BSC1010L Lab Report 1 Checklist 1 Abstract a Brief synopsis of the lab report 250 words b Briefly description of the big question statement of the main methods what was tested for and a general overview of the results i e what was found 2 Introduction cite all sources see last page a Student includes the concepts and terms listed below i Enzymes 1 Function 2 Mechanism of action a Substrate b Product c Active site d Enzyme substrate complex e Denaturation 3 Optimal conditions a Temperature b Other factors in less detail 4 Commercial uses and importance ii Amylase 1 Function how does it work and what does it do 2 What types are there 3 How do they differ 4 Where are they found iii Starch 1 What is it 2 Biological and commercial uses b Purpose of the lab c Statement of the Null and Alternate Hypotheses i Student addresses all variables listed above in his her hypotheses d Statement of predictions i All variables listed above are addressed in student s predictions 3 Materials Methods a Student lists all materials used for the experiment b Methods Task sheet is paraphrased and NOT copied verbatim c The purpose of all variables and treatments are explained i Which treatments were controls and what were they controlling for 4 Results a Tables 2 and 3 as well as both Log Files from the task sheet are included i Means and standard deviations are calculated by the student b Graphs made in Excel i Student compares the effects of temperature on amylase activity human and fungal c Picture of spot plates optional d Each figure table and or graph has a title and a legend mini explanation of what is in the figure e Text describe the results i When appropriate refer to the figures in the text 5 Discussion a Student clearly explains the results i When appropriate student refers to figures b Student explains why the results do not agree with the predictions c Student discusses possible sources of error d Student discusses possible improvements to the current experiment e Student includes how he she would extend the current experiment based on the current findings 6 Bibliography a At least 3 sources that are NOT your lab manual or textbook are included b Sources are listed alphabetically c Sources are in proper format i See the page below Rules for citing references in the body of the text 1 General format Once an idea is explained the sentence is finished with a reference Author s last name year of publication 2 Two authors If a source has two authors both names and the year of publication should be included Author s last name and Author s last name year of publication For example an idea from the current lab manual can be cited as follows Vodopich and Moore 2008 3 Three or more authors If a source has three or more authors then only the last name of the first author followed by et al and year of publication is included Author s last name et al Year of publication Et al is an abbreviation from the Latin et alii meaning and others Since alii is abbreviated it is followed by a period and a comma Note there is no comma or period after the first last name Therefore in the case of three authors or more as in the reference example below the in text citation would look as follows Bernal et al 2007 4 Multiple sources If student cites more than one reference then each reference should be included in the same citation but separated by a semicolon Last name Year Last name et al Year Last name and Last name Year So if I was talking about electric fish and wanted to cite the sources from examples below my in text citation would look like this Alves Gomez 2001 Bernal et al 2007 Maynard Smith and Harper 2003 Rules for constructing a bibliography 1 References should be listed in alphabetical order 2 If a particular reference takes more than one line then all lines except the first should be indented 3 Include ALL authors never write et al Below are a few examples of how to format reference in your works cited bibliography I Article with 1 author Last name Initials Year of publication Title of paper Name of journal volume number pp pp Example Alves Gomes JA 2001 The evolution of electroreception and bioelectrogenesis in teleost fish a phylogenetic perspective Journal of Fish Biology 58 1489 1511 II Article with many 3 or more authors Last name Initials Last name Initials Last name Initials Year of publication Title of paper Name of journal volume number issue number if available pp pp Example Bernal XE Page RA Rand SA Ryan MJ 2007 Cues for eavesdroppers do frog calls indicate prey density and quality The American Naturalist 169 409 415 III Book Last name Initials Year of publication Title of book City of publication Name of press Example Maynard Smith J Harper D 2003 Animal Signals Oxford University Press IV Chapter Section in a book Last name Initials Year of publication Title of chapter In Title of Book Last name of editors Initials eds pp pp of chapter City of publication Name of Press Example McGregor PK Dabelsteen T 1996 Communication Networks In Ecology and evolution of acoustic communication in birds Kroodsma DE Miller EH eds pp 401 425 Ithaca Cornell University Press