Posted: April 28th, 2020
Sci 207 week 5 assignment
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Ashford 7: – Week 5 – Final Lab Report
Final Lab Report
You are required to write a complete laboratory report that covers all three experiments for “Lab 2: Water Quality and Contamination,” using knowledge gained throughout the course. To begin, download the Final Lab Report Template and utilize this form to ensure proper formatting and inclusion of all required material. Additionally, view the Sample Final Lab Report before beginning this assignment, which will illustrate what a Final Lab Report should look like. You must use at least four scholarly sources and your lab manual to support your points. The report must be six to ten pages in length (excluding the title and reference pages) and formatted according to APA style. For information regarding APA samples and tutorials, visit the Ashford Writing Center, located within the Learning Resources tab on the left navigation toolbar.
The Final Lab Report must contain the following eight sections in this order:
- Title Page – This page must include the title of your report, your name, course name, instructor, and date submitted.
- Abstract – This section should provide a brief summary of the methods, results, and conclusions. It should allow the reader to see what was done, how it was done, and the results. It should not exceed 200 words and should be the last part written (although it should still appear right after the title page).
- Introduction – This section should include background information on water quality and an overview of why the experiment was conducted. It should first contain background information of similar studies previously conducted. This is accomplished by citing existing literature from similar experiments. Secondly, it should provide an objective or a reason why the experiment is being done. Why do we want to know the answer to the question we are asking? Finally, it should end with all three hypotheses from your Week Two experiments. These hypotheses should not be adjusted to reflect the “right” answer. Simply place your previous hypotheses in the report here. You do not lose points for an inaccurate hypothesis; scientists often revise their hypotheses based on scientific evidence following the experiments.
- Materials and Methods – This section should provide a detailed description of the materials used in your experiment and how they were used. A step-by-step rundown of your experiment is necessary; however, it should be done in paragraph form, not in a list format. The description should be exact enough to allow for someone reading the report to replicate the experiment, however, it should be in your own words and not simply copied and pasted from the lab manual.
- Results – This section should include the data and observations from the experiment. All tables and graphs should be present in this section. In addition to the tables, you must describe the data in text; however, there should be no personal opinions or discussion outside of the results located within this area.
- Discussion – This section should interpret your data and provide conclusions. Discuss the meanings of your findings in this area. Was your hypothesis accepted or rejected, and how are you able to determine this? Did the results generate any future questions that might benefit from a new experiment? Were there any outside factors (i.e., temperature, contaminants, time of day) that affected your results? If so, how could you control for these in the future?
- Conclusions – This section should provide a brief summary of your work.
- References – List references used in APA format as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.
Carefully review the Grading Rubric for the criteria that will be used to evaluate your assignment.
SCI207.W5A1.08.2013
Description:
Total Possible Score: 25.00
Title Page
Total: 0.50
Distinguished – Provides a title page that includes the title of the report, course name, student’s name, instructor, and date submitted.
Proficient – Provides a title page that is missing one required component.
Basic – Provides a title page that is missing two required components.
Below Expectations – Provides a title page that is missing three or four required components.
Non-Performance – Fails to provide a title page.
Abstract
Total: 1.25
Distinguished – Provides an abstract that accurately summarizes the methods, results, and conclusions of the Week Two Laboratory.
Proficient – Provides an abstract that summarizes the methods, results, and conclusions of the Week Two Laboratory. Minor details are missing or inaccurate.
Basic – Provides an abstract that summarizes the methods, results, and conclusions of the Week Two Laboratory. Intermediate details are missing or extraneous information is present.
Below Expectations – Provides an abstract that summarizes the Week Two Laboratory, but major details of the methods, results, or conclusions are missing and/or excessive information is present.
Non-Performance – Fails to provide an abstract that summarizes the Week Two Laboratory.
Introduction
Total: 3.50
Distinguished – Provides a thorough introduction that includes background on the topic, an objective of the study, and a hypothesis for each of the three experiments. The introduction is at least three paragraphs long and fully supported with information from scholarly sources.
Proficient – Provides an introduction that includes background on the topic, an objective of the study, and a hypothesis for each of the three experiments. The introduction is at least three paragraphs long and supported with information from scholarly sources. Minimal improvement is needed through additional detail, enhancement of source material, and/or rewording of hypotheses.
Basic – Provides an introduction that includes background on the topic, an objective of the study, and a hypothesis for each of the three experiments. The introduction is at least partially supported with information from scholarly sources. Moderate improvement is needed through additional detail, enhancement of source material, and/or rewording of hypotheses
Below Expectations – Provides an introduction, but it requires major revisions to background and source material, objectives, or hypotheses. One or more of the required components may be missing.
Non-Performance – Introduction fails to include the required components including background on the topic, an objective of the study, and a hypothesis for each of the three experiments.
Materials and Methods
Total: 3.50
Distinguished – Provides a materials and methods section that thoroughly details in one’s own words how to repeat the experiments from the Week Two Laboratory.
Proficient – Provides a materials and methods section that thoroughly details in one’s own words how to repeat the experiments from the Week Two Laboratory. Minor details are missing or some excessive information is present.
Basic – Provides a materials and methods section that details in one’s own words how to repeat the experiments from the Week Two Laboratory. Intermediate details are missing or excessive information is present, limiting the repeatability of the experiments.
