Bio130 Report Guidelines

Actin Lab Report Guidelines Data Analysis: Use the data from the Excel spreadsheets posted on Moodle and also compare your own group data to the collated data in your report.

1. Determine which data you will use for your analysis. For example, do you think that the multiple measurements you did with each reaction are good replicates, why or why not?

2. Determine what kind of analysis you will do averages? Changes over time? Pick one type of analysis as the best way to address the research questions.

3. Create a graph that indicates if we successfully got actin to polymerize in vitro and, if

so, the speed of polymerization.

4. Create another graph that describes the effect of the actin binding protein on polymerization.

In both cases, you should use your own data and then compare those data to the data set generated by the entire lab. Contents:

1. A title that summarizes what you did or observed. Do not just say actin lab report.

2. Abbreviated results section, which includes:

a. 2 Figures (graphs) clear axis labels, defined error bars for any data that are averages

b. Figure Legends that describe the source of the data (see example in the Scientific

Writing handout). c. 1 paragraph/prose describing each major result (2 paragraphs total), using good

paragraph structure and including quantitative descriptions.

3. An acknowledgement section that attributes credit to any tutor or classmate that helped

Please do not include an introduction, methods, discussion, or references sections for this report. File Submission: Upload your document as a single PDF file with a filename that begins with your last name prior to the due date (e.g. Piasecki_ActinLab.pdf). File types other than PDF will be docked by 5%. This lab will focus on data analysis and data presentation, which are critical to writing a results section. You will submit a document to Moodle with the following sections prior to class (12:30pm) on January 21st.

Bio130 Report Guidelines

BIOL 130 Actin Report Grading Sheet Title /3 Something unique that encompasses overall theme of experiment Figure Legends /3 Descriptive title sentence /4 Description of what the data represent (how gathered? Average of what?) /2 Error bars defined Figures /4 Clear axis labels /2 Clear key with no extra (superfluous) information /3 Axis divisions are correct /3 Trend lines are appropriate /3 Plotted error bars correctly /3 Choice of data used Results Section - Prose /6 Describes data analysis, choices made, replicates, etc /6 Describes data and overall trends some quantitative information Writing /3 Paragraph structure with results-based topic sentence /3 Sentence structure, clarity, error-free Acknowledgements /2 Present -2.5 if missing PDF format/file type -2.5 if missing Honor Code /50 Total