The importance of SBAs
Joanna George-Johnson, Contributor

The importance of SBAs for CXC Biology cannot be over emphasised! It is the most important paper towards your success in CXC biology examinations. If you fail the SBA component of the exam, more than likely you will not pass the subject.

For this reason, it is imperative that you treat your SBAs with utmost importance. NOTHING should ever come before doing your SBA! Here are some important things to know about SBAs:

What is an SBA?

SBAs are in the form of laboratory work for biology and all the other science subjects.

SBAs are 20 per cent of your final CXC grade!

All labs should be kept in a journal and to be handled with care, so as not to damage or lose this book. Remember, you will be keeping this journal for two years.

Students of the Herbert Morrison Technical High School cheer as class valedictorians immitate some of the more popular teachers at the institution during their graduation exercise at the West Jamaica Conference in Montego Bay, on June 28. - Claudine Housen/Staff Photographer

An SBA is graded for several criteria

1) Observation, recording and reporting
2) Analysis and interpretation
3) Planning and designing
4) Manipulation and measurement
5) Drawing

We will take a closer look at each criterion later on.

How to Write Up a Laboratory Report

The report should be written up in the following order:

1. Topic: This is a short statement that gives an idea of what area of biology the experiment will be about (for example, photosynthesis).

2. Title: This is the name given to the exact Experiment that you are doing (for example, testing a variegated leaf for starch).

3. Hypothesis: This is a short statement that is made that gives a prediction of what one expects the result will be (this will not be asked for in each lab), for example, "Chlorophyll is not needed for photosynthesis to occur". Please note that your hypothesis can be proven wrong by the experiment!

4. Aim: This is a short statement that tells exactly what will be investigated (for example, "To investigate the starch distribution in variegated leaves.").

5. Materials: A brief list of materials and apparatus that will be used in the experiment.

6. Method: A detailed description of what will be done in the experiment. This should be written in past tense. No person should be mentioned (for example, "1 cm3 of solution 'A' was placed into a clean test tube." Never write "I put 1 cm3 of solution A into a clean test tube.").

7. Results or observations: This may be presented in different formats depending on the nature of the experiment (for example, if the data received is in numbers, then a table might be most suitable. Actually, a table is usually required if you are obtaining results. If, however, you are making observations, then most times a table is not needed. Observations should only state what is observed (seen/heard/felt/smelt). No explanation is needed here.

8. Discussion: Here is where you explain and interpret, in detail, your