Lab Report Draft Guidelines

Overview

The lab report is an essential component of your coursework, specifically focusing on the extraction of catalase and the experimentation concerning its activity at varying temperatures. This guide provides a detailed structure and requirements for crafting a high-quality, peer-reviewed style lab report, ensuring clarity, thoroughness, and adherence to academic standards.

Revisions and Submission

  • Incorporation of Feedback: Be sure to incorporate feedback, directions, and recommendations from the first draft into your final draft. Failing to adequately revise as recommended by your instructor will result in significant point deductions.
  • Submission Format: Submit your final lab report in PDF format through the correct assignment links on Moodle.
  • File Naming Convention: Your document should be titled appropriately. Use the format: Last Name FirstInitialFall2025BIOL112Section#. For example, "RichardsJFall2025BIOL112Section1."

General Requirements

  • Proofreading: Ensure thorough proofreading for spelling and grammar errors.
  • Font Specifications: Use Times New Roman or Calibri, sized at 12 pt.
  • Originality in Writing: All writing should be in your own words. Do not copy text verbatim from sources. Familiarize yourself with paraphrasing and quoting guidelines.
  • Quotations: You are allowed to include one quotation, provided it is formatted correctly according to paraphrasing and quoting guidelines.
  • In-text Citations: Employ appropriate references and correct formats for in-text citations, as specified below.

Required Report Sections

1. Title
  • The title should be specific, informative, and potentially creative (avoid generic titles like "Lab Report" or "Enzymes Lab").
  • Title Page Information: Must include your full name, course name, course number, section number, date of lab performance, and the names of lab partners involved in data collection.
2. Abstract
  • Compose a concise summary of all report sections, crafted after the completion of the entire lab report. This section typically appears before the introduction in the final document, though it’s best formulated last.
  • Ensure it clearly communicates:
    • What you did
    • Why you did it
    • What you measured
    • How these measurements respond to the primary questions addressed
    • The significance of the research
3. Introduction
  • Clarify the experiment's purpose, relevant background information (e.g., catalase activity), and state your specific objectives (e.g. testing the effects of temperature on catalase activity).
  • Include both null and alternate hypotheses for each of the experiments conducted (one set for each).
  • Elaborate on introductory concepts that will be detailed in subsequent sections.
  • It is crucial not to make any substantive statements based on your results in this section.
  • Literature Review: Find and cite a peer-reviewed journal article focused on catalase that contains background information on its biological functions in the systems.
  • Ensure in-text citations are used appropriately, indicating the source of the information used in the background generally at the end of paragraphs.
4. Materials and Methods
  • Describe the methodology used in your experiment in a comprehensive manner enabling reproducibility. Ensure that it is done in your own words without direct citations from the lab manual or other sources.
5. Results
  • Present your experimental findings clearly and succinctly. This section should not include discussion or interpretation; it should simply state findings, ideally supported by data tables or figures.
6. Discussion
  • Analyze and discuss the results obtained from the experiments, interpreting their significance related to the hypotheses posed and the overall question at hand. Discuss whether the outcomes match expectations based on existing literature or offer compelling differences.
  • Elaborate on any observed trends, potential experimental errors, and the relevance of results.
7. References
  • Compile a list of at least two references beyond your lab manual. Include your lab manual as a third reference and potentially consider your lecture textbook as a fourth reference.
  • All references must be from peer-reviewed scientific journals, and usage of dictionaries is not permitted.
  • Ensure correct APA formatting is applied. List references at the report's end, with corresponding in-text citations. Utilize Google Scholar for citations but verify accuracy to prevent errors.
    • In-text citations should clarify the origin of information, appearing at least once per paragraph containing proprietary data. For citing, use first author’s last name or “et al.” if there are three or more authors, including the publication year.

Evaluation Criteria

This lab report will be evaluated based on a detailed rubric encompassing the suggested report sections, with a total of 85 points available. Specific penalties are outlined for missing components, late submissions, and adherence to guidelines. Consult your instructor for clarification on any of these requirements or on specific content-related inquiries.

Important Dates

  • First Draft Due: Sunday, Nov 2nd by 11:59 pm (25 points)
  • Final Draft Due: Sunday, November 23rd by 11:59 pm (60 points)
  • Ensure that first drafts are complete and contain all necessary sections, as partial submissions are subject to point deductions.
  • Late Submission Penalty: Each day a submission is late incurs a 10% deduction from the total score. Unexcused absences during lab will lead to a 25-point deduction from the final score.