Important Instruction for the Person Writing This Report
The lab report you are writing must be based on the fermentation lab manual and , as well as the experimental results provided in the attached image. The background information, procedures, and experimental design must come from the lab manual, while all results, graphs, and analysis must be based on the data from the image.
General Formatting and Submission Guidelines
All lab reports must be written using Times New Roman, 12-point font, and must be double-spaced with 1-inch margins on all sides. Every page must be numbered in the bottom right corner. The total length of the written sections (Introduction through Discussion) should be 5–7 pages, but figures, tables, and references do NOT count toward this page limit.
You must write in complete sentences, using correct grammar and spelling. Before submitting, you are expected to proofread carefully, using spell-check and grammar-check tools to eliminate errors.
Academic Integrity Rules
This is an individual assignment:
- You may discuss the experiment with others, but
- You must write your own report, create your own tables/graphs, and find your own sources
- Do NOT copy from other students or online sources
- Do NOT cite Wikipedia or encyclopedias
Plagiarism results in at minimum a zero, and possibly failure of the course.
Report Setup
On the first page header, include: (just write name and Lab and I'll change it)
- name
- lab section #
Title
Your title must be:
- Specific
- Descriptive
- Concise
- Written like a scientific paper title
It must include:
- The organism (yeast)
- The factor being tested (biofuel substrate)
- The main result
Do NOT use generic titles like “Lab Report” or “Fermentation Lab.”
Required Sections
You must include exactly these five section headings, spelled out:
- Introduction
- Materials and Methods
- Results
- Discussion and Conclusion
- References
1. Introduction (Write in present tense)
Your introduction should clearly build background and lead into your experiment.
Include the following:
a) Biofuels Background
Explain:
- What biofuels are
- Why they are important (alternative energy sources)
- Examples and/or global usage
Include scientific citations.
b) Yeast Fermentation Background
Explain:
- What alcoholic fermentation is
- How yeast produces CO₂ and ethanol
c) Research Gap and Purpose
Explain:
- What is still unknown
- Why your experiment matters
Clearly state:
- The goal of your experiment
d) Hypothesis
State a general hypothesis, for example:
- Which biofuel substrate will ferment most efficiently
e) Prediction + Experimental Overview
Briefly:
- Describe how the experiment was done
- State a specific prediction (which condition produces the most CO₂)
Important Writing Rules
- Use citations throughout (Author, Year format)
- Example: (Smith, 2020)
- NO direct quotes
- Present tense for background, past tense for previous studies
2. Materials and Methods (Past tense, passive voice)
This section must allow someone to replicate your experiment exactly.
Rules:
- Do NOT use bullet points
- Do NOT list materials separately
- Write everything as a continuous procedure
Include:
a) Materials
- All reagents, organisms, and equipment
- Include concentrations and sources if applicable
b) Controls
- Positive control
- Negative control
- Explain WHY each was used
c) Variables
Clearly identify:
- Independent variable
- Dependent variable
- Controlled variables
d) Procedure and Data Analysis
Explain:
- Step-by-step experimental process
- How data was collected
- How data was analyzed (including statistics)
Writing Style:
- Passive voice
-
Past tense
Example: “Flasks were incubated at 37°C.”
3. Results (NO interpretation here)
a) Summary Paragraph
Describe:
- Major trends and patterns
- Increases or decreases in values
DO NOT:
- Explain why results occurred
- Draw conclusions
b) Figures and Tables
You must include:
Graphs
- Line graph → CO₂ production over time
- Bar graph → mean rate of CO₂ production
Optional:
- Image of experimental tubes
Table
- Must include averages and standard deviations
c) Referencing Figures
In your text:
- (Fig. 1), (Table 1), etc.
d) Labeling
All figures/tables must:
- Have descriptive titles
- Include a legend explaining what is shown
e) Data Flow
Show progression:
- Raw data → summarized data → graphs
f) Excel Note
If error bars look identical → use custom error bars
4. Discussion and Conclusion
a) State Findings
- Was your hypothesis supported or not?
b) Interpret Results
Explain:
- What your data means
- Refer back to figures and tables
c) Compare to Literature
- Compare your results to published studies
- Use peer-reviewed sources
- At least 2 primary sources
d) Limitations
Explain:
- What went wrong
- Weaknesses in design
- What could be improved
e) Future Experiments
Propose:
- Specific follow-up experiments
- Clearly defined variables
f) Broader Significance
Discuss:
- Biofuel sustainability
- Real-world implications
Rules:
- NO quotes
- Must paraphrase and cite sources
5. References
Requirements:
-
Minimum 5 sources
- At least 3 primary research articles
- Prefer recent papers (last 10–20 years)
- Only 1 source can be pre-1990
NOT allowed:
- Websites
- Textbooks
- Lab manuals
Formatting:
- APA style
- Alphabetical order
In-text citations:
- 3+ authors → (Author et al., Year)
Grading Breakdown (50 points total)
Title (2 points)
- Complete sentence
- Includes biofuels + yeast fermentation
Introduction (8 points)
- Biofuels background
- Fermentation background
- Goals/significance
- Hypothesis
- Prediction
- Experimental overview
Materials and Methods (8 points)
- Clear procedure
- All materials
- All variables
- All treatments
Results (8 points)
- Graphs + tables labeled
- Includes averages + standard deviation
- Clear legends
- Trends described
Discussion (8 points)
- Hypothesis evaluation
- Literature comparison
- Errors/improvements
- Future experiments
- Conclusion
References (6 points)
- ≥5 citations
- Correct in-text citations
- Proper APA formatting
Grammar & Organization (8 points)
- Minimal errors
- Clear structure
- Scientific writing style
- Logical flow
Deductions
- Late submission: –5 to –10 points
- Poor paraphrasing: –2 per section
- Using quotes: –2 per section
- Plagiarism: –50 points (automatic zero)