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SvS Biology 2003
Spinning another Web


An Amateur's Guide to writing up Practical Assessments:
remember to adapt to the needs and demands of the specific practical or report that you are undertaking!
(sometimes you will need to do all of this, and other times you may use a more basic form)

Presentation of a complete report includes (but is not limited to):

Title page  
indicates your name, an appropriate title, your teacher's name and the date set and due

Contents Page
includes page number references for ALL inclusions

Introduction
outlines the study: (can also be called an "Abstract") 


           this is essentially a synopsis of the whole practical:
                       -    state the aim(s)/hypothesis of the study
                       -    provide relevant background information (in some cases this should be the main focus)
                       -    give a basic outline of how it was investigated
                       -    summarize the results briefly
                       -    report your conclusion           

Aim(s)
identifies what the practical is attempting to achieve

           usually begins with leading phrases such as:
                        -    To determine
                        -    To observe
                        -    To compare
                        -    To demonstrate
            and then often refers to other rudimentary lines of study such as:
                        -    the effect of
                        -    the relationship between
   
                

Hypothesis
a concise and testable statement that can be proven right or wrong

Equipment
best done as a list of all materials needed, including the quantities where relevant

Method(s)
a clear and succinct description of the procedures followed

         
          -    consider doing this in point form
                     -     be clear and concise, and remember that if someone else can't use your
                           descriptors to identically repeat your investigation, it is insufficient
                     -    identify your controls
                     -    include the ability to repeat (and hence develop an average for) events

         

Results  
concisely reports and compiles the data indicated above. You should consider incorporating some of the following ideas:

                            -    tables (of raw data or to show correlations)
                            -    charts (pie charts, scattergrams etc)
                            -    diagrams
                            -    graphs
                            -    photographs

            do NOT attempt to explain any of the results in this section (that comes next!)
            and of course, everything should be clearly and accurately labelled...
            and naturally, you'll have included units in appropriate areas, scales and all relevant data...

Discussion
addresses the key findings of your investigation's results. In separate paragraphs, your discussion could function to:

                        -    state what the results indicate
                        -     make inferences about what the results might mean
                        -    state the implications of your findings (as in how it might have an effect in certain examples)
                        -    offer any links between various facts discovered
                        -    address any questions posed
                        -    evaluate identify the shortcomings of the practical's methods or findings
                        -    make recommendations as to improvements for the practical


Conclusion  
briefly summarizes the study, usually referring to the Hypothesis and whether it was supported or rejected, and a reason for that outcome.

References
All resources used should be correctly cited in this section, including the author, date of publication, title of publication or article, publisher's details and proposed pages.

The format for referencing varies depending upon the type of resource used. Generally speaking, the most acceptable method of listing your resources is the Harvard System of Referencing. The methods are shown to you clearly below. Further help can be obtained from http://www.radford.act.edu.au/academic/the_library/referencing.html

Books:
Author's last name, initials (date of publication). Title of the book. City of publication: Publishing company's name. [pages used]

Books by editors:
Editor's last name, initials (ed.) (date of publication). Title of the book. City of publication: Publishing company's name. [pages used]

CD ROMs:
Author's last name, initials (date of publication). Title of the CD ROM.  City of publication: Publishing company's name. [CD ROM]
or if it's an encyclopaedia on CD ROM then:
Title of article used. (date of publication) In Name of CD ROM. Country initials: Company's name.  [CD ROM]

Encyclopaedias:
Title of article used. (date of publication) in Name of Encyclopaedia City of publication: Publishing company's name.

Email:
Author's last name, initials. (email address) Date email was written. Subject of email.

Journal Articles:
Author's last name, initials (year of publication). Title of Article. Title of the journal. Journal number, Journal date, pages used.

Newspaper Articles:
Title of Article. (Article date) Author's last name, initials  Title of the newspaper: page number.

Video:
Series title. Episode title. (year of publication) City of publication: Broadcasting company. Date of broadcast. [video format]

WWW:
Author's last name, initials. (date written or date accessed) Title of Webpage. Company or organisation. Available from: http://www.whatevertheaddressis.com     Online

Appendix
Any additional materials should be included; such as information gathered, rough notes, handouts, assignment details. If there is more than one item here, an index should be used either at the start of the appendix or ideally in the contents page.

 

Presentation:

Finally, think about how you will present your work:
typed or handwritten?
in a folder or stapled?
is it aesthetically pleasing?
can things be easily found in it?
do you have loose bits of paper floating about in there?


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Email me at: svs@radford.act.edu.au to post questions

S. van Strien

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