Making and Keeping a Lab Notebook
List of Things That Should Be in the Non-Majors’ Biol. Lab 1 Notebook
- Syllabus
- all handout pages (in notebook or separate protocol book)
- First Day of Lab
- all notes you take, entered directly into the notebook
- map of the lab room with safety features noted (which way is
north?)
- How to Succeed
- all handout pages (in notebook or separate protocol book)
- any notes/comments of your own that indicate you’ve read,
understand, and will make your very best effort to try to comply with
the information presented in the handout
- Lab Notebook How-To
- all handout pages, including the sample gradesheet
(in notebook or separate protocol book)
- all notes you take the first day on how to keep a notebook,
entered directly into the notebook
- annotated drawing (your own!) of notebook page set-up
- the notebook, itself, properly set-up and ready to go
- all notebook gradesheets, after returned to you (if placed
elsewhere, make sure to cross-reference to the protocol)
- all notes you take the day graded notebooks are returned
(improvements/changes you need to make, etc.)
- Spontaneous Generation
- all handout pages should be in by the first notebook grading
regardless of if we have done the lab or not (we may use this as an
“emergency” rainy-day lab)
- if we do the lab, include all notes you take during the
introductory mini-lecture
- if we do the lab, include all notes and data you gather as you
perform the experiment
- if we do the lab, include drawing (yours!) of your
flasks/lids
- if we do the lab, include answers to all discussion questions, a
summary/conclusion in your own words, and any suggestions you may
have
- any returned, graded pop quiz
- Graph Construction
- all handout pages (in notebook or separate protocol book)
- all notes you take and “how-to” drawings that you make as we
discuss how to construct a graph
- graphs of pertinent lab data, when requested by a particular
protocol, should also be cross-referenced to this protocol
- Use of Binoculars
- all handout pages should be in by the first notebook grading
regardless of if we have discussed them, yet, or not
- if/when we discuss binocular use, all notes that you take and all
drawings you make
- Observations vs. Conclusions
- all handout pages should be in by the first notebook grading
regardless of if we have done the lab or not (we’ll use this as an
“emergency” rainy-day lab)
- if we do the lab, include all your notes and data
- if we do the lab, a drawing of your organism
- if we do the lab, answers to all discussion questions, a
summary/conclusion in your own words, and any suggestions you may
have
- if assigned, the peanut butter writing assignment (after returned
to you)
- Accuracy and Precision
- all handout pages (in notebook or separate protocol book)
- all notes you take during the introductory mini-lecture
- all notes and data you gather as you perform the experiment
- all requested calculations based on those data
- print-out of class data
- drawing (yours!) of meniscus
- drawing of balance with detail of the markings on the beams
- drawing of 250-mL beaker with lines appropriately placed
- drawing of 100-mL graduated cylinder with lines appropriately
placed
- drawing of 100-mL volumetric flask with all markings
- answers to all discussion questions, a summary/conclusion in your
own words, and any suggestions you may have
- any returned, graded pop quiz
- pH of Common Substances
- all handout pages (in notebook or separate protocol book)
- all notes you take during the introductory mini-lecture
- all notes and data you gather as you perform the experiment
- print-out of class data
- drawing of pH meter with detail of markings on meter face and
knobs
- drawing of combination electrode
- sample(s) of pH paper strips you used
- answers to all discussion questions, a summary/conclusion in your
own words, and any suggestions you may have
- any returned, graded pop quiz
- Sugar in Soft Drinks
- all handout pages (in notebook or separate protocol book)
- all notes you take during the introductory mini-lecture
- all notes and data you gather as you perform the experiment
- all requested calculations based on those data
- print-out of class data
- drawing of thermometer used with detail of the actual markings and
range (that looks like a thermometer, not like a worm)
- drawing of stove used with detail of markings on any important
knobs or dials
- answers to all discussion questions, a summary/conclusion in your
own words, and any suggestions you may have
- any returned, graded pop quiz
- Mayonnaise
- all handout pages (in notebook or separate protocol book)
- all notes you take during the introductory mini-lecture
- all notes and data you gather as you perform the experiment
(. . . amazing how many people forget to include this one!)
- drawings of blender (detail of controls) and any other “new”
equipment used (plus any of the veggies?)
- answers to all discussion questions, a summary/conclusion in your
own words, and any suggestions you may have
- any returned, graded pop quiz
- Enzymes
- all handout pages (in notebook or separate protocol book)
- all notes you take during the introductory mini-lecture
- all notes and data you gather as you perform the experiment
- drawings that show how you set up the lab and what
reactions, colors, etc. resulted, notated as to what those results
mean.
- drawing (yours!) of vortex with detail of controls
- drawings of any other new equipment
- any notes you take as the results are discussed/explained in
class
- answers to all discussion questions, a summary/conclusion in your
own words, and any suggestions you may have
- any returned, graded pop quiz
- Bunsen Burner Use
- all handout pages (in notebook or separate protocol book)
- all notes you take during the introductory mini-lecture
- all notes and data you gather as you learn to use the burner
- drawings of a Bunsen burner with all parts labeled and of a
striker
- a summary/conclusion in your own words, and any suggestions you
may have
- any returned, graded pop quiz
- Writing Scientific Paper
- all handout pages should be in by the second notebook grading
regardless of if we do this or not (This will be based on the
Enzymes lab if there is time to do it.)
- if we do this, include all in-class notes on how-to
- if we do this, include your bibliography & notes on your
library/literature research to-date
- if we do this, include any other notes, ideas, drawings, etc.,
as you write your paper
- if we do this, include any suggestions you may have
- Microscope Use and Yeast Cells
- all handout pages (in notebook or separate protocol book)
- all notes you take during the introductory mini-lecture and video
- all notes and data you gather as you perform the experiment
- drawing of the microscope that was done in lab, with all parts
labeled and functions of those parts noted
- drawings of letter “e” at various powers of magnification (label
which power, label silver crystals if seen)
- drawings of yeast cells at various powers of magnification (label
which power, label any obvious organelles)
- optional drawings of slide and coverslip
- answers to all discussion questions, a summary/conclusion in your
own words, and any suggestions you may have
- any returned, graded pop quizzes
- Cells and Organelles
- all handout pages (in notebook or separate protocol book)
- all notes you take during the introductory mini-lecture
- all notes and data you gather as you perform the experiment
- drawings (at whatever power works best for that tissue) of each
tissue examined, to scale (proportions relative to each other are
about right) with all visible organelles and all powers of
magnification labeled (cork bark, buccal smear, Elodea leaf,
potato pulp, onion epidermis, tomato pulp, kale leaf,
Moses-in-the-Boat flower, etc.)
- answers to all discussion questions, a summary/conclusion in your
own words, and any suggestions you may have
- any returned, graded pop quiz
- Root Beer
- all handout pages (in notebook or separate protocol book)
- if we do the lab, all notes you take during the introductory
mini-lecture
- if we do the lab, all notes and data you gather as you perform the
experiment
- if we do the lab, drawings of any “new” equipment used
- if we do the lab, a summary/conclusion in your own words, and any
suggestions you may have
- Photosynthesis
- all handout pages (in notebook or separate protocol book)
- all notes you take during the introductory mini-lecture
- all notes and data you gather as you perform the experiment
- drawing (yours!) of chromatography set-up
- sample of chromatography paper &/or the leaf you used
- notes on chromatography results
- labeled (which band was which and where were they?) drawing of
finished chromatogram
- answers to all discussion questions, a summary/conclusion in your
own words, and any suggestions you may have
- any returned, graded pop quiz
- Mitosis and Meiosis
- all handout pages (in notebook or separate protocol book)
- all notes you take during the introductory mini-lecture
- drawings of mitotic stages in onion (Allium) root tip
- drawings of mitotic stages in whitefish blastula
- drawings of stages in Ascaris
- drawings of spermatogenesis in grasshopper
- if done, drawings of spermatogenesis in mammals
- if done, drawings of meiosis to form pollen in lily
- if done, drawings of human chromosome squashes
- answers to all discussion questions, a summary/conclusion in your
own words, and any suggestions you may have
- any returned, graded pop quiz
- Frankincense and Myrrh (Autumn Quarter)
- all handout pages (in notebook or separate protocol book)
- all notes you take during the demonstration is done
- answers to all discussion questions, a summary/conclusion in your
own words, and any suggestions you may have
- Birdfeeding (Winter Quarter)
- all handout pages (in notebook or separate protocol book)
- in-class notes on how-to
- daily notes on birds seen (identified) and their activities
- yard map drawing with location of feeder indicated (remember to show which way is north)
- drawing (optional photo) of feeding station
- optional drawings &/or photos of birds
- add your birds to your cumulative lists
- for 2nd NB grading: answers to all discussion
questions, a summary/conclusion in your own words, and any
suggestions you may have
- Maple Sap Collection (Winter Quarter)
- all handout pages
- hike notes & any in-class notes on how-to
- labeled sample(s) of xylem and/or phloem
- drawings of equipment
- if done, copies of sap collection data sheet(s)
- for 2nd NB grading: conclusions & suggestions
- For each hike
- list of/notes on all organisms that were seen and discussed
- optional illustrations thereof
- at least one (preferably more) correctly identified, souvenir
specimen (drawings don’t count as specimens)
- a map of where we went with north indicated and with locations
indicated for new species that were seen
- for the first hike, assuming this is discussed then,
illustration(s) of simple vs compound and opposite vs alternate
leaves
- Other Items
- typed Table of Contents (each page listed, title and date of
what’s on that page) should be up-to-date for each notebook grading
period
- typed Cumulative Lists should be up-to-date for each notebook
grading period
- all cross-references should be up-to-date for each notebook
grading period
- all hike quizzes (and any other quizzes), midterm, final, and any
other returned, graded assignments
- any other information handed out in class
Copyright © 2004 by J. Stein Carter. All rights reserved.
Based on printed protocol Copyright © 1982 D. B. Fankhauser
and © 1988 J. L. Stein Carter.
This page has been accessed times since 28 Mar 2011.