Lab Format Guide Rubric

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Lab Format Guide / Rubric

• Today we are going to discuss how to write labs.

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SCIENTIFIC THINKING

• OBSERVATION The use of senses to see and record
  the world around you.
• Qualitative detailed, specific and descriptive
  statement
• Quantitative accurate and precise measurements
• Rules for making good observations
• a. Include changes, movement, difference,
• descriptions of
  occurrences
• b. Observation should be related to the
  situation.
• c. When writing qualitative observations, use
• complete sentences and avoid
  using pronouns.
• d. Avoid inferences making a conclusion or
• opinion from an observation.

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• OBSERVATIONS 1. lava is flowing down the
  side of the volcano.
• 2. The crater is 72m deep.
• Inferences
• 1. The volcano is ready to erupt.
• 2. The crater must have been made by a meteor.

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Variables

• Variables factors scientists change or measure
  in an experiment to collect scientific data
• A. independent variable (manipulated)
• 1. The factor that the researcher intentionally
  changes in an experiment
• B. dependent variable (responding)
• 1. The factor that might be affected as a result
  of that change
• 2. The researcher measures or observes this to
  obtain results.
• Both variables must be used in your problem
  statement, hypothesis, prediction.

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Lets start with the basics

• A lab write-up is a form of technical writing
• This means that you have to use a professional
  voice
• Must be written in complete sentences and
  paragraph form.
• Must use appropriate grammar.
• NO SPELLING OR PUNCTUATION ERRORS!
• NO PRONOUNS!
• No abbreviations.
• Must be written in your own words no plagiarism.

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1 - Title

• Every lab needs a title.
• You will write this at the top of the page along
  with the date.
• Your title should include the independent and
  dependent variables.
• Example The affect of sunlight on the growth of
  plants

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2 Question / Problem statement

• Must be testable.
• Should be clearly stated and reflect the
  variables.
• Should include a question mark. This is a
  question.
• Example How will providing more sunlight to
  plants affect their growth?

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Examples

• 1. Problem Statement How does the amount of
  water a plant receives affect its growth?
• Independent variable amount of water
• given a plant
• Dependent variable plant growth
• 2. Problem Statement How much does using a
  calculator affect the rate math problems are
  calculated?
• Independent variable using a calculator
• Dependent variable rate math problems are
• calculated

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3 - Hypothesis

• SINGLE SENTENCE.
• Should answer the question.
• Should be worded similarly to the question.
• Must be testable and measurable.
• Rules for making a valid hypothesis
• Hypothesis must use the same wording as the
  problem.
• The statement must be testable and measurable
  (must have ability to be proven right or wrong).
• When writing a hypothesis
• use a complete sentence
• dont use yes or no
• dont use personal pronouns
• Its OK to have an incorrect hypothesis. It is
  not OK to have an invalid hypothesis.
• Example Plants will grow more when more sunlight
  is provided to them.

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Example

• Problem
• How does the weight of a vehicle affect the
  braking distance?
• Hypothesis
• As the weight of a vehicle increases, the braking
  distance decreases

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4 - Materials

• All equipment/materials should be listed
• Amounts and sizes given
• Listed not numbered order
• Examples
• 100 mL beaker
• 2.5 g salt (NaCl)

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5- Procedures

• Sequential order
• Logical to test the hypothesis
• Able to be duplicated
• Numbered, not listed
• NO PRONOUNS

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6 - Prediction

• If, then statement
• If (restate the hypothesis), then (state an
  observation that you will see that will tell you
  if the hypothesis was correct or incorrect)
• If 50 drops of water will fit on a penny before
  falling off, then in the lab 50 drops of water
  will remain on the penny.
• If copper II sulfate will decompose when reacted
  with hydrochloric acid, then in the lab gas
  bubbles and a color change will be seen to
  indicate a decomposition reaction has occurred.

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Prediction Example

• Hypothesis
• As the weight of a vehicle increases the braking
  distance decreases.
• Prediction
• If as the weight of a vehicle increases the
  braking distance decreases, then a vehicle that
  is 20 tons will brake sooner than a 10 ton
  vehicle.

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7 - Data

• State all qualitative and quantitative data first
• Make a data table
• Title must include independent and dependent
  variables
• Data should be organized into correct columns
• Column labels are specific
• Units must be used where applicable
• USE A RULER
• Show calculations
• Must show equation that was used
• Must show set-up of work
• Units! Units! Units!

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8 - Graph

• Every graph should have
• A title that includes the independent and
  dependent variable
• Variables on the correct axis
• Scale starting from zero
• Units!

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9 - Discussion

• This might be new for some of you
• Worth 24 points largest component of the lab
• Should be at least 2 or 3 paragraphs
• A discussion should include
• The relationship/trend accurately discussed
• Correlation stated
• Logical explanation of the correlation/relationshi
  p based on scientific concepts
• Possible sources of error
• Effects of errors

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More help with the discussion

• All discussions should start with a summative
  sentence explaining the purpose of the lab
• For example This lab investigated how many drops
  of water can fit on a penny.
• Next, the discussion should identify the
  relationship or trend used in the lab
• For example The relationship used in the stink
  bomb lab is reactivity.

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Discussion continued

• Then explain or define key terms that need to be
  understood for students to complete the lab.
• For example Reactivity looks at an atoms
  ability to change when exposed to a different
  atom. Reactivity is a periodic trend.
  Scientists have discovered that the most reactive
  elements are in the bottom-left and top-right
  areas of the periodic table.

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A. Discussion 1 or more paragraphs 1. Includes
the following when appropriate relationships,
trends. (What happened to the dependent variable
as the independent variable changed) Ex The
data suggests that as the temperature goes up,
the number of breaths also increase.
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Discussion continued

• Now we need to discuss the correlation
• Even though we do not have a graph for most of
  our labs, correlation can still be present
• Lets talk about correlation
• Positive as you increase one variable, the other
  increases as well (the same)
• Positive as you decrease one variable, the other
  decreases as well (the same)
• Negative as you increase one variable, the other
  decreases (opposite)
• None it doesnt matter what you do to the
  variables, there is no pattern

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2. Discuss correlation (positive, negative or
none).
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Lets try some

• 1. As temperature is decreased, respiration
  decreases
• 2. As temperature is increased, the size of a gas
  increases
• 3. As pressure is decreased, the size of a gas
  increases
• 4. As reactivity increases, chemical changes
  increases
• 5. As the amount of excess reactant increases,
  the amount of product produced is not affected

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Almost done with the discussion

• Now we need to have a logical explanation of the
  correlation/relationship based on scientific
  concepts
• This is worth 15 of the 24 points
• In this paragraph you will discuss what this
  correlation means
• You need to explain what the correlation/relations
  hip means scientifically. (give scientific
  examples)
• You could explain the correlation/relationship
  using real-life examples.

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Last part

• Possible sources of error given
• Effects of these errors
• Here you need to explain what sources of error
  could have been present
• Unless you get 0.00 error, then you have some
  source of error.
• You must specifically address the errors that
  were present and explain how these effected your
  data.

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10 - Conclusion

• 1st sentence should always be
• The hypothesis, restate your hypothesis, was or
  was not supported.
• Then provide at least 3 sets of data from your
  lab. You can list qualitative and quantitative
  data here.
• Then provide support for the new hypothesis using
  your data.
• Then sum up the conclusion
• In conclusion, the correct hypothesis for this
  experiment is

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Extensions

• THIS IS NEW!
• Here you are to write two new questions that can
  be tested in an experiment related to the lab you
  completed.
• For example How does temperature effect the
  amount of water that a penny is able to hold?

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Then, you are done