BIOL500 LAB REPORT Marking Rubric (50 marks total)
Criteria 5 marks
1. Introduction Excellent background
information related to the
topic, with references cited
properly. The purpose of the
experiment is clear. Clear
understanding of specialist
terms evident.
2. Methods Methods described clearly
and concisely in third person
passive voice, past tense.
3. Results Results were described clearly
section- and appropriately. Well
description structured & coherent.
and content Results description written
before showing
figures/tables. Description
refers to and correlates with
data table and/or figures.
4. Results Accurate presentation of data
section- (i.e. the graph axes are
Presentation labelled and properly scaled,
of data with the dependent variable
(Time) on the X axis with units
of minutes (or min) and the Y
axis with Absorbance (note
absorbance has no units).
“Absorbance at 470nm” or
Absorbance (470nm) is
acceptable, but Absorbance
(nm) is not acceptable. A line
or a smooth curve has been
drawn through the data
points, depending on which
fits the data better (not point
to point). A Figure title is
written below the figure.
Table title is written above the
table. Titles are brief but
descriptive enough.
5. Discussion Excellent discussion relating
4 marks
Good background
information related to the
topic, with references cited
properly. The purpose of
the experiment is stated.
One or two
details/elements missing
or irrelevant/incorrect.
Methods described well, in
third person passive voice,
past tense. Some
information was missing or
irrelevant.
Results were described
appropriately. Mostly well
structured & coherent.
Description refers to and
correlates with data table
and/or figures. Missed one
detail or two.
MISSED any one of the
following points: Accurate
presentation of data (i.e.
the graph axes are labelled
and properly scaled, with
the dependent variable
(Time) on the X axis with
units of minutes (or min)
and the Y axis with
Absorbance (note
absorbance has no units).
“Absorbance at 470nm” or
Absorbance (470nm) is
acceptable, but Absorbance
(nm) is not acceptable. A
line or a smooth curve has
been drawn through the
data points, depending on
which fits the data
better(not point to point). A
Figure title is written below
the figure. Table title is
written above the table.
Titles are brief but
descriptive enough.
Good discussion relating the
3 marks
Fair background information related
to the topic, usually linked to
literature. A few details or elements
missing or irrelevant/incorrect. OR
Introduction is too long with
irrelevant information.
Fair description of methods.
Sentences were mostly in third
person passive voice, past tense.
Some information was missing or
irrelevant.
Results were described but needs
clarity, OR description was repetitive,
OR too short. Description refers to
and correlates with data table and/or
figures.
MISSED any two of the following
points: Accurate presentation of data
(i.e. the graph axes are labelled and
properly scaled, with the dependent
variable (Time) on the X axis with
units of minutes (or min) and the Y
axis with Absorbance (note
absorbance has no units).
“Absorbance at 470nm” or
Absorbance (470nm) is acceptable,
but Absorbance (nm) is not
acceptable. A line or a smooth curve
has been drawn through the data
points, depending on which fits the
data better (not point to point). A
Figure title is written below the
figure. Table title is written above the
table. Titles are brief but descriptive
enough.
Fair discussion relating the results to
2 marks
Some background
information given but hardly
related to the topic. Very
little citation. Many
irrelevant/incorrect
information.
Poor description of methods.
Many sentences constructed
like a protocol.
Results presented but needs
clarity. Little or no description
given.
MISSED any three of the
following points: Accurate
presentation of data (i.e. the
graph axes are labelled and
properly scaled, with the
dependent variable (Time) on
the X axis with units of
minutes (or min) and the Y
axis with Absorbance (note
absorbance has no units).
“Absorbance at 470nm” or
Absorbance (470nm) is
acceptable, but Absorbance
(nm) is not acceptable. A line
or a smooth curve has been
drawn through the data
points, depending on which
fits the data better (not point
to point). A Figure title is
written below the figure.
Table title is written above
the table. Titles are brief but
descriptive enough.
Interpretation of data and
1 mark 0 mark
Very little background None
information shown, or no in- submitted/
text citation of Section
references. Understanding not missing/Unacce
shown. ptable Turnitin
result.
Most sentences constructed None
like a protocol. Many submitted/
information missing or Section missing/
irrelevant. Unacceptable
Turnitin result.
Some information missing or None
irrelevant. Incorrect data submitted/
presented or no description Section missing/
given. OR unacceptable Turnitin Unacceptable
result Turnitin result.
MISSED more than three of the None
following points: Accurate submitted/
presentation of data (i.e. the Section missing/
graph axes are labelled and Unacceptable
properly scaled, with the Turnitin result.
dependent variable (Time) on
the X axis with units of minutes
(or min) and the Y axis with
Absorbance (note absorbance
has no units). “Absorbance at
470nm” or Absorbance
(470nm) is acceptable, but
Absorbance (nm) is not
acceptable. A line or a smooth
curve has been drawn through
the data points, depending on
which fits the data better (not
point to point). A Figure title is
written below the figure. Table
title is written above the table.
Titles are brief but descriptive
enough.
Poor interpretation of data. None
 the results to the given topic
and the literature, with
references cited properly.
