Action Potential and Ulnar Nerve Conduction>

•        Make notes about what each section will contain, then go back and fill in from there
• Start with your results (this will make things easier for you in this case)
o Note the base data you have
o Note each concept you will need to explain in your introduction to allow the reader to understand your results
§ Note the terms you will need to define
§ Note the relationships between terms or concepts you will need to introduce and explain
§ Don’t forget that you may need to introduce concepts you will use as the basis for you conclusions as well
o Note each conclusion you want to draw from your data in your discussion section
o Look for sources to support your statements in both your introduction and discussion
Organize your data to present it clearly:
•        Consider your conclusions before organizing your data for its final presentation
o You want the overall organization of your results to provide a logical flow
§ You will need to refer back to your data in your conclusions
§ Avoid having your data randomly arranged, try to keep it in a logical flow
§ If you are drawing specific comparisons between data points, it would be good to have those points closely related
in a single table, graph, or figure to allow the reader to easily refer back to them and see the relationships you are
referring to
• You want your data to be clear and concise in both text and table form.
o Don’t make tables that are more complicated than they have to be
§ Sometimes it can’t be avoided, but nothing we are doing would require that much complexity
o Don’t spread your data across multiple tables if a single one will allow for a quicker or easier comparison
§ Having the numbers side by side in clearly labeled rows or columns often provides a quick view of the differences
§ Even if you have multiple tables of data, a unified graph may provide a good comparison as well
• Often a graphical presentation is the best way to demonstrate relationships between data
o Be sure to organize and label the tables clearly so they are easily understood
§ Provide a clear and concise title for each table
§ Provide a clear and concise title for each row or column
§ Provide all units
Proofread your report or have someone else proofread it for you. (having an outside person read over it is the best option)
•        If possible, have someone else read through your report and mark anything that stands out
o Any grammar errors
o Confusing or bad phrasing
o Concepts that are presented but not defined or explained
o Numbers that don’t look right (this requires someone who already knows what you are talking about)
o Tables or figures that are confusing
You must support your statements:
•        Consider why we cite outside sources
o To rely on the authority or expertise of someone else
o To give due credit for previous work
• The more solidly you can support the statements you make, the better the report is
o You need either solid logic or an outside source to support your reasoning
o Ask yourself: How do I know this is true?
• Common knowledge does not need support
• Fire is hot, water is wet, the sky is blue
• Empirical observation does not need support, just description
• The subject was observed to be breathing
• Concepts and terminology should be supported and/or explained
• Tidal volume is the volume of air moved into and out of the lungs during quite breathing (Author, year).
• The subject’s reduced total lung capacity may have been caused by years of smoking (Author, year).
Evaluation of Group Member Contributions to Collaborative Lab Report