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EL0407 University English: Writing Effective Lab Reports
Part I | Course Duration: | 24 hours | | No. of Credit Units: | 1 | | Level: | B | | Medium of Instruction: | English | | Prerequisites: | NIL | | Precursors: | NIL | | Equivalent Courses: | NIL | | Exclusive Courses: | NA | | Coursework Assessment: | 100% | | Examination: | NA |
Part II Course Aims:
This course aims to:
§ enhance your lab report writing skills
§ enable you to present experimental findings in a clear and effective way
Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs)
On successful completion of the course, you should be able to: CILO | | | 1 | structure a lab report appropriately | | 2 | use language appropriately in writing a lab report | | 3 | use an appropriate referencing system in your writing to avoid plagiarism | | 4 | give an oral presentation on the findings of your experiment |
Teaching and Learning Activities (TLAs) The following are designed to help you achieve the CILOs: CILO | In this course you will work individually, in pairs and in groups to: | | 1 | identify and analyze different sections of a lab report through examining sample reports and excerpts from research papers | | 2 | discuss appropriate language structures, style and format in each part of a lab report through examining sample reports and excerpts from research papers and practise using relevant language structures | | 3 | discuss the importance of academic honesty and intellectual property and learn to use a standard scientific referencing system through examples from sample reports and journal articles | | 1-3 | draft and submit different sections of a complete full lab report | | 1-3 | revise and edit the report based on feedback from your peers and tutor before submission of the final draft | | 4 | analyse the essential elements of an effective technical presentation through viewing sample oral presentations | | 4 | present orally the results of a group experiment |
Throughout all teaching and learning activities you will be expected to participate actively in evaluating your own and other people's work, receiving and providing feedback, and using this to help you improve.
Assessment Tasks/Activities
There are three assessments. The following assessment tasks are designed to assess how well you achieve the CILOs.
Assessment One (15%)
i. | Assessment Task Description | | You will give a group oral presentation (3-4 students in one group) of your main findings from an experiment on a topic given by your tutor. | ii. | CILOs Assessed | | This task assesses your ability to:
§ give an oral presentation on your findings from a small scale experiment (CILO 4) | iii. | Assessment Criteria |
| Sections | CILO | | | Introduction
· Purpose (Objectives)
· Background information
· Hypothesis of experiment (if any) | 4 | | | Explanation of experimental procedures | | | Presentation of results (including graphs & tables) | | | Interpretation of results (Discussion) Error analysis/ suggestions for improvement | | | Conclusion | | | Organization & coherence (overview, signposting & connection of ideas) | | | Clarity of delivery (including fluency & pronunciation) | | | Visual aids (including text & graphics) | | | Relationship with audience – including use of non-verbal communication (eye-contact, gesture) | | | Team work & participation of group members |
Assessment Two (15%)i. | Assessment Task Description | | | You will submit one group lab report based on the findings from a group experiment you have carried out. You should organize the lab report using appropriate organizational structure, language structure and referencing system. | ii. | CILOs Assessed | | This task assesses your ability to do the following in writing:
§ organize a lab report appropriately (CILO 1)
§ use language appropriately in writing a lab report (CILO 2)
§ use an appropriate referencing system to avoid plagiarism (CILO 3) | iii. | Assessment Criteria |
| Sections | CILOs | | | Abstract | 1,2 | | | | | Objectives | 2 | | | | | Introduction, Definitions & Theory | 1-3 | | | | | | Procedures | 1,2 | | | | | | ResultsPresentation of results/data; Labelling of figures/tables; brief summary of results | 1,2 | | | | | Discussion | 1,2 | | | Conclusion | 1,2 | | | | | | Overall use of language | 2 | | | | | | Referencing | 3 | | | | | | Overall Presentation | 1-3 | | | | |
Assessment Three (70%)i. | Assessment Task Description | | | You will revise and edit draft reports and submit the final draft as Coursework Assessment Three. | ii. | CILOs Assessed | | This task assesses your ability to:
§ organize a lab report appropriately (CILO 1)
§ use language appropriately in writing a lab report (CILO 2)
§ use an appropriate referencing system to avoid plagiarism (CILO 3) | iii. | Assessment Criteria | | Note: This criteria is the same as that for Assessment Two. |
| Sections | CILOs | | | Abstract | 1,2 | | | | | Objectives | 2 | | | | | Introduction, Definitions & Theory | 1-3 | | | | | | Procedures | 1,2 | | | | | | ResultsPresentation of results/data; Labelling of figures/tables; brief summary of results | 1,2 | | | | | Discussion | 1,2 | | | Conclusion | 1,2 | | | | | | Overall use of language | 2 | | | | | | Referencing | 3 | | | | | | Overall Presentation | 1-3 | | | | |
Grading of Student AchievementP or F
Part III
Keyword Syllabus: | NA | | Recommended Reading Text(s): | NIL | | Online Resources: | e-Learning Platform |
Related Links
English Language Centre
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