Laboratory Notebooks

Each student will compile his/her own lab notebook(s) that will include drawings of slides, live and preserved animals, and dissections. Observations of animals’ behaviors also should be included in the notebook where appropriate. All material in a student’s lab notebook must be the student’s original work. A pencil should be used; colored pencils are acceptable. All pages must be numbered. Entries in the notebook must be dated. Diagrams should be labeled appropriately. A Table of Contents must be included at the front of the notebook, with entries for each major taxon (Phylum, Class, or Order). The Table of Contents should be updated daily with appropriate taxa and page numbers. Students should leave at least 6 blank pages at the front of their notebooks to provide adequate space for a well organized Table of Contents. It is acceptable for students to attach a typed Table of Contents that includes all of the taxa in the notebook; students might find this very helpful when using their notebook to check their spellings during the lab exams.

The required notebook for Biol 515 is the “Green Lab Book” sold at Aztec Shops: #53-108

Students should purchase at least two of these notebooks so they can divide their lab notebooks into Part 1 (material prior to Lab Exams 1 and 2) and Part 2 (material prior to Lab Exams 3 and 4).

Students are responsible for getting Dr. Hentschel’s signature in their notebook at the end of each lab. After the first three lab exams, students will turn in their lab notebooks for a more detailed evaluation (up to 25 pts each time). Lab notebooks will be graded for the clarity and completeness of their organization and content. Lab notebooks will not be collected or graded after Lab Exam 4.