Natural Science Student Learning Outcome #1:
Lab report – The scientific method (50 points)
Title – 2 points
Plasmolysis in plant cells
John Doe
ENV204
24 January 2010
Abstract – 3 points
-
It summarizes the purpose of the study, methods, major results, and conclusions (no
more than 250 words long)
Introduction – 11 points
-
Background info – how do fish obtain oxygen, why do they need oxygen, why would
altering temperature impact the need for oxygen (2 points)
Objective (2 points) – Hypothesis (2 points) – Prediction (3 points)
Minimum two references (1 point for each reference listed correctly and appropriate –
2 points)
o Rinchard (1999) showed….
o Rinchard et al. (1999) showed…
o Rinchard and Haynes (2000) showed….
o Temperature affected fish respiration (Rinchard 1999)
o Temperature affected fish respiration (Rinchard and Haynes 1999)
o Temperature affected fish respiration (Rinchard et al. 1999)
Materials and Methods – 10 points
-
-
The Methods section should briefly describe the procedures employed in the study
and should have enough detail so that a similarly trained scientist could duplicate and
verify your work.
Describe the procedures in your own words, and do not simply list a series of steps
The Methods section should begin with a brief (one page or less) description of where
and when the study was conducted.
Be sure to identify important equipment and materials used in the study, how they
were used.
The final section of the Methods should include a brief description of the
experimental design and any statistical tests.
Results – 10 points
-
-
The Results section usually includes: (1) one or more paragraphs of text and (2) one
or more figures (graphs or illustrations) and/or tables that present important data or
observations. (DO NOT REPEAT SAME INFO IN TABLE AND FIGURE)
State all findings in a concise and complete way, but do not include raw data, or
attempt to interpret your findings.
Include caption for Tables and Figures.
Discussion – 10 points
-
-
The Discussion section is where you evaluate the results of your study, based upon
what is known or logically expected. If your data differ from what might be expected,
provide some possible reasons. Point out assumptions and limitations associated with
your study. Integrate your results with existing knowledge (i.e., cite relevant
references), speculate on the relevance and implications of your findings, and if
appropriate, make suggestions for future work. State whether hypothesis was
supported, not supported, or if no conclusions can be drawn based on results and
procedure, describe possible sources of error.
Minimum two references (1 point for each reference listed correctly and appropriate –
2 points). They can be the same that the ones used in the introduction.
o Rinchard (1999) showed….
o Rinchard et al. (1999) showed…
o Rinchard and Haynes (2000) showed….
o Temperature affected fish respiration (Rinchard 1999)
o Temperature affected fish respiration (Rinchard and Haynes 1999)
o Temperature affected fish respiration (Rinchard et al. 1999)
References – 4 points
-
List citations in alphabetical order, and include only those works cited in your paper.
All literature cited in the laboratory report must be clearly and accurately referenced,
in the format used by Ecology. (see info provided in Lab 1).
Natural Science Student Learning Outcome #1 and #2:
LAB REPORT CHECKLIST – ENV 202
The checklist below should help you write a good, complete, and properly formatted
scientific paper for your ENV 202. Go through the checklist before you write, and after
your first draft is complete! Points will be awarded based on the following (20 pts):
I. Heading (2 pts): At the top of the first page, do you include:
____A complete and concise title that describe the report’s main topic?
____Class name, section number, and the date the document was submitted?
II. Abstract (not graded): Does the abstract concisely summarize the following points:
____ Brief introductory statements and mention of questions being investigated?
____ General methods?
____ Major results?
____ Conclusions?
III. Introduction (3 pts): Does the Introduction:
____ Introduce the topic in a straightforward way?
____ Provide an adequate background through reference to other studies?
____ Include the purpose of the study and the primary objectives?
____ Give major hypotheses and discuss the rationale behind them?
IV. Methods and Materials (3 pts): Does this section:
____ Accurately describe methods so they can be repeated by a similarly trained
student?
____ Present the methods in a concise way?
____ Give relevant information on date, location, and habitat (if necessary)?
____ Briefly describe the experimental design and any calculations used?
V. Results (3 pts): Does the Results section:
____ Have an adequate text describing the results of the experiment/project?
____ Present only necessary figures and/or tables in the proper format?
____ Are the tables and figures in numerical order, as presented in the text?
____ Do all figures and tables have clear captions, with units and abbreviations
defined?