Below Expectations – Provides a materials and methods section, but major detail is missing, significantly limiting the repeatability of the experiments, or steps are largely copied from the lab manual.
Non-Performance – Fails to provide a materials and methods section.
Results
Total: 3.50
Distinguished – Provides a thorough results section that includes all of the tables utilized in the laboratory as well as at least one paragraph describing the data.
Proficient – Provides a results section that includes all of the tables utilized in the laboratory as well as at least one paragraph describing the data. Minor errors are present in the tables or details are missing or inaccurate in the description.
Basic – Provides a results section that includes all of the tables utilized in the laboratory as well as at least one paragraph describing the data. Moderate errors are present in the tables, details are missing or inaccurate in the description, or personal opinions are included.
Below Expectations – Provides a results section that includes tables utilized in the laboratory as well as a description of the data. Major errors or omissions are present in the tables, details are missing or inaccurate in the description, and/or personal opinions are included.
Non-Performance – Fails to include data tables or a description of the data presented.
Discussion
Total: 3.50
Distinguished – Provides a thorough discussion that addresses whether the hypotheses were accepted or rejected, the meaning of the findings, future studies generated from the results, outside factors impacting the results, and methods to control these confounding variables. The discussion is at least three paragraphs long and fully supported with information from scholarly sources.
Proficient – Provides a discussion that addresses whether the hypotheses were accepted or rejected, the meaning of the findings, future studies generated from the results, outside factors impacting the results, and methods to control these confounding variables. The discussion is at least three paragraphs long and supported with information from scholarly sources. Minimal improvement is needed through additional detail, enhancement of source material, and/or correction of minor inaccuracies.
Basic – Provides a discussion that addresses whether the hypotheses were accepted or rejected, the meaning of the findings, future studies generated from the results, outside factors impacting the results, and methods to control these confounding variables. The discussion is at least partially supported with information from scholarly sources. Moderate improvement is needed through additional detail, enhancement of source material, and/or correction of inaccuracies.
Below Expectations – Provides a discussion, but it requires major revisions to the content and source material, and/or correction of significant inaccuracies. One or more of the required components may be missing
Non-Performance – Discussion fails to include the required components, including whether the hypotheses were accepted or rejected, the meaning of the findings, future studies generated from the results, outside factors impacting the results, and methods to control these confounding variables.
Conclusion
Total: 1.25
Distinguished – Provides a conclusion that thoroughly and accurately summarizes all three experiments and reiterates key findings.
Proficient – Provides a conclusion that summarizes all three experiments and reiterates key findings. Minimal improvement is needed to accurately summarize the experiments.
Basic – Provides a conclusion that summarizes all three experiments and reiterates key findings. Moderate improvement is needed to accurately summarize the experiments.
Below Expectations – Provides a conclusion that summarizes the experiments, but may not reiterate key findings. Significant improvement is needed to accurately summarize the experiments.
Non-Performance – Fails to provide a conclusion that summarizes all three experiments.
Written Communication: Control of Syntax and Mechanics
Total: 2.00
Distinguished – Displays meticulous comprehension and organization of syntax and mechanics, such as spelling and grammar. Written work contains no errors, and is very easy to understand.
Proficient – Displays comprehension and organization of syntax and mechanics, such as spelling and grammar. Written work contains only a few minor errors, and is mostly easy to understand.
Basic – Displays basic comprehension of syntax and mechanics, such as spelling and grammar. Written work contains a few errors, which may slightly distract the reader.
Below Expectations – Fails to display basic comprehension of syntax or mechanics, such as spelling and grammar. Written work contains major errors, which distract the reader.
Non-Performance – The assignment is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the instructions.
Resource Requirement
Total: 4.00
Distinguished – Uses more than the required number of scholarly sources, providing compelling evidence to support ideas. All sources on the reference page are used and cited correctly within the body of the assignment.
Proficient – Uses required number of scholarly sources to support ideas. All sources on the reference page are used and cited correctly within the body of the assignment.
Basic – Uses less than the required number of sources to support ideas. Some sources may not be scholarly. Most sources on the reference page are used within the body of the assignment. Citations may not be formatted correctly.
Below Expectations – Uses inadequate number of sources that provide little or no support for ideas. Sources used may not be scholarly. Most sources on the reference page are not used within the body of the assignment. Citations are not formatted correctly.
Non-Performance – The assignment is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the instructions.
APA Formatting
Total: 1.00
Distinguished – Accurately uses APA formatting consistently throughout the paper, title page, and reference page.
Proficient – Exhibits APA formatting throughout the paper. However, layout contains a few minor errors.
Basic – Exhibits basic knowledge of APA formatting throughout the paper. However, layout does not meet all APA requirements.
Below Expectations – Fails to exhibit basic knowledge of APA formatting. There are frequent errors, making the layout difficult to distinguish as APA.
Non-Performance – The assignment is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the instructions.
Page Requirement
Total: 1.00
Distinguished – The length of the paper is equivalent to the required number of correctly formatted pages.
Proficient – The length of the paper is nearly equivalent to the required number of correctly formatted pages.
Basic – The length of the paper is equivalent to at least three quarters of the required number of correctly formatted pages.
Below Expectations – The length of the paper is equivalent to at least one half of the required number of correctly formatted pages.
Non-Performance – The assignment is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the instructions.
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