Lab Synopsis Writing Tips

Testable Question:
Always identify what the INDEPENDENT (what will be manipulated) and DEPENDENT variables (what
will be measured) are before writing.
Include the INDEPENDENT and DEPENDENT variables in the TQ.
Avoid words like “change” and “effect” and use words like “increase”, “decrease”
Start with “Will” or “Does”, rather than “How”
● Does​ growing duckweed in the ​absence of light​ lead to ​decreased​ growth in the ​population ​of
duckweed when compared to duckweed grown in ​full sunlight​ over a period of ​14 days​?
● NOT CORRECT VERSION ​vs. How will the lack of light affect the growth of duckweed?

Hypothesis:
IF…INDEP VAR manipulated in specific way, THEN…DEP VAR will respond in a specific way.
REASONING.
Reasoning is explained in a SEPARATE SENTENCE/S. (Don’t go into so much detail here that you steal
the thunder of your explanation)

Graph:
Choosing the right kind of graph to make:
Number vs. Number = ​LINE​ graph Ex: Temperature vs. Time
Number vs. Category = ​BAR​ graph (column in Excel) Ex: Change in Mass vs. Substance
Acceptable y vs. x title: ​Number of Duckweed over Time​ (y-axis vs. x-axis type of title)
Descriptive title: ​Population of Duckweed grown in Pond Water and Salt Water over a 14 Day Period
NEVER​ use the title of the lab as a title of the graph!

Results:
Do ​NOT​ include methods / procedure / how the lab was conducted.
Remind yourself what the specific testable question was.
Then, manipulate the RAW DATA (actual data collected in the lab) in a meaningful way (perform
some calculations, see below) to give a meaningful answer to the TESTABLE QUESTION.

● AVERAGE (mean) = ​Sum of all numbers (ex: for when there are multiple trials)
Number of numbers

● PERCENT = ​ PART ​TT​ x 100 (ex: for % frequency)

WHOLE

● PERCENT CHANGE = (​Final value – Initial value​) x 100 (ex: change in dep var over course of expt)
Initial value

THEN use raw data points to emphasize the results AFTER the discussion of the
calculated values (above).
If any data was UNEXPECTED OR PERHAPS AN OUTLIER, note it in the results as such.
Explanation:
Hypothesis is “​accepted​” or “​supported​ ​by the data​” or “​rejected​” or “​not supported by the data​”.
● Hypotheses are ​NOT​ “​right​”, “​correct​”, or “​proven​”.

Use the brainstormed list of ​vocabulary ​terms to write a rich explanation that demonstrates that you
have a ​sophisticated​ understanding of the topic (that earns you the 5). Strive to incorporate and use
appropriately ​all / an abundance​ of the vocabulary terms.

If the results / data were unexpected, this is where you should state WHY. What is it that you know
about the subject (using appropriate vocabulary) that would lead you to think it should have turned
out differently.
This is ​NOT​ an explanation of human error or experimental error.

Connection:
Extra Credit​: if you feel you are ready for this section, ask me for further explanation

Other Stuff:
REMOVE all references to 1​st​ person (​I, me, my, we, us, our​) or 2​nd​ person (you, your).
“data” = plural (“the data were”; NOT “the data was”)
E​ffect = noun A​ffect = verb
Lab Synopses are meant to be about ​1-2 pages long​ (single spaced)…NOT A NOVEL!
IN THE WORDS OF MRS. BESSY----PRECISE AND CONCISE!

Mrs. Bessy’s Advice:

Be proactive. Don’t procrastinate. Ask clarifying questions right away.
See me during flex block if you need help.
Try to apply the feedback from one LS to the next one you write, even if it’s on a different topic. In
edu-speak this is known as “transference” (can you transfer knowledge or skill gained in one area to
another area?)
YOU WILL GET BETTER AT THIS!