Gen Bio – Hypotheses and Sources
INSTRUCTIONS
Format
- ion:Two important parts of a scientific lab report are the hypothesis you formulate and the sources you use tosupport your ideas. This assignment is designed to help you build the foundational skills necessary forscientific writing, with a specific focus on developing essential skills in hypothesis writing and using peer-reviewed literature. Follow the steps below to complete.Submission Instructions:Upload a typed submission as PDF or Word doc to the D2L assignment folder.Required Reading/Viewing: (All resources are located in the Scientific Lab Reports module.)• Read: Formulating Hypotheses, Peer-Reviewed Sources, and APA Guidelines• Watch: How to APA: In-text Citations and How to APA: Reference PageAssignment Requirements:1. Choose a Problem Statement: Select one of the following problem statements to serve as thefoundation for your hypothesis.o Does the amount of caffeine consumed impact reaction time?o Does the amount of salt added to ice affect how quickly it melts?o Under what conditions (darkness or light) does mold grow faster on bread?o Does the temperature of water affect the speed at which sugar dissolves?o Does the amount of light affect the speed at which bananas ripen?2. Identify Variables & Write a Hypothesis:o Identify the independent and dependent variables based on the chosen problem statement.o Create a testable hypothesis. Review Formulating Hypotheses for guidance.3. Find and Cite a Peer-Reviewed Source:o Use the SCTCC library to locate a peer-reviewed article relevant to your problem statement.o Materials obtained outside the library are not permitted.o Include:▪ Full Citation: Provide the full citation in APA format, including the DOI. The library's "CopyCitation" tool can assist with formatting but ensure APA style is selected.▪ In-text Citation: Demonstrate proper APA in-text citation format for your source. Examples:• One author: (Author last name, year)• Two authors: (First author last name & Second author last name, year)• Three or more authors: (First author last name et al., year)o Provide a brief explanation of how the source supports or relates to your hypothesis.4. Document Layout & Writing Mechanics:o Use 11 or 12 pt font in Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman.o Your writing should be clear, concise, and free of spelling or grammatical errors.5. Academic Integrity:o All submissions must represent your own work. Ensure that any paraphrased information isproperly cited, and do not copy text directly from the source.
Gen Bio – Hypotheses and Sources Page 2 of 2 Example Information: Required Elements Example Information Problem statement: Does temperature affect the activity of amylase? Dependent variable: amylase activity Independent variable: temperature Hypothesis: If temperature increases, then the activity of the enzyme amylase will also increase. Full Citation for a Relevant Peer- Reviewed Source: Miłek, J. (2021). Determination of Activation Energies and the Optimum Temperatures of Hydrolysis of Starch by α -Amylase from Porcine Pancreas. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland), 26(14), 4117-. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26144117 In-text Citation: (Milek, 2021) How the Source Relates: The article I chose specifically evaluated enzyme activity of amylase at varying temperatures. Things to consider After you have written your hypothesis and found a relevant peer-reviewed source, review your submission for the following: • Is your hypothesis clear and testable? Ensure that it directly addresses the chosen problem statement and outlines a clear cause-and-effect relationship between the variables. • Have you identified both independent and dependent variables? Make sure the independent variable is something you can manipulate, and the dependent variable is something you can measure or observe. • Did you properly cite your peer-reviewed source? Double-check that both the in-text citation and the full APA citation are accurate, including the DOI. • Is the source relevant to your hypothesis? Ensure that the peer-reviewed article you found supports or helps explain the relationship between the variables in your hypothesis. It should provide context for your experiment. • Did you provide enough detail in your explanation of the source? Your explanation of how the source supports your hypothesis should be specific and well-connected to your hypothesis, not just a vague summary of the article. • Did you follow all formatting guidelines and check for errors? Ensure the document is typed in the correct font, size, and spacing, with consistent APA citation style. Additionally, review your work for clarity, spelling, and grammatical errors to ensure it is polished and professional.