Student Handout 3.3.

Magazine Ad Experiment
Experimental design is the way in which cause-effect relationships are discovered in science. To show what you
know about experimental design, you will design an experiment to test the claims in a magazine advertisement.

Procedure
1. Select an advertisement from the magazines provided by the teacher, or as the teacher directs.
2. Neatly cut out the advertisement.
3. Design a valid experiment that focuses on what the magazine ad is claiming. The experiment must be
within school regulations and must be G or PG rated.
4. Create an Experiment Graphic Organizer (EGO) showing the design of your valid experiment. This should be
neatly written using markers.
5. Write a list of all steps for the procedure to complete this experiment. Things to consider might include:
how much of the product to use, how to choose the reactants or participants, how to measure the
responses or variables, how many times to conduct experiment, what other conditions must be kept
constant and how to do this, what types of experimental groups are used, etc.
6. Peer review your procedure with another team, and redraft the procedure considering all revisions
suggested.
7. Attach the ad and the procedure to the front of your poster. (See diagram below.)

Write Experiment Graphic

Organizer Here
Attach
Ad Here

Attach
Procedure Here

Helpful Hints
All experiments need to have:
Many repeated trials (Assume you have an unlimited money supply.)
A minimum of three different IV groups
A control group that is well defined
Four legitimate constants (Equipment or environment will not qualify unless they specifically relate to the
experiment.)
A logical hypothesis
A repeatable procedure with lots of details

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The Write Path I Science Teacher Guide