The process of showing your project needs to start at the beginning.

You must not wait to work on this part. Plan from the beginning to make an excellent "show" of what you have done. You have worked hard, and judges and other students want to learn what you have learned.

This is a positive part of your project and you should seek out every venue you can to demonstrate what you have done. Remember that just because your project may not be as "good" as somebody else's project, in your eyes, it is your project that you have worked on. Be proud of showing the talent that God has given you and the hard work that you have put forth.

Showing your project consists of three essential parts.

1. The backboard--In a pinch a cardboard or foamboard presentation background can be purchased from your local office supply store. However, presenting your project on a four foot tall wooden backboard that has been stained or painted will show that you are serious about what you have done and you want other people to take you seriously.

2. The research notebook--The backboard is the first place and the last place that a judge will look, but when the judge has a specific question that the general information on your board does not show, they will look to your project notebook. In this notebook will be the detailed information that your backboard does not have the space to show. It is important that this notebook is extremely well organized or the judge will not take the time to find the information he is looking for.

3. The oral presentation-- Depending on your situation, the oral presentation may vary quite significantly. It may be a 3 to 15 minute speech on your research complete with visual aids and powerpoint presentations, or it might just be standing in front of your board and carrying out a dialogue with a judge about what you did. The best way to be prepared for this is to learn or review everything you can about your project and relax. Don't be afraid to say, "I don't know," but always be ready to theorize about possibilities that you are not sure about. Relax. The judge wants to learn from you. If you can teach him/her something he/she didn't know he/she will be impressed.

Remember to relax and enjoy these moments. You should be proud of what you have done.