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  • Preparatory Report Exercise (Pre) Checklist For Laboratory Report Background

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    This document provides guidelines and a checklist for students to follow when writing their laboratory report for a biology course. It outlines the key sections that must be included - Introduction, Results, and Discussion. For each section, it lists the essential elements that must be present, such as stating the hypothesis in the Introduction, including both text and graphical data in the Results, and interpreting the findings in the Discussion. Following these guidelines will help students maximize their score by ensuring their report includes all necessary components in the specified format.

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    This document provides guidelines and a checklist for students to follow when writing their laboratory report for a biology course. It outlines the key sections that must be included - Introduction, Results, and Discussion. For each section, it lists the essential elements that must be present, such as stating the hypothesis in the Introduction, including both text and graphical data in the Results, and interpreting the findings in the Discussion. Following these guidelines will help students maximize their score by ensuring their report includes all necessary components in the specified format.

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    13 views2 pages

    Preparatory Report Exercise (Pre) Checklist For Laboratory Report Background

    Uploaded by

    Victor Kuloba
    This document provides guidelines and a checklist for students to follow when writing their laboratory report for a biology course. It outlines the key sections that must be included - Introduction, Results, and Discussion. For each section, it lists the essential elements that must be present, such as stating the hypothesis in the Introduction, including both text and graphical data in the Results, and interpreting the findings in the Discussion. Following these guidelines will help students maximize their score by ensuring their report includes all necessary components in the specified format.

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    DIABLO VALLEY COLLEGE – BIOSC 140 Name_________________________________

    PREPARATORY REPORT EXERCISE (PRE) CHECKLIST FOR LABORATORY REPORT

    Background:
    The laboratory report is by far this most important component of the journal article assignments considering it is worth
    TWICE as many points as all of the other assignments combined. It should constitute a significant effort on your part. It
    will be COMPETITIVELY GRADED, so treat it as though you were submitting the report to a journal for publication.

    All laboratory reports must be typed. They must adhere to the rigid format outlined below or points will be deducted. It
    should be double spaced with normal font and margins. The final, submitted laboratory report should ONLY INCLUDE
    THREE SECTIONS – THE INTRODUCTION, RESULTS AND DISCUSSION. You should NOT include the methods or
    references in this report. It does not need a title page, but that is acceptable if you include one (although it makes no
    difference in terms of the grade). For more details regarding formatting and content and for a list of common errors made
    by previous students (and should be avoided) the various handouts associated with each specific section. The essential
    elements of the report are:

    Laboratory Report – Final Checklist:


    Use the following section to ensure that your report has the essential elements. Except as noted with your tables and
    figures, your report should be double spaced. Physically find each item before marking it on the checklist. Do not just
    assume you completed it, find evidence in your report that you have completed that item. Keep in mind that this is not a
    complete list, the best way to ensure that you report has all necessary components is to use the more detailed handouts
    for each section (and to avoid common mistakes made by previous students). There is a detailed outline of the three
    sections of the report you need to submit for a grade.

    THIS IS A CHECKLIST for all three sections. Make sure to check off each component once you find evidence for it in your
    completed laboratory report. You DO NOT turn this in, but you SHOULD use it to ensure you maximize the laboratory
    report score.

    INTRODUCTION
    ____ Appropriate heading formatting (all caps, left justified and bold - should look like heading above).
    ____ Explanation of significance/application – puts into perspective for reader.
    ____ Clear, concise, professional tone. No casual language. No grammatical mistakes. Limited direct quotes.
    ____ Concise introduction of the physiological principle(s) explored. Well referenced. Start general, end specific.
    ____ Recent (if available) and pertinent findings discussed for background and/or historical perspective.
    ____ Discusses nature of the experiments performed. Brief (1-3 sentence) description of methods.
    ____ Clearly states hypothesis and expectations of the experiment.
    ____ Summarizes of findings and implication.
    ____ Appropriate scope (1-2 pages) – if less than one page or much more than two pages, you should revise.

    RESULTS
    ____ Appropriate heading formatting (all caps, left justified and bold - should look like heading above).
    ____ Have BOTH a text and graphical section for your results, clearly divided (but NOT labeled) for the reader.

    Text section (precedes graphical section – text should come first and is normally double-spaced).
    ____ Explains ALL of the data in the graphical section and specifically mentions every table and/or figure by name.
    ____ “Makes the data come alive” by trying to visually explain - doesn’t just list numbers that appear in graphs/tables.
    ____ Describes general trends and/or relationships qualitatively with graphical language.
    ____ Uses statistical evidence like: % changes, % of control, maximums, minimums, averages.
    ____ Presents results in logical (not necessarily chronological) order, tells the story with the data.
    ____ Includes any pertinent data that does not appear in a table or figure.
    ____ NO INTERPRETATION (describes what was observed, not what it means).
    ____ Pay attention to writing style, grammar (spelling). Clear, concise, professional tone. No casual language.

