SOURCES PROVIDED – lab related is provided
Introduction
The Introduction concisely describes the purpose of the investigation and should tell the
reader why this work was done. You should briefly review past research on the problem with
enough background information to orient the reader (this is usually accomplished by a literature
search of published, peer-reviewed, primary materials). The background information included
must be appropriately referenced (see the section on how to cite references).
Think of the Introduction as a funnel. Start by stating a very broad topic,
problem, area of study, etc. You might first discuss the general problem or theory
pertaining to the problem you are studying. From this broad introduction, focus down to
your specific research topic and project.
The final paragraph of your introduction should include a statement of the
hypothesis you have investigated and your predictions. A hypothesis is a broad
general statement of causality for a biological pattern or observation. It is usually a good
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idea to start a sentence in this paragraph with “We hypothesized that x affects y…” or “It
was hypothesized that x affects y…” The hypothesis is usually non-directional and
usually states a general “effect” and not that something “increases” or “decreases.” Also
include specific prediction statements. A prediction is usually directional, i.e. “We
predicted that if x (increased/decreased)… ., then y would (increase/decrease)…” State
the specific question(s) you are attempting to answer, a brief introduction/justification of
the general method used, and how your investigation will help clarify or expand the
knowledge in the general area.
Methods
In this section, you explain the type of data gathered or the experiment in sufficient detail
that it could be repeated. Avoid unnecessary details and include only information that is
necessary to complete the experiment or gather the data. The experimental design, apparatus,
procedures of gathering and analyzing data, types of control, etc., should be described. If
standard procedures are used, cite the reference and describe only the modifications made (if
any).
When experiments are conducted outdoors, you should describe the factors that may
influence the results of the investigation such as location of the study site, the weather, etc. If
any specimens were collected for the investigation, you should state how, where and when that
material was collected. Photographs, maps, and diagrams (all presented as figures) can be used
as an aid in describing the experimental procedures.
Write the Methods section in the past tense. It should not be written as if it were directions
in a laboratory manual; therefore, do not make a list of materials, do not give instructions on
how to do something, and do not recount your methods as a sequence of events. Rather, you
should focus on the experimental design.
For example, do not write:
For this experiment you will need the following equipment: six petri plates, one liter of agar, and one
inoculating loop. First pour agar into the six petri plates, then inoculate the plates with a fungus using the
inoculating loop. Then you put the plates into the incubator.
An acceptable manner to convey the same idea as above is:
Six petri plates were prepared with agar, inoculated with an inoculating loop, and placed in the incubator
for ten hours at 37oC.