General and skilled motor behaviours

Lab Assignment #1

This assignment should be written in the form of a modified laboratory report (see below). Your job is to describe the general behaviours you observed in Lab #C and the skilled behaviours that you assessed in Lab #D. Your paper should include a title page, abstract, introduction, methods section, results section, and a discussion. The assignment should be approximately 10-15 pages in length. Papers will be graded according to the rubric that follows the details of the assignment.

Introduction Your introduction should review the basics of the general and skilled behaviours you have chosen to discuss. As well, the behaviours you have chosen should be placed in context; this includes what is currently understood regarding your topic.

Methods The methods section should describe in sufficient detail the methodology you employed in this week’s laboratory for both of the behaviours you have chosen.

Results Your results section should include a paragraph for each of the behaviours you have chosen to report. Since there are no experimental manipulations, basic observations of the behaviours are sufficient. Keep your data, as it will be important for future laboratory experiments.

Discussion Here you should discuss the behaviours as you observed them, what went wrong, what you might improve (if anything), etc. Additionally, using PubMed as a resource (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed), include an in-depth analysis of a paper from the last five years that uses one of the skilled behaviours you have discussed in your paper. Include in your description what they are testing, how the behavioural assay is used (any modifications to the assay in comparison to how you ran it in class), the major findings from the study, the implications of the experiment, and any potential limitations, as well as a way to address those limitations.

Lab Assignment #1 Rubric

100 possible marks

A) Abstract	5
• Are all the essential components present and organized logically?
• Is the language clear?
B) Introduction	30
• Is the topic area introduced in a logical/effective manner?
• Is the literature reviewed appropriately?
• Is the focus on concepts rather than individual findings?
C) Materials and Methods	15
• Are all the components present?
• Is there sufficient detail?
• Are the components presented clearly?
D) Results	10
• Are all the components present?
• Is there sufficient detail?
• Are the findings presented in a clear manner?
E) Discussion	30
• Is there an appropriate interpretation of the results?
• Are the findings related back to the literature appropriately?
• Has the paper you have chosen to review in depth been described appropriately?
• Is there evidence of creative input and interpretation?
• Is the paper interesting and engaging?
F) Mechanics	10
• Is the primary literature cited effectively and appropriately?
• Has the publication style been followed?
• Are there spelling and grammatical mistakes?