Tips for writing first-year biology labs
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Title
The Basics
Usually includes main objective, species involved, and location (if relevant). The title may be derived from the x and y-axis of the main figure
Example: The distribution and effects of invasive earthworm populations in an eastern Ontario temperate forest
Dos and Don’ts
Do include detail so the title is not too short or too vague.
Don’t exceed approximately 15 words.
Abstract
The Basics
A brief description of a report that summarizes the key elements in one to three sentences each:
- the objective of the study/statement of the problem (often taken from the title), often includes wording such as this: “This study was undertaken in order to…”
- the main details of the methods
- the most important results (with statistical significance if relevant)
- the main conclusion(s) and interpretation(s) of the study (from the discussion)
Dos and Don’ts
Do write in complete sentences.
Don’t refer to other works, include too much detail, or give statistical details (e.g., p values).
Introduction
The Basics
Usually includes 3 paragraphs:
Dos and Don’ts
Do integrate source material into your writing (begin and end the second paragraph in your own words).
Don’t use source material unrelated to your topic or simply summarize results of studies without integrating this information with your own study.
*Definitions
A hypothesis is a possible explanation for what causes something to occur (e.g., the movement of earthworms is facilitated by human activities such as fishing and driving).
A prediction is an expected result that should be observed if the hypothesis is true – a pattern in the collected data (e.g., if the above hypothesis is true, then we should expect to see more earthworms – greater numbers and more diversity of species – near boat launches and roads).
A study usually means an observational study in which researchers observe subjects and measure variables but do not assign subjects to treatments or manipulate them in any way. In an experiment, researchers control/manipulate the primary variables and usually assign subjects to treatments.
Materials and Methods
The Basics
Describes the materials and equipment used, the experimental design, and a step-by-step process of the experiment.
Do
- include enough detail so the experiment can be repeated.
- use the past tense and complete but concise sentences.
- include information related to statistical methods, if used.
Results
The Basics
Presents the findings of the experiment in text and in figures and/or tables.
Dos and Don’ts
Do
- be sure to include a caption at the bottom of figures and at the top of tables and axis labels for graphs.
- avoid redundancy between text and graphs (graphs present results more specifically).
- use the past tense and complete but concise sentences.
Don’t
- interpret or discuss results.
- include any references or raw data in the text.
- provide the same information in a figure and a table – use one or the other.
- use vague, imprecise modifiers such as “very” and “much.”
Discussion
The Basics
Generally includes five paragraphs that explain the results of the study, suggest possible sources of error/how the study could be improved, and provide support from sources.
Dos and Don’ts
Do
- discuss all of the main results, even/especially if they were unexpected, appear not to agree with your other results, or appear not to agree with the literature.
- begin each paragraph with a sentence that introduces a particular result, not that gives facts from another study.
- use your textbook and other sources (such as review papers) to learn about your topic so you can present an informed discussion.
- emphasize your own thinking – you should devise your own reasons to explain your results.
- be sure your reasoning relates to biological processes rather than offering only logical or “common sense” explanations.
Don’t
- use source material that is not relevant to your study.
- over-cite – don’t cite general knowledge such as material from your textbook or from review papers; cite only specific results from studies (secondary sources such as review papers present an overview of research while primary sources are studies that present the results of experimentation).
- Place too much emphasis on experimental error as the most significant reason for the results.
Referencing
The Basics
Refer to 3-5 sources per lab assignment – references should be primary literature, not reviews, general websites, textbooks, or encyclopedia. Use the referencing style in the articles from the journal Ecology.
Example
Hargrave, C. W., K.D. Hambright, and J. W. Weider. 2011. Variation in resource consumption across a gradient of increasing intra- and interspecific richness. Ecology 92: 1226-1235.
Do
- cite in your text all specific information derived from a source.
- check to ensure all references cited in the text are listed in the Literature Cited section and vice versa.
- check references very carefully so that the style in Ecology is followed exactly: take note of capitalization, punctuation, the order of authors’ names, the use of “and” vs. “&,” etc.
Don’t
- over-cite – cite only specific findings from particular studies, not general knowledge.
- quote sources directly.
- paraphrase a source too closely – use your own words.