Chemistry
Paper details:

When writing a procedure section, the text of the experiment you are following is of critical importance. The purpose is not to copy the written material but to state what really happened in the lab. Use your lab manual as a guide, but describe the experiment as it actually occurred including reasons for the individual steps. Avoid plagiarism by following the format described below and mildly rewording the written instructions.

Procedure sections are written in many different formats. We will use a method commonly used in chemical literature. Write the procedure using a past tense, third person, passive voice format. The following sentence is a sample sentence:

Following the titration, sodium hydroxide (0.5 g) was added to the mixture. The sodium hydroxide, a base, neutralized the acidic mixture.

Notice the explanation for the procedural step. After every step in the process, use a sentence to explain why that step was taken. Notice also how the amount of substance was recorded. Using parentheses to offset the amount reduces the potential clutter in the procedure section. However, use correct names for pieces of glassware without parentheses. For example, “a 250 ml Erlenmeyer flask was used.” Also, do NOT start any sentences with a number. This assignment will only allow a limited number of words. Carefully paraphrase the procedure given to allow for explanations of the individual steps. Assume the reader knows how to perform the steps, so detailed explanations are not necessary.

Assignment: Write a procedural section for the lab “DNA – God’s Ultimate Design.” Use a passive, past tense, third person format explaining the purpose for each step. Do not forget – do not start any sentence with a number!!!

1. Is the procedure section written in the past tense?

2. Is the procedure section written in the passive voice? (Include phrases similar to: ‘Then’ this ‘was’ that. In other words, written in a boring-to-read style!)

3. Is the section written in third-person format?

4. Are the amounts of chemical compounds used given in parentheses after the chemical name? For example, sodium carbonate (0.25 g)

5. Are there any sentences that begin with a number? (This is a bad thing.)

6. Does each procedural step include a reason why that step was needed?

7. Is the reasoning given for each of the procedural steps reasonable?

Chemistry
Paper details:

When writing a procedure section, the text of the experiment you are following is of critical importance. The purpose is not to copy the written material but to state what really happened in the lab. Use your lab manual as a guide, but describe the experiment as it actually occurred including reasons for the individual steps. Avoid plagiarism by following the format described below and mildly rewording the written instructions.

Procedure sections are written in many different formats. We will use a method commonly used in chemical literature. Write the procedure using a past tense, third person, passive voice format. The following sentence is a sample sentence:

Following the titration, sodium hydroxide (0.5 g) was added to the mixture. The sodium hydroxide, a base, neutralized the acidic mixture.

Notice the explanation for the procedural step. After every step in the process, use a sentence to explain why that step was taken. Notice also how the amount of substance was recorded. Using parentheses to offset the amount reduces the potential clutter in the procedure section. However, use correct names for pieces of glassware without parentheses. For example, “a 250 ml Erlenmeyer flask was used.” Also, do NOT start any sentences with a number. This assignment will only allow a limited number of words. Carefully paraphrase the procedure given to allow for explanations of the individual steps. Assume the reader knows how to perform the steps, so detailed explanations are not necessary.

Assignment: Write a procedural section for the lab “DNA – God’s Ultimate Design.” Use a passive, past tense, third person format explaining the purpose for each step. Do not forget – do not start any sentence with a number!!!

1. Is the procedure section written in the past tense?

2. Is the procedure section written in the passive voice? (Include phrases similar to: ‘Then’ this ‘was’ that. In other words, written in a boring-to-read style!)

3. Is the section written in third-person format?

4. Are the amounts of chemical compounds used given in parentheses after the chemical name? For example, sodium carbonate (0.25 g)

5. Are there any sentences that begin with a number? (This is a bad thing.)

6. Does each procedural step include a reason why that step was needed?

7. Is the reasoning given for each of the procedural steps reasonable?