lab report

Overall Format (10 points)

· No cover page, title page or running head needed.

· Typed in 12-point Times New Roman font, double-spaced, section headings bolded. ____/2

Word document or PDF.

· Descriptive, appropriate title. Includes the conditions that were tested and the enzyme ____/3

that was studied.

· Grammatically correct. Written in the past tense and passive voice. ____/5

Example: CORRECT: “The purpose of the experiment was to…” INCORRECT: “We did the experiment because…”

Abstract (10 points)

· Concise paragraph that addresses the purpose of the lab, summarizes important data trends _____/7

and states the major conclusions/takeaways from the experiment. Generally 150-200 words

long.

· Includes specific values for optima and enzyme activity for all conditions tested (pH, _____/3

temperature and enzyme concentration). Example: The optimum temperature for ALP was 32°C (U = 2.812).

Introduction (20 points)

· Provides good background on the science taking place in the experiment. Answers what _____/9

(what enzymes are and what they do), how (how they engage in said activities) and why

(why their presence is important) questions.

Hint: Give specific background on ALP, pNPP, and how they relate.

· The nature of the experiment must be explained, along with why the experiment was done _____/6

(i.e. why is it important to study enzymes?).

· Hypotheses included in paragraph form at the end of the introduction. _____/2

· Properly formatted, contextually relevant citations. _____/3

Materials and Methods (10 points)

· Methods followed and materials used are written in paragraph form; steps are explained _____/4

in the same order that they were completed. Methods should not be written as instructions.

Avoid excessive repetition and only write in past tense.

· All solutions are defined, and their usages are explained. _____/2

· Mixing instructions are clear and if tables are used, they are referred to. _____/2

· The enzyme activity calculation is explained (the formula may be included in addition to the _____/1

explanation).

· Every paragraph (i.e. each explanation of the experiments, of which there should be three) _____/1

must cite the lab manual.

Results (15 points)

· Figures (3 line graphs, NO BAR GRAPHS ) correctly display the data collected in lab. _____/6

· Correct axis titles with units are included on the figures. _____/1

· Figures have been assigned numbers. _____/1

· Figures have appropriate titles that clearly explain the data being displayed. _____/3

· Figure descriptions concisely explain major data trends. Descriptions highlight what readers _____/3

should note, but do not explain what the data means/why those results occurred.

· Standard deviation values for each condition (all three pHs, all four temperatures and all _____/1

four enzyme concentrations) are stated at the end of the results section in a succinct sentence.

Discussion (25 points)

· Optima for each condition are thoroughly explained and conclusions are supported by _____/5

relevant citations.

· Explained why data do/don’t make sense by comparing them to results from peer-reviewed _____/5

articles.

· Referred to figures while discussing the data. Specific values are used from the results section _____/5

to support data interpretations.

· Explanations are provided for the acceptance/rejection of each hypothesis. _____/4

· Sources of error are identified and explained (beyond human error, although this can be _____/4

included), and future research projects based off the present study are suggested.

· In-text citations are properly formatted. _____/2

Literature cited (5 points)

· A minimum of 5 contextually appropriate references are required. The BIOL 1500 Lab _____/3

manual counts towards one of these; the remaining four must be peer-reviewed journal articles.

· Consistent 7th edition APA formatting. See file on Canvas for more on APA formatting. _____/2

Meeting with writing fellow (5 points)

· Your lab instructor will receive an email confirmation of your meeting with a writing fellow. _____/5

Your final score is out of 100 points