Interpretation of data and
explanations are appropriate.
Limitations and suggestions
described as appropriate.
Work demonstrates advanced
knowledge and
understanding.
6. Conclusion Conclusion provides a brief
summary and key
perspectives, showing
excellent understanding of
the topic. Conclusion relates
to the aims/hypothesis.
7. Language Accurate use of terms
and (including grammar and
structure spelling). Well structured &
coherent. In-depth application
of specialist terms. Any
figure(s) and table(s) used
were properly labelled and
referred to.
8. Referencing- Consistently accurate
APA style acknowledgement of sources.
and Proper referencing format
reliability of shown at all times. Extensive
sources range of sources evidently
used. All sources are credible,
relevant, and of recognised
academic quality.
9. Originality Work demonstrates
and Integrity comprehensive assimilation of
concepts. Paraphrasing done
correctly. Originality of work
is evident.
10. Formatting Formatting instructions
and consistently followed.
adherence to Followed all of these points:
instructions Text Calibri, Arial, or Times
Roman font, and 11-point
sized text. Normal margins,
1.5 spacing. Word limit
followed as specified.
results to the given topic and
the literature, with
references cited properly.
Interpretation of data and
explanations are
appropriate. Limitations and
suggestions described as
appropriate. Work
demonstrates good
knowledge & understanding.
Conclusion shows good
understanding and relates
to the aims/hypothesis.
Good use of terms
(including grammar and
spelling) but with some
mistakes. Good structure &
coherent in general. Good
application of specialist
terms. Any figure(s) and
table(s) used were properly
labelled and referred to.
Mostly accurate
acknowledgement of
sources. Proper referencing
format shown, with few
mistakes. Broad range of
sources used. Most sources
are credible, relevant, and
of recognised academic
quality.
Work demonstrates good
assimilation of concepts.
Paraphrasing mostly done
correctly. Originality of
work is evident.
Formatting instructions
mostly followed. MISSED
one of the following points:
Text Calibri, Arial, or Times
Roman font, and 11-point
sized text. Normal margins,
1.5 spacing. Word limit
followed as specified.
the given topic and the literature,
with references cited properly.
Interpretation of data and
explanations mostly appropriate but
with some inaccuracy. Work
demonstrates fair knowledge and
understanding.
Conclusion shows some
understanding and some relation to
the aims/hypothesis
Fair use of terms (including grammar
and spelling, with some mistakes).
Good structure but needs
improvement with flow and
coherence. Some application of
specialist terms. Any figure(s) and
table(s) used were mostly properly
labelled and referred to.
Sources acknowledged with some
accuracy. Proper referencing format
shown, with a fair amount of
mistakes. Fair range of sources used.
Many sources are credible, relevant,
and of recognised academic quality.
Reference list has at least the
minimum number of references.
Work demonstrates some
assimilation of concepts. Few cases
of mistakes with paraphrasing.
Originality of work is evident.
Formatting instructions mostly
followed. MISSED two of the
following points: Text Calibri, Arial,
or Times Roman font, and 11-point
sized text. Normal margins, 1.5
spacing. Word limit followed as
specified.
explanations given but with Poor explanations. Work shows submitted/
inaccuracies; and/or lacked very poor knowledge and Section missing/
links to the literature. Very understanding of the topic. OR Unacceptable
little citation. Work shows unacceptable Turnitin result Turnitin result.
poor knowledge and
understanding of the topic.
Conclusion shows poor Conclusion does not show None
understanding or does not understanding or does not submitted/
relate directly to the relate to the experiment’s Section missing/
experiment’s aims/hypothesis. Unacceptable
aims/hypothesis. Turnitin result.
Poor use of terms (including Very poor use of terms None
grammar and spelling, with (including grammar and submitted/
many mistakes). Fairly spelling, with many mistakes). Section missing/
structured but needs to Needs to improve structure, Unacceptable
improve flow and coherence. flow and coherence. No Turnitin result.
Little application of specialist application of specialist terms.
terms. Figure(s) and table(s) Figure(s) and table(s) used
used were not properly were not properly labelled and
labelled and referred to. referred to.
Sources acknowledged with APA 7th style NOT used./ None
little accuracy. Many Sources acknowledged with submitted/
mistakes with referencing very little accuracy. Many Section missing/
format. Limited sources used. mistakes with referencing Unacceptable
OR Presence of more than format. Very limited sources Turnitin result.
two sources that are used. OR Presence of more
unreliable or of unclear than three sources that are
credibility. Reference list has unreliable or of unclear
less than the minimum. credibility.
Work demonstrates poor Work demonstrates very poor None
assimilation of concepts. assimilation of concepts. Many submitted/
Some mistakes with mistakes with paraphrasing (i.e. Section missing/
paraphrasing (i.e. just just changed some of the Unacceptable
changed some of the words). words). Turnitin result.
Many formatting instructions Formatting instructions mostly None
not followed. Word limit not followed. Word limit submitted/
exceeded. exceeded. Section missing/
Unacceptable
Turnitin result.