Higher-Order Skills in Critical and Creative Thinking

Lab Apps

• Online stopwatch
• NCSU Students can download Microsoft Office 365 from NC State’s OIT(opens in new window)(opens in new window)(opens in new window)   software site) for free.  We will use Excel or Google Sheets for graphing.

Appendix Resources for BIO 181 and 183 lab manuals/lab handouts

• 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 (updated for Fall 2018 BIO 183 lab manual)
• 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 a Review Paper

• *Tips for Writing a Review Paper* –  scroll down to see Choosing a Topic, What to Consider, and Structure of Your Review. 

Help for Writing Lab Reports (Resources used in BIO 181 & 183 websites)

• 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
• 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)

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
• BIO 181 Library Tutorial
• Using Google Scholar with NCSU Libraries

Writing References for the Citations in your Lab Reports

• CBE/CSE Handout – an updated handout 8th Edition seen below.
• 9th Edition CSE Scientific Style and Format Citation Quick Guide(opens in new window) –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 and Any Other Written Course/Lab Work where AI use is permitted.(opens in new window)(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.