General Biology 102 Lab Report for Spring 2012 Even sections Report on Lab #2 (Feb 6-9) due

in discussion section Week of Feb 13-17. Report on Lab #3 (Feb 20-23) due in discussion section Week of Mar 19-23. Odd sections Report on Lab #2 (Feb 13-16) due in discussion section Week of Feb 20-24 Report on Lab #3 (Feb 27-Mar 1) due in discussion section Week of Mar 26-30.

How to Write a Lab Report for General Biology 102 *

In this course you will write two lab reports based on the experimental data from labs 2 and 3. A lab report is how you explain what you did in an experiment, what you learned, and what the results meant. You will be sharing experimental data with a partner, but each student must write his own report! Here is the format you should follow in this course: 1. Title and Title Page (5%) Include the title of the experiment, your name and the names of any lab partners, your instructor's name, and the date the lab report was submitted. The title says what you did. It should be brief (aim for ten words or less) and describe the main point of the experiment or investigation. An example of a title would be: "Effects of Light and Temperature on the Rate of Photosynthesis. If you can, begin your title using a keyword rather than an article like 'The' or 'A'. 2. Introduction / Purpose (10%) Usually the Introduction is one paragraph that explains the objectives or purpose of the lab. You need to state the purpose of the experiment, or why you did it. Include 1-2 sentences in which you state the hypothesis being tested. 3. Materials and Methods (10%) Describe the overall approach you used to complete your investigation. This is your procedure. In this course you do not need to list the specific steps you followed, because these are spelled out in the Lab Guide. Instead summarize what you did in 2-4 sentences. 4. Data (30%) Data are the numbers you recorded as you conducted the experiment. It's just the facts, not any interpretation of what they mean. Usually the data are presented in the form of tables or graphs. These must both be labeled with a descriptive title. Label the axes on a graph and all columns of a table, being sure to include units of measurement. On a graph, the independent variable (like temperature) is on the x-axis, and he dependent variable (like rate of reaction)) is on the y-axis. 5. Results and Discussion (35%) Describe your results; that is, describe in words what the data mean. You may need to include some analysis of the data things like calculating percentages. As you go along, discuss (or interpret) the data. Say whether or not the data are consistent with what you would expect if your hypothesis is true. In the text of your report, refer to tables and graphs by number for example, As seen in Table 1, the rate of photosynthesis decreases, or As temperature increases, the rate of reaction increases (Graph 3). This is also where you would discuss any mistakes you might have made while conducting the investigation. You may also describe ways the study might have been improved. 6. Conclusions (10%) Most of the time the conclusion is a single paragraph that sums up what happened in the experiment, whether your hypothesis was accepted or rejected, and what this means.
* By Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D., About.com Guide [Modified by Dr. Morrison]