1

Notes on Making Biological Drawing

1. Use a sharp HB or H pencil. 2. Draw with bold, dark and smooth lines. Never shade your drawings. 3. It is important that the various parts of the structures are drawn in correct proportions. 4. Drawings should be large, neat and tidy. 5. The labeling lines should run as horizontal as possible and should not intersect with one another. Do not label too close to the drawings, and do not write on the drawing itself. 6. When drawing a low power diagram from a microscopic observation, show the outline and features of the specimen. It is not necessary to draw individual cells. When drawing a high power diagram, individual cells should be shown. 7. Every drawing should include a title, the magnification power, and the plan of view of the specimen which shows repetitive features. 8. It is sometimes appropriate to make short succinct notes close to the labels. Such annotated drawings are particularly valuable as they combine a record of structures with related function and / or biological interests.