Discovery and the Scientific Method

Lab Unit Handout  (Lab manual -make up lab)

Pre-Lab

Review the following before you come to lab: 

Read the Lab Unit 3 Discovery & the Scientific Method, and Appendix E  Understanding and Representing data which can also be found on the Resources webpage. 

In-Lab

Make Up Module:

Pill bugs, left, and and Sow bug on the right, look quite similar, but careful examination will show their differences.

As you work through the activities in class, you should answer all questions/answer boxes within the Lab Handout. These will help you understand and answer the questions at the end of the lab unit.

Activity One: Designing and Conducting an Experiment

Review the background information provided in the lab handout about Pill bugs and/or Sow bugs (types of Isopods) and the provided list and pictures of available materials found below.  From this information, start to think about some questions you may want to explore in your experiment and formulate a Hypothesis to record in this Experimental Design Template.

Continue planning your experiement. Be sure to fill out all the indicated fields/variables and components paying close attentions of designing a realistic (reasonable) and sound experiment. Careful planning is key to designing a good experiment.

You may email your TA asking them to provide some initial feedback on your design or you can just turn it in directly for grading in Moodle as 1 of 2 documents needed for the Unit 3: In-Lab Experimental Design and Results (graphing) assignment (5 pts total).

Experiment Materials and Supply List(opens in new window) 

Below are pictures of some possible materials: (click on pictures to enlarge)

Assignment 1 – Make Up Students should design an experiment based on what is available in the pictures or list above.

Depending on your circumstances and the timing of your make up work, you may be paired back with your regular Group # table to participate in writing the group Lab Report. If your make up takes place too late to work with your group, your TA may direct you to write the whole report on your own. Be sure to speak with your TA early on to determine what is best. Your TA needs to approve your make up and will not grade any unapproved submitted make up work.

BE SURE TO DISCUSS THIS WITH YOUR TA FOR APPROVAL and what to do about First Full Draft, Final Full Draft and Peer Review.

Provided Pill Bug Experiment Data(opens in new window) 

Contemplate if you will include all the provided data points or data averages when considering what type of graph would best represent/summarize the data and experiment.

To construct a proper Graph, review Lab Manual Appendix D Graphing Using Excel(opens in new window)  (p. 220 for key components), Appendix E Understanding and Representing Data(opens in new window) or LabWrite – Resources – Data Representations shows examples of Data Types, Tables and Various Types of Graphs. Graphs should be produced using a graphing program, such as Excel or Google Sheets.  NCSU Student can download Microsoft Office 365 from NC State’s OIT software site) for free.

Turn in your completed fully labeled graph of the provided data to your TA.

Your TA may ask you to present your Experimental Design and graph to your TA once you are back in class.

Post-Lab

Lab Report Rubric – use for guidance in writing the Lab Report AND also for peer reviewing your groups assigned paper.

Individual Peer Group Work Evaluation – (Discuss with your TA for Make Up work)

• Each student will use the provided form to rate themselves and their group members on their contributions to this group written Lab Report.
• Each student must also list their own contributes on each part of the process in the Notes column. Adding notes about other group members can also be added.
• This form is only submitted on Moodle to share with the TA.
• It must be submitted by the due date (same as the final Lab Report) to be eligible for a possible 5 pts.

Writing Lab Reports

• Inside-Out-Approach to writing lab reports 
• LabWrite Home
• LabWrite – PostLab: Writing your Lab Report – follow the directions on this webpage. This approach will guide you through the whole process of writing a full lab report so that your work is fully synthesized. Visit all the internal prompts/links as needed.
• LabWrite – Resources – Data Representations(opens in new window)  – showings examples of Data Types, Tables and Various Types of Graphs
• Lab Report Rubric
• Guide to Analyzing Sections of a Lab Report — Pretend you are grading your report. How did you do
• PPT that shows common mistakes with plagiarism 
• PowerPoint from a Workshop on Writing Lab Reports
  • (PPT tells you the basics, but also addresses common mistakes and questions from past students.)
• Writing tips for Scientific Writing  (Active/Passive Voice, Wordiness, References, Pronouns, Tense Issues, Syntax)
• Sample Lab Reports –Look at formatting AND how references are used and cited.
• View a Sample Scientific Journal Article  – Honey Bee Article – – Lab Reports use the same format as primary literature and are great practice for reading, writing and understanding primary literature.

Using AI Generative Text to Write Lab Reports

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.

Finding and Citing References in your Lab Report

• Check out the Resources  page on the main Lab homepage to help with writing in-text citations and full references.
• 8th Edition CSE Scientific Style and Format Citation Quick Guide  

Additional help outside of the Biology Department and your TA

• NCSU Academic Success Center (provides writing Tutorial Services) 

Additional Information

The Scientific Process

• Scientific Method Animation

Graphing Resources

• Appendix D – Graphing Using Excel
• Appendix E – Understanding and Representing Dat

Sample Scientific Papers

Sample 1 -Mice

Sample 2 -Rhinos

Sample 3 -Iguana

Sample 4 -Ecosystem

Sample 5 -Parasites

Sample Scientific Papers – Primary vs. Secondary literature

1. Is your paper Primary and Secondary literature? How can you tell? 
2. How well did the paper follow Lab Report/Scientific literature structure? Did anything seem odd or different for you?  Does this change your idea of Primary or Secondary Literature?  Why or why not?

Oral Scientific Communications: Presentations

This week Groups will compile an abbreviated presentation using a provided presentation template.

• Appendix C: Making Presentations(opens in new window)  in your lab manual
• Organize information and PRACTICE before you present.
• Be professional in what you present (use visuals) AND in what you say.
• Your presentations should follow the same general format/sections of a scientific paper.
• Include primary literature references in your presentation.
• Be prepared to answer scientific questions related to your experimental design, results, etc.