BIOL5227 Writing the Lab Report

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BIOL5227

Writing the Lab Report

After completing the laboratory work, we will discuss how to write your report. You will write this in the style of a scientific article following the general advice given below and in the tutorial. An appropriate style of article to follow would be: Christie et al. (2012) J Biol Chem 287, 22295. The scientific method can be encapsulated in the cyclic scheme: hypothesis – experimental test – result – conclusion. Your report should follow this scheme. Your report will:

•   Briefly introduce the background and purpose of the experiments.

•   Show and describe the results that you obtained and set out direct conclusions that you can draw from them.

•   Discuss the results in the context of any prior knowledge in the field and propose any additional experiments that you think may be appropriate.

•   The following section headings will guide you on how to structure the report: Title, Abstract (max. 250 words), Introduction, Results, Discussion and Appendices (if appropriate). You will not be required to write a methods section. The overall word limit (excluding abstract, references and figure legends) should be ~3,000 words.

· Section

Expected

% Mark

Title

Brief title describing the overall focus of the study

5%

Abstract

Should briefly introduce the background, aims and summarize the main results*

10%

Introduction

Introduction should set the scientific context of the experiments performed. References are essential. 1-2 figures can be used to illustrate key points (referenced if used from publications)

20%

Results

Results must contain a narrative describing experiments done and the results obtained. Results should be presented in an appropriate format (graph, table or figure) and be accompanied by a legend. Legends should contain sufficient details so that the figure can stand-alone from the main text and should not describe the results obtained

35%

Discussion

Should place your results in the scientific context introduced in the Introduction, discuss any deviation from expected behaviour and describe how the experiments could be developed upon, either in terms of further hypotheses to be tested or improvements to the experimental protocol. References are likely to be required

20%

Appendices

Any data should be presented clearly as in the Results. This section could include standard curves that were used to obtain data and additional protein structure figures. Any calculations should be presented clearly, with reasoning explained, and accurately performed

5%

References

List references (either numbered format or author-date) of the appropriate literature cited

5%

*Writing a good abstract is a valuable skill and is important in scientific and technical writing. It is best to write this when you have completed all the other sections of the report. Consider the following points:

• The abstract should be a brief, but self-contained, account of the work or topic. Someone reading it should be able to work out what has been done without needing to look at the main paper

• The three main elements that the abstract should contain are: a statement of the purpose of the work; an account of the key results obtained; and a brief indication of the significance of the results in the context of what was previously known

• Writing a good abstract is not easy. Look at examples in the journals (e.g. Journal of Biological Chemistry, Biochemical Journal, etc.). Write a draft and then consider whether it meets the points above or not. If necessary, revise it until it does and reflects the main take home points of the study


2023-02-13