevant to the research question. This data could be primary or secondary,
qualitative or quantitative, and may use techniques associated with both experimental or
social science methods of inquiry. There is an assessment of safety, environmental and
ethical considerations where applicable.

a.​Variables
Independent Variable
(IV)
If applicable, what
different values will you
use? Having at least 5
values for your IV will
ensure you can collect
enough relevant data.

Dependent Variable (DV)

How will you measure

this?

Controlled Variables Why are you controlling How will you make sure
this? it’s controlled?
1.

2.

3.

add more if needed

b.​Materials

Fill out the materials you will need. If there is a specific size for it, include this below.
Also include the number of objects that you will require. Add more rows if you need
to.
Material Size (if possible) Number
 c.​Method

Make a detailed version of your method. This should be done step by step. Add
more rows below if you need to. Your method should allow you to collect sufficient
and relevant data.
Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Step 4

Step 5

d.​Risk assessment

Demonstrate that you have considered issues around safety, environment and/or
ethics. Describe the possible risk and how you mitigate the risk (prevent it from
happening)
Safety risks

Environmental risks

Ethical considerations

Planning

1-2 3-4 5-6

●​ ​ ●​ ​ ●​ ​
design a method that is design a repeatable design a repeatable
inappropriate because it method appropriate to method appropriate to
will not allow for the the research question but the research question
collection of relevant data the method does not that allows for the
●​ outline the choice of allow for the collection of collection of sufficient
sampling strategy but sufficient relevant data relevant data
with some errors and ●​ describe the choice of ●​ justify the choice of
omissions sampling strategy sampling strategy used
 ●​ list some risks and ●​ outline the risk ●​ describe the risk
ethical considerations assessment and ethical assessment and ethical
where applicable. considerations where considerations where
applicable. applicable.

3.​Results, analysis and conclusion

This criterion assesses the extent to which the student has collected, recorded,
processed and interpreted the data in ways that are relevant to the research question.
The patterns in the data are correctly interpreted to reach a valid conclusion

a.​Quantitative raw data

Fill in what the Independent and Dependent Variables are. Do not forget your UNITS!

Dependent variable (unit)

ndependent variable trial 1 trial 2 trial 3 trial 4 trial 5

(unit)

b.​Quantitative processed data

What mathematical (and/or Explain why it is important to do this. Give a worked

statistical) calculations did you example
use for your data?
 Dependent variable (unit)

ndependent variable trial 1 trial 2 trial 3 trial 4 trial 5 Average

(unit)

c.​Graph(s)

Create one or more graphs and insert it/them below. Make sure to have titles, labels,
units and if applicable error bars.

d.​Qualitative data

Describe or show (e.g. via photos) your observations that you cannot measure (in
numbers).

e.​Statistical Analysis
f possible also run a statistical test to demonstrate correlation between your
ndependent and dependent variable.

f.​ Conclusion

Make a list of trends in your data that you noticed or observed during the experiment.
For each one, you have to explain what happened with scientific reasoning (use science
vocabulary & science ideas!). Record any sources you used in MLA format in your
bibliography.
Trends you noticed in your data What does that mean based on scientific
reasoning

Results, analysis and conclusion

1-2 3-4 5-6

●​ ​ ●​ ​ ●​ ​
construct some construct diagrams, construct diagrams,
diagrams, charts or charts or graphs of charts or graphs of all
graphs of quantitative quantitative and/or relevant quantitative
and/or qualitative data, qualitative data which are and/or qualitative data
but there are significant appropriate but there are appropriately
errors or omissions some omissions. ●​ analyse the data
●​ analyse some of the data ●​ analyse the data correctly and completely
but there are significant correctly but the analysis so that all relevant
errors and/or omissions is incomplete patterns are displayed
●​ state a conclusion that is ●​ interpret some trends, ●​ interpret trends, patterns
not supported by the patterns or relationships or relationships in the
data. in the data so that a data, so that a valid
conclusion with some conclusion to the
validity is deduced
 research question is
deduced.

4.​Discussion and Evaluation

This criterion assesses the extent to which the student discusses the conclusion in the
context of the environmental issue, and carries out an evaluation of the investigation.

a.​Evaluation of hypothesis

Looking at your results, do

you support or reject your
hypothesis? What makes you
say that?

What background scientific

knowledge makes you
support or reject your
hypothesis?

b.​Discussion of the environmental issue

Looking at your results and

your conclusion how does
your investigation link to the
environmental issue you are
nvestigating?
Connecting your investigation
o others from literature
make sure to add to your
bibliography), are your
indings and conclusion in
agreement (the same) or not?

c.​ Evaluation of Method

Strengths

Which steps from your method were strong

and provided you with relevant and
sufficient data?

Weaknesses

Which steps from your method showed

weakness or could have been a sources of
error?

mprovements

Describe how you would improve the weak

steps in the method for future investigations.

d.​ Extensions for Method

After doing your investigation,
what would you be interested
n investigating further?
and
What changes can you make
o your method that will allow
you to investigate this?

Discussion and evaluation

1-2 3-4 5-6

●​ ​ ●​ ​ ●​ ​
describe how some evaluate the conclusion evaluate the conclusion
aspects of the conclusion in the context of the in the context of the
are related to the environmental issue but environmental issue
environmental issue there are omissions ●​ discuss strengths,
●​ identify some strengths ●​ describe some weaknesses and
and weaknesses and strengths, weaknesses limitations within the
limitations of the method and limitations within the method used
●​ suggest superficial method used ●​ suggest modifications
modifications and/or ●​ suggest modifications addressing one or more
further areas of research. and further areas of significant weaknesses
research. with large effect and
further areas of research.

5.​Applications

This criterion assesses the extent to which the student identifies and evaluates one way
to apply the outcomes of the investigation in relation to the broader environmental issue
that was identified at the start of the project.

After doing your investigation,

what solution(s) to the
environmental issue would
you recommend?
For each solution ensure you
evaluate the strengths,
weaknesses and limitations
of the solution.

Application

1 2 3

●​ ​ ●​ ​ ●​ ​
state one potential describe one potential justify one potential
application and/or application and/or application and/or
solution to the solution to the solution to the
environmental issue that environmental issue that environmental issue that
has been discussed in has been discussed in has been discussed in
the context the context, based on the the context, based on the
●​ describe some findings of the study, but findings of the study
strengths, weaknesses the justification is weak or ●​ evaluate relevant
and limitations of this missing strengths, weaknesses
solution. ●​ evaluate some relevant and limitations of this
strengths, weaknesses solution.
and limitations of this
solution.

6.​Bibliography/Works cited

You must use appropriate in-text referencing and record your sources in MLA format.
Please follow these rules for creating your list of referenced

For the Communication criterion you do not have to write anything extra. The criterion
assesses whether the report has been presented in a way that supports effective
communication in terms of structure, coherence and clarity. The focus, process and
outcomes of the report are all well presented.

Communication

1 2 3

●​ ​ ●​ ​ ●​ ​
The investigation has The report has structure The report is well
limited structure and and organization but this structured and well
organization. is not sustained organized.
●​ The report makes limited throughout the report. ●​ The report makes
use of appropriate ●​ The report either makes consistent use of
terminology and it is not use of appropriate appropriate terminology
concise. terminology or is concise. and is concise.
●​ The presentation of the ●​ The report is mainly ●​ The report is logical and
report limits the reader’s logical and coherent, but coherent.
understanding. is difficult to follow in
parts.