FORMAT FOR FORMAL
LAB REPORT - Vertebrate Physiology[1]
The text of the formal lab write-up should
be no longer than two pages, type-written (use a standard #12 font) and
double-spaced with one inch margins.
You may have to edit your first draft to keep from running over the
two-page limit. The text of the paper
should be written in complete sentences.
The formal lab write-up must be done individually
by each student. You must work
independently. Remember, paraphrasing
as well as quoting another individual without giving him/her credit is plagiarism. Please see the 2001-2002 Loyola
Undergraduate Catalogue for a discussion of academic integrity and what
constitutes plagiarism. If you have any
questions - come talk to me before you hand in your paper!E
Writing style is important. Reading scientific papers can help
you to develop your writing style. Doing
the “Library Assignment”, where you read and summarize a research paper in a
scientific journal should help you to write your paper. However, write your paper as if it was to be
read by a student of your own level who has not taken the course.
The report should have a title page that
should include the title of the lab, your name in the upper right-hand
corner of the page, and the names of your laboratory partners in the lower
right-hand corner of the page. Divide the
report into the following sections each labeled with a Roman numeral and
heading (Introduction, Materials and Methods, etc.):
I. Introduction: - This section should:
·
Begin by clearly stating (in a single sentence,
if possible) the specific purpose or objective of each experiment in the
exercise.[2]
·
Briefly state/explain the theories or concepts
that are important to understanding each part of the experiment. Be as specific as possible.
·
Based on the theoretical concepts just outlined
(see previous point, above) state what results you would expect from each
experiment (i.e., based on currently accepted ideas, what is your hypothesis
regarding the outcome of each experiment?)
Be specific.
II.
Materials and Methods: - Since most materials and methods are found in the lab
manual, cite this source using the proper format. Then mention any changes that were made by you (intentionally or
otherwise!) which were not described in the manual. Do not list materials and methods
that are already specified in the manual.
III. Results:
A. Begin
this section with a “narrative” or text section. The narrative must use complete
sentences and paragraphs. Focus on the important findings in your
study, pointing out major trends in your data.
Note: You can write this section
only after having carefully analyzed your data, graphs, etc. If you refer to your tables, graphs,
diagrams, etc. in this section, mention their reference numbers (see below). Be as specific as possible.
B. In
addition, all experimental observations and measurements should be appended to
the end of the report on separate pages and should include the following:
·
Tables - Tables should be devised to organize
your experimental data and to present it in an easy to understand format. Values calculated from your raw data (if any) can also be displayed in the same
tables. Note: Devise your own typed tables - do not include tables from the
handouts.
·
Polygraph traces.
·
Graphs constructed from experimental data should
be included in the Results section. Please
do all graphs by hand, rather than using a computer program.
·
Pictures, diagrams, etc.
·
Sample calculations.
Note: Tables (Tables), graphs and diagrams
(Figures) must be clearly presented, and given sequential reference numbers
(Fig. 1, Fig. 2, or Table 1, Table 2, for example) and a descriptive title.
IV. Discussion and Conclusions: - In this section
you should analyze or interpret your data.
The question is, did your results confirm your expectations? A useful format for interpreting your data
is as follows:
·
Briefly state your
results.
·
Compare your results to your hypothesis (as
stated in the Introduction) and
·
State whether your results confirmed your
hypothesis or not. If the results do not support your hypothesis try to explain why they do
not. Include any specific sources
of error that may have affected your results in this section.
·
Briefly describe how your results relate to the
concepts that the laboratory was meant to demonstrate.
This
section should be a thoughtful, well-organized interpretation of your
data. It should NOT be a repetition of
the Results section. It is your
opportunity to demonstrate what you learned from the experiments and to show
that you understand the concepts involved.
V. Literature
Cited:
A. Format for "Literature Cited"
section: Whenever you quote or
paraphrase any published source, you
must cite it (for example, your
textbook or a reference book) in a very specific manner. You should include an alphabetized list of
references entitled, "Literature Cited", as section V. of your
report. References should be listed in
the format shown below:
For
articles:
Kamel
F, Kubajak CL, 1988. Gonadal steroid
effects of LH response to arachidonic acid and protein kinase C. Amer.
J Physiol. 255:314-321.
For
books:
Guyton
AC, 1984. Physiology of the Human Body, Saunders College Publishing,
Philadelphia, pp. 145-162.
For
chapters from books:
Griffin
JE, 1988. The thyroid, in: Textbook
of Endocrine Physiology, Griffin JE and Ojeda SR (eds.), Oxford
University Press, New York, pp. 222-244.
B. When you cite a reference (listed in
Lit Cited section) in your report, use one of the two formats shown below:
1. You
can make the citation at the end of the sentence where the information from the
work is incorporated:
Example: Mice exhibit high levels of thyroxin as
compared to rats (Felzen, 1989).
2. Or
- you can include the citation as part of the sentence:
Example: Felzen (1989) states that mice exhibit high
levels of thyroxin as compared to rats.
VI. Sample Calculations - include any sample calculations in this section.