Writing Lab Reports

Writing Biology Lab Introductions

How to Write a Lab Introduction - Google Doc Version



This web Page contains information for producing 2 different lab introductions. The class of 2012-13 worked with this project and a Seed Germination Lab in Honors Biology 10. This year, 2013-14, students are working with this research in order to complete a Stream Biodiversity Lab. Be sure to use the correct information!!


English 10 Honors Assignment

This Introduction WILL be a part of your complete Lab write-up for your Biology class!

For English 10H, you must show you can use researched sources effectively in writing a short lab introduction that supports and hypothesizes the results of your lab experiment.


Requirements:

1. Lab Introductions must follow MLA format in paper set-up.

2. Length: approx. 3/4 page (2 paragraphs)

3. A Works Cited page IS REQUIRED for your min. 5 sources. It must be a separate page with 'Works Cited' center justified, double spaced (as the writing is), with correct indentation of sources, and alphabetized by author or title.

4. For your Biology class, you must integrate this write-up into your complete lab report for credit.

5. For English 10H, you will submit only your Introduction and the Works Cited to Mr. Corbo via sharing your Google Doc. and submitting it to Turnitin.com (see Lab Introduction assignment). DO NOT copy one another's introduction even if you are in a similar treatment group - It will be considered plagiarized!


Due Dates:

English 10H: Final drafts (via Google sharing) must be submitted to Mr. Corbo and Turnitin.com on 18 & 19 Sept. 2013

Biology (ALL levels): Completed lab write-ups with all pieces in Biology class (See Bio. Teacher for DUE date!)


The BASICS:

1. Understand your PURPOSE.


2. Ask relevant questions about what factors might affect your experiment. List as many as you can think of. In a controlled experiment, like the seed germination lab, there are less variables to worry about in terms of affecting your outcomes, so this 'context' piece becomes less important.


3. Define ALL new terminology and be sure you know how these new terms may be related.


4. Create a Google doc for recording your research.


5. Research and DOCUMENT(!) relevant and current sources about the specifics of your experiment:

  • For Example ask (Google): What are the affects of basic solution on the rate of mung bean seed germination? Or How does _____ affect stream biodiversity?

  • Are all search parameters present?

  • Check your results. You are looking for published/professional papers on your topic, NOT high school reports on similar projects.

  • If source is valid and relevant, record ALL DOCUMENTATION INFO necessary for MLA (or other)

  • Read Source and take notes that would be relevant to creating your HYPOTHOSIS or as background information (context) to be included in your introduction.

6. Review research, choosing which quotes/data is important to your experiment. COLLECT and PLAN.


7. Write the rough draft of your introduction, including cited quotes/data from your research. This is a relatively simple lab and so you should be shooting for 2 paragraphs - 3/4 page?


8. HYPOTHESIS: This is what you believe will occur during your experiment, in a sense, what your attempting to prove. This should be the LAST paragraph of your INTRODUCTION.


Lab Introduction Writing Process Breakdown


Works Cited Example





TERMS to be defined for this Seed Germination LAB:

Endosperm

seed coat

radicle

hypocotyl

epicotyl

cotyledon


Possible Treatments for this LAB

.1% Salt solution

Acidic (pH 4) solution

Basic (pH 9) solution

Temperature (hot or cold)

Phosphorous & Nitrogen Solution ("Nutrients group")

Light and Dark

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Stream Biodiversity Lab information is below.


Purpose: Our purpose is to measure the difference in stream biodiversity of two communities on Upper Bear Creek.

Terms to be defined for the Stream Biodiversity LAB:

Biodiversity

Species Richness

Species Evenness


Possible research parameters to develop context around Stream Biodiversity LAB:

Research Question: How does ________________ (see following factors) affect stream biodiversity?

Abiotic factors: Dissolved Oxygen(DO), elevation, temp., light, pH (acidity), stream flow, etc.

Biotic factors: human impact (pollution, water treatment facilities, dams/diversion, agriculture-pesticides, fertilizers); Animal impact (fecal counts, sedimentation); Trophic Structure (food chain).