    Graphical section (tables and figures – these should be single spaced).


    ____ Displays data in a format that is clear to the reader. “Paints a picture” of your evidence.
    ____ Figures and tables can stand on their own WITH LEGEND summarizing results and procedures.
    ____ Any written information for figures and tables should be single-spaced in this subsection.
    ____ Tables titled (ex. Table X: Changes in Heart Rate…), explained, and numbered (single spaced).
    ____ Figures titled (ex. Figure X: Effect of Exercise…), explained, and numbered (single spaced).
    ____ Tables and figures are numbered independently (e.g. Figure 1, Figure 2,…Table 1, Table 2, Table 3,…).
    DISCUSSION
    ____ Appropriate heading formatting (all caps, left justified and bold - should look like heading above).
    ____ Purpose/objective indicated. Briefly re-orients the reader to the topic.
    ____ Summarizes approach. Briefly describes approach taken (what experiments were performed?).
    ____ Evidence-based hypothesis stated and basis for hypothesis is clear.
    ____ Addresses and specifically mentions every table and figure from Results – explains data again.
    ____ Basis for expected results (hypothesis) is stated and clear.
    ____ Discusses results in light of literature (previous findings).
    ____ Notes any discrepancies between observed and expected explained.
    ____ Explains physiological and/or technical reasons why data was as expected or not.
    ____ Integrates results to show physiology involved.
    ____ Includes generalized conclusions.
    ____ Indicates significance of study.
    ____ Suggests or describes potential future and/or follow up studies.
    ____ Section should be sufficiently referenced.
    ____ Clear, concise, professional tone. No casual language. No grammatical mistakes. Few if any direct quotes.
    ____ Sufficient scope of discussion (generally at least 3 double-spaced pages, but could be many more)

    Laboratory Report – Detailed Outline:


    INTRODUCTION
    a) What physiological phenomenon did you study? Concisely introduce the physiological principle(s) explored.
    b) Start general (but keep information relevant) and end specific (make sure you reference!).
    c) Why did you study it? Explain why this topic is worthy of study (Significance? Application?). Purpose? Scope?
    d) What are recent findings on this topic? Discuss some recent literature in a brief review (reference!).
    e) What specific aspect did you explore, how? Brief (1-3 sentence) description of methods.
    f) What did you expect to find? What was your hypothesis? Clearly state the purpose/hypothesis.
    g) What did you find and what does it mean? What is the significance and/or application?

    RESULTS
    a) Text section (precedes graphical section and consists of paragraphs and words describing the data).
    1. Explain (don’t just restate) all the data in the graphical section (address all tables and figures).
    2. Describe general trends (rather than specifics) and relationships qualitatively with graphical language.
    3. “Make the data come alive,” don’t just list/restate numbers that appear in graphs/tables. Use: % changes, %
    of control, maximums, minimums, averages (statistical analysis not needed).
    4. Include any pertinent data that does not appear in a table or figure.
    5. NO INTERPRETATION (describe what you observed, not what it means).
    b) Graphical section (tables and figures).
    1. Display the data in a format that is clear to the reader. “Paint a picture” of your evidence. Tables are rows and
    columns, figures are everything else (graphs, charts, maps, pictures, diagrams, etc.).
    2. Ensure figures/tables can stand alone (clearly labeled with legend briefly explaining results & procedures).
    3. Appropriately title (Table X: Changes in Heart Rate…; Figure X: Effect of Exercise…) tables/figures.
    4. Appropriately explain (legend with results/procedure) tables/figures.
    5. Appropriately number tables/figures. (number independently - e.g. Figure 1, Figure 2, Table 1, Table 2,…),
    must be titled, explained, and numbered.

    DISCUSSION
    a) Most important section of the paper – carries the most weight in terms of grading.
    b) Briefly re-orient the reader to the topic studied and approach taken (what experiments were performed?).
    c) Explain results in terms of expected results from the literature (what was your hypothesis and why?).
    d) Interpret findings in light of human physiology. Be as detailed as you can using concepts from the class. Be sure
    to demonstrate your knowledge and ability to think critically.
    e) Address all of you data (every table and figure should be addressed/discussed).
    f) Explain discrepancies between what you found and what was expected.
    g) Explain possible physiological and/or technical reasons why data was as expected or not.
    h) Integrate results to show physiology involved.
    i) Include conclusions.
    j) Describe any future/follow up, studies, where relevant.

    NOTE: While there is no defined length for the report, only include the pertinent elements indicated above and be concise
    in your writing - you will be assessed on the quality NOT quantity of your work. Specifically, the formatting (including
    spelling and grammar), clarity, and content will be evaluated.

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