____ Present the results of all calculations in a clear way?
VI. Discussion (3 pts): Does the discussion:
____ Summarize experimental results concisely and relate them to other research?
____ Provide sufficient citations for a context in which to evaluate results of the project?
____ Draw appropriate conclusions and state whether you found support for your
hypotheses?
VII. Literature Cited (2 pts): Does the Literature Cited:
____ Cite works in the format of the journal Ecology?
____ List all references cited in the text, in alphabetical order by last name of the first
author?
____ Are references cited properly in the body of the paper? (e.g., Smith et al. 2003)?
VIII. Overall (4 pts) Is the paper:
____ Clearly and logically written, with good grammar and spelling?
____ Correctly organized and formatted?
____ Written with metric units (no temperatures in Fahrenheit, distance in feet, etc.)?
Natural Science Student Learning Outcome #2: ENV204
Lab report (60 points)
Title – 1 point
Plasmolysis in plant cells
John Doe
ENV204
24 January 2010
Abstract – 3 points
-
It summarizes the purpose of the study, methods, major results, and conclusions (no
more than 250 words long)
Introduction – 10 points
-
-
Background info – osmosis and diffusion (2 points)
Objective (2 points) – Hypothesis (2 points) – Prediction (2 points)
There are 3 experiments so you will probably have a list of objectives, hypothesis and
prediction for each experiment
Minimum two references (1 point for each reference listed correctly and appropriate –
2 points)
o Rinchard (1999) showed….
o Rinchard et al. (1999) showed…
o Rinchard and Haynes (2000) showed….
o Temperature affected fish respiration (Rinchard 1999)
o Temperature affected fish respiration (Rinchard and Haynes 1999)
o Temperature affected fish respiration (Rinchard et al. 1999)
Materials and methods – 10 points
-
-
The Methods section should begin with a brief description of where and when the
study was conducted. State that you conducted 3 separate experiments.
Three sections or 3 distinct paragraphs as you have 3 separate experiments. Refer to
the handout (do not describe step by step the methods you used)
The Methods section should briefly describe the procedures employed in the study
and should have enough detail so that a similarly trained scientist could duplicate and
verify your work.
Describe the procedures in your own words, and do not simply list a series of steps
-
Be sure to identify important equipment and materials used in the study, how they
were used.
The final section of the Methods should include a brief description of the
experimental design and any statistical tests.
Results – 15 points
-
-
-
Again at least 3 sections or paragraphs; one for each different experiment.
For experiment 1: 1 or 2 tables (see tables 1 and 2 in my handout) or the results
directly in text. Clearly explain your results what is in the bag and in the container
and what is moving
For experiment 2: no raw data only mean and stdv(either a bar or line graph or a table
see Table 3 in handout but limited to percent change in mass)
For experiment 3: a table is fine (see table 4 in handout) or the results directly in text
The Results section usually includes: (1) one or more paragraphs of text and (2) one
or more figures (graphs or illustrations) and/or tables that present important data or
observations. (DO NOT REPEAT SAME INFO IN TABLE AND FIGURE)
State all findings in a concise and complete way, but do not include raw data, or
attempt to interpret your findings.
Include caption for Tables and Figures.
Discussion – 15 points
-
-
The Discussion section is where you evaluate the results of your study, based upon
what is known or logically expected. If your data differ from what might be expected,
provide some possible reasons. Point out assumptions and limitations associated with
your study. Integrate your results with existing knowledge (i.e., cite relevant
references), speculate on the relevance and implications of your findings, and if
appropriate, make suggestions for future work. State whether hypothesis was
supported, not supported, or if no conclusions can be drawn based on results and
procedure, describe possible sources of error.
Minimum two references (1 point for each reference listed correctly and appropriate –
2 points)
o Rinchard (1999) showed….
o Rinchard et al. (1999) showed…
o Rinchard and Haynes (2000) showed….
o Temperature affected fish respiration (Rinchard 1999)
o Temperature affected fish respiration (Rinchard and Haynes 1999)
o Temperature affected fish respiration (Rinchard et al. 1999)
References – 6 points
-
List citations in alphabetical order, and include only those works cited in your paper.
-
All literature cited in the laboratory report must be clearly and accurately referenced,
in the format used by Ecology. (see info provided in Lab 1).