The Laboratory WriteUp What is it What do

The Laboratory Write-Up What is it? What do I need to hand in?

Science Inquiry • Why do we complete labs? – To answer a question. • A Law describes a condition that has been observed so consistently that scientists are convinced it will always happen.

Science Inquiry

Components to a Laboratory Write-Up • • Title Purpose/Problem Hypothesis Materials/Apparatus Procedure Observations Conclusion Discussion

Title & Purpose • Title – Definitive outline as to what your lab was actually about. • Purpose/Problem – Statement of purpose, or aim: why is the experiment being done?

Hypothesis • Hypothesis – is an IF…THEN…BECAUSE statement. • If Alka-Seltzer tablet and water are mixed in a film canister, then the lid will explode off because the tablet and water will mix to form carbon dioxide bubbles which will create enough pressure to explode off the lid of the canister.

Materials/Apparatus • Usually will make a list to refer to what was used for the experiment in which you are attempting to answer a question. – Sometimes we will use lists and/or diagrams. • Sometimes will write: • See Ritter et al. Biology 11. Nelson. Toronto, ON. 2002. p. 1 -2. – The following changes were made: • List the changes

Procedure • Step by step process in which you outline what you did in your experiment in an attempt to answer your question. Specifics • No abbreviations. • Main points only. • Sentence form. • A numerical or alphabetical listing of instruction.

Variables • Variables – Each factor that may determine the outcome of an investigation. – All variables must be controlled when completing an investigation except one. – Independent variable = Controlled variable – Dependent variable = Response variable that depends on what happens as a result of the independent variable – Control = treatment or experiment that you can compare with the results of your test groups. – Trial = the protocol is carefully designed to answer specific research questions through experimentation

Observations • What did you see when you completed your lab in the attempt to answer your question? – We will include qualitative observations in your writeups. • Using words to describe what we see. • Flakes, lumpy, sand-like, fine, pasty, snow-like, crystals, granular, grains – Tables are the preferred organization method of data collected.

Conclusions • Come directly from your observations and should support or falsify your hypothesis. • Do not forget to restate the hypothesis that you are supporting or falsifying. • A hypothesis is not “sort of” correct, it is either correct or it is not based on what you have observed.

Discussion • Quite commonly this will be Analysis questions from the text. • However, some things to keep in mind: – Ways experiment could have been refined. – Sources of error. – Knowledge shared that could help explain the conclusion further.

What are citations? • A reference list includes all of the sources you have cited in your research paper. You must list your sources in a specific format. • What should I cite? – Direct Quote – Statistics – Diagrams, pictures, illustrations, charts, graphs, etc.

Citation Example • Author. “Title of Site or Page”. Date of posting or latest update. Name of sponsoring institution or organization. Date of access. <url> • “DNA Profiling”. 13 February 2008. Interpol. 24 March 2008. http: //www. interpol. int/Public/Forensic/dna/default. asp

Citation Rules • REFERENCE LIST NOTES: – NOT in alphabetical order, but in order of which they appear in the research paper – NOT double-spaced – USE numbers

Citation Rules • IN-TEXT REFERENCES: • Cited in text by number rather than author and date • Sources are numbered consecutively in the order in which they appear in the report