TH!NK

Higher-order Skills in Critical and Creative Thinking

BIO 181 Free Textbook – Introductory Biology: Ecology, Evolution, and Biodiversity

Lab Apps

• Online stopwatch

Appendix Resources from the BIO 181 and 183 lab manuals

• Appendix A: Use and care of microscopes
• Appendix B: Scientific Writing and Presentation of Scientific Findings
• Appendix C: Making Presentations Using PowerPoint
• Appendix D: Graphing Using Excel
• Appendix E: Understanding and Representing Data
• NCSU Student can download Microsoft Office 365 from NC State’s OIT software site) for free.

Library Tutorial

• Searching for primary and secondary literature
• D. H. Hill Library (main campus Brickyard)
• Hunt Library (on Centennial Campus)

Help for Writing Lab Reports

• The Inside-Out Approach to writing a lab report
• Guide to Analyzing Sections of a Lab Report – further explains what belongs in each section of a lab report.
• LabWrite website
• LabWrite – Resources – Data Representations(opens in new window)  – showings examples of Data Types, Tables and Various Types of Graphs
• Sample Lab Reports – look at formatting AND how references are used and cited !!!
• PowerPoint from a Workshop on Writing Lab Reports
  • PPT tells you the basics, but also addresses common mistakes and questions from past students.

• PPT that shows common mistakes with plagiarism
• Grading Rubric used for BIO 181/183 lab reports (points will vary)

Tips for Making Presentations

• Appendix C: Making Presentations in your lab manual
• Organize information and PRACTICE before you present.
• Be professional in what you present (visuals/powerpoint) AND in what you say.
• Your presentations should follow the same general format/sections of a scientific paper.
• Check the assignment to see if you need to include primary references in your presentation relating information from another study/research to your study.
• Be prepared to answer scientific questions related to your presentation, experiment, results, background and any referenced studies.
• Everyone needs to speak and convey important information if group presentations
• How to record your Presentation in Zoom and save to the cloud.

Finding and Citing References in your Lab Report

Primary reference(s) and the Lab Manual are required for most Lab Reports (# will vary).

• NCSU Libraries
• NCSU Library Tutorial
• Using Google Scholar with NCSU Libraries

Guides for References and Citations

• CBE/CSE Handout – 8th Edition.
• 9th Edition CSE Scientific Style and Format Citation Quick Guide –Most up-to-date!  This shows in-text citations and how to write out the full reference for a variety of sources (journal articles, electronic journals, books, web pages, conference papers…)
  • Scroll down to see different types of reference materials: Journals, Books, Websites and Other Online Materials.
• NCSU Citation Builder

Using AI Generative Text to Write Lab Reports, Presentations or Any Other Written Course/Lab Work.(opens in new window)

Use this information if you decide to use an AI Generative Text source such as ChapGPT. Be sure to follow all of the steps and include the citation and reflection piece into your final Lab Report document.

Additional Help Outside of the Biology Department and your TA

• NCSU Writing and Speaking Tutorial Services Center – see schedule for walk in hours or how to make an appointment.