WRITE IT DO IT

Science Olympiad Summer InstitutePhoenix, AZ

July 18 – 22, 2011

The Competition

One member will write a description of an object and their partner will construct the object from the description

Materials Used for Construction

Same object and materials for all teams• Commercial– K’nex– Lego– Tinker Toys

• Raw Materials– Straws– Pins– Popsicle sticks– Anything goes

Time Allocations

Writing• 25 min• Time not a factor

Doing• 20 min• Time is used as a tie-breaker

Written Description

Allowed• Numerals• Words• Single letters

Written Description (cont)

Abbreviations• Must be defined– At beginning– 1st time used

• No prepared abbreviations on labels

Written Description (cont)

Not allowed• Symbols• Diagrams• Drawings

Written Description (cont)Allowable Symbols• printable punctuation marks/editing symbols

on a PC standard 101 keyboard• Single key or single key w/ shift key

Scoring

• Team that builds object nearest to the original • Points are given for each piece of material

placed in proper connection and location– Pieces connected correctly beyond the incorrect

connection will be given credit

• No penalty for unused parts• Tie-breaker is the shortest time of

construction

Scoring (cont)

Scoring violations• Unlabeled abbreviations• Improper use of symbols or codesPenalty – 1 % for each minor infraction• Example– Total possible score = 50– Initial team score = 45– # of infractions = 4– Final score = 43

45 – (50 * .01) * 4 = 45 – (0.5*4) = 45 – 2 = 43

Strategy

Practice, practice, practice• Helps identify the best writer/doer• Helps define rule system for writing– Terminology• Potential definitions• Potential abbreviations

Orientation of Parts of the Object

• Cardinal Points– North– East– South– West

• Compass Rose• Clock Face

Estimating Distances

Most tournaments do not provide one object/team so…

• Students are not allowed to touch the object• Almost impossible to measure distances

exactly so teams will need to estimate– Metric is better than English– Use fists or finger joints

Use Texting Skills

Be clear and concise• Do not use unnecessary words• Proper grammar is not critical

Partner must be able to make sense of what is written

Checking Work

Writing• If time is left read instructions and check for

clarity

Doing• If time is left check work• Remember time is used as a tie-breaker