Honors Biology Laboratory
Prentice Hall Biology Textbook Website
Laboratory:
Laboratory investigations which include the use of scientific inquiry, research, measurement, problem solving, laboratory apparatus and technologies, experimental procedures, and safety procedures are an integral part of this course.
In this class you will complete many laboratory activities. Some activities will simply require that you take notes, answer questions, write brief explanations, or complete worksheets. More complicated or challenging activities will require formal lab reports. When scientists decide to share their findings with colleagues and the public, they write scientific papers that get reviewed, edited, and eventually published in scientific journals. The formal lab reports you write for this class will be modeled on this practice. Each lab report will consist of: Introduction, Experimental Design, Data and Results, and Conclusion.
INTRODUCTION (5 points)
In the introduction, you should begin by writing your name, the date the lab was conducted, and the title of the lab. Next, you will state the purpose of the lab. This should be a short paragraph clearly stating why you are doing the lab. Finally, clearly state your hypothesis using the following format: “If (independent/manipulated variable), then (dependent/responding variable) because (fully explaining your reasoning using prior knowledge that allows you to make an educated guess)."
EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN (3 points)
Use the experimental design to explain to your reader exactly how to do the lab. First, list all the materials and equipment used, including specific amounts needed of specific materials. Then, describe what happens in the lab step by step. The goal here is to write the procedure so it can be repeated by another student. You are welcome to use diagrams if they assist understanding of your experimental design.
DATA AND RESULTS (10 points)
You will use the data & results section of your lab to record everything of significance that happens during the lab (color change, movement, bubbles, and even if there is no reaction) You may be recording observations or measuring and recording numerical results; and you may need data tables to organize these results and/or graphs to represent them.
CONCLUSION (10 points)
The conclusion section is where you interpret your results and explain what happened in your lab. Begin your discussion by clearly restating the hypothesis you were testing. Then summarize the results of your experiment by specifically referring to important measurements and observations. Next, explain what your results mean by explaining how they answer your problem and whether they support and do not support your hypothesis. Be sure to offer possible reasons for your results. Your discussion should also evaluate the validity of your data and identify possible sources of error.
ORGANIZATION (2 points)
Lab reports must be typed unless otherwise indicated and each section of the lab should be clearly labeled.
Unit 1 Labs:
- Calorimeter
- Temperature vs rate of diffusion
- Enzyme function
- liver lab and online Enzyme Virtual Lab
Unit 2 Labs:.
Laboratory:
Laboratory investigations which include the use of scientific inquiry, research, measurement, problem solving, laboratory apparatus and technologies, experimental procedures, and safety procedures are an integral part of this course.
In this class you will complete many laboratory activities. Some activities will simply require that you take notes, answer questions, write brief explanations, or complete worksheets. More complicated or challenging activities will require formal lab reports. When scientists decide to share their findings with colleagues and the public, they write scientific papers that get reviewed, edited, and eventually published in scientific journals. The formal lab reports you write for this class will be modeled on this practice. Each lab report will consist of: Introduction, Experimental Design, Data and Results, and Conclusion.
INTRODUCTION (5 points)
In the introduction, you should begin by writing your name, the date the lab was conducted, and the title of the lab. Next, you will state the purpose of the lab. This should be a short paragraph clearly stating why you are doing the lab. Finally, clearly state your hypothesis using the following format: “If (independent/manipulated variable), then (dependent/responding variable) because (fully explaining your reasoning using prior knowledge that allows you to make an educated guess)."
EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN (3 points)
Use the experimental design to explain to your reader exactly how to do the lab. First, list all the materials and equipment used, including specific amounts needed of specific materials. Then, describe what happens in the lab step by step. The goal here is to write the procedure so it can be repeated by another student. You are welcome to use diagrams if they assist understanding of your experimental design.
DATA AND RESULTS (10 points)
You will use the data & results section of your lab to record everything of significance that happens during the lab (color change, movement, bubbles, and even if there is no reaction) You may be recording observations or measuring and recording numerical results; and you may need data tables to organize these results and/or graphs to represent them.
CONCLUSION (10 points)
The conclusion section is where you interpret your results and explain what happened in your lab. Begin your discussion by clearly restating the hypothesis you were testing. Then summarize the results of your experiment by specifically referring to important measurements and observations. Next, explain what your results mean by explaining how they answer your problem and whether they support and do not support your hypothesis. Be sure to offer possible reasons for your results. Your discussion should also evaluate the validity of your data and identify possible sources of error.
ORGANIZATION (2 points)
Lab reports must be typed unless otherwise indicated and each section of the lab should be clearly labeled.
Unit 1 Labs:
- Calorimeter
- Temperature vs rate of diffusion
- Enzyme function
- liver lab and online Enzyme Virtual Lab
Unit 2 Labs:.