Pepsin Lab Scientific Paper: Required Elements

NAME: BLOCK:

PEPSIN LAB SCIENTIFIC PAPER: REQUIRED ELEMENTS

Title (1 point) Your title should help the reader understand topic and purpose of lab. (Do not just call this “Enzyme Lab” or “Pepsin Lab”!)

Abstract (2 points) Although this section is placed first in the report, it should be written last. It is a VERY brief overview of the experiment’s purpose, hypothesis, and findings. Your abstract should include: -the purpose -your hypothesis -your methods (how you tested your hypothesis) -whether the findings supported or refuted your hypothesis (or, it’s also okay to say that your findings were too inclusive to judge…)

Introduction (7 points) Your introduction should provide background on: -Enzymes in general (3pts possible if all work is thorough)  What is an enzyme?  Why are enzymes important to living things?  How do digestive enzymes work?  What conditions can affect the rate of enzyme-catalyzed reactions? Why is the rate affected?  What happens to reaction rates when enzymes are operating outside of their optimal ranges? -Specific information about pepsin (2pts possible if all work is thorough)  What enzyme is used in this lab, and what is its substrate?  What conditions (temperature, pH) are optimal for the enzyme in this lab? -Your experiment (2pts possible if all work is thorough)  What is your purpose question? (ie what condition are you investigating?)  What is your hypothesis, prediction, and the corresponding rationale (what are you basing your hypothesis and predictions on?)?

You should cite informational facts. I expect that you will have many parenthetical references to your textbook. You may also cite class notes. Any references that you cite in the text of your paper should be listed in a Bibliography (or References Cited) section at the end of your paper.

Materials and Methods (8 points) You should have a detailed description of the exact procedure that you followed, including the materials that you used. Methods are written in the past tense in paragraph form, as an account of what was carried out. Be sure to identify your variables (independent, dependent, and standardized) and to describe your control and experimental groups.

Results (8 points)  Include your data (your group and the group that followed the same procedure) as a graph. (4pts possible if all work is thorough and graph follows the example modeled in class)  Describe all the results in a paragraph. Refer to your graph in the text as a supporting visual. (4pts possible if all work is thorough) Discussion, including sources of error (19 points)  State whether or not your hypothesis was supported. (Note that “proven” is not an acceptable word!) Inconclusive data is also okay – do not exaggerate the clarity of your findings! (1pt possible)  Support your statement(s) with specific data. (3pts possible if all work is thorough)  Provide possible BIOCHEMICAL explanations as to why you observed the trends you did. Demonstrate your knowledge of biochemistry, tertiary protein structure, hydrogen bonding, enzyme structure, etc. though these explanations. (4pts possible if all work is thorough)  Identify an outlier data point on your graph. Explain why it is an outlier. SPECIFICALLY explain at least three possible sources of error to explain this abnormal data point. Human error is not acceptable. See the handout on the website titled “Sources of Experimental Error” for help on this point. Also incorporate a discussion of both sample size and confounding factors. Use a full paragraph for each source of error. (6pts possible if all work is thorough)  Briefly comment upon the results of the two other factors tested in this lab by other groups. Explain why these factors affect the reaction rate. This information will come from the presentations in class. (3pts possible if all work is thorough)  End your paper with a summary of all findings and include at least two specific questions that you would be interested to research, as an extension of what you have already researched in class. (assume unlimited equipment and supplies) (2pts possible if all work is thorough)

Overall report (5 points)  Clarity, focus, and organization: the writing should be concise and the flow of the paper should make sense.  The paper is detail-oriented. Show me your knowledge!  All facts have corresponding in-text citations.  All in-text citations have full citations in a Reference section at the end of the paper.  Spelling and grammar: more than three cumulative errors will result in a deduction of 2 points.  At least one original (hand-drawn, not including your graph) and informative diagram must be added into your report. Think about where this would make the most sense. You must refer to this diagram in the text of your paper. The diagram should help to illustrate a concept. Example: Roosters have a large crest of skin on top of their heads. The crest is often shaped like a mohawk (Figure 1).

Figure 1. Rooster with mohawk like crest on top of its head.

 This paper must be TYPED! Pepsin Lab Scientific Paper Scoresheet for ______

Category Description Points Points Comments Possible Received Does your title help reader understand Title 1 topic and purpose of lab? Should include all points from Abstract description sheet. 2 0.5 for each point Should include all points from description sheet. 3pts total for general info, 2pts total for Intro 7 pepsin specific info, and 2pts total for question/hypothesis/prediction/rational e Should follow all directions on Methods 8 description sheet. Graph (as modeled in class) 4pts Results 8 Description of results in a paragraph 4pts Should include all elements on description sheet. Discussion 19 See Required Elements handout for points break-down. Paper quality, citations, and original Overall diagram 5 Report Scored on the following scale: 1: Very little effort shown. Draft is little more than notes for each section. 2: Minimal effort is shown. Notes are made for each section; or, if there are distinct paragraphs, missing many Draft for elements. 3: There are distinct paragraphs for peer 5 each section, but less than a majority of review the required elements are included. 4: Paper has the majority of the elements included, but paper is not entirely complete and needs editing for spelling and grammer. 5: Paper has all elements and has been edited for spelling and grammar. 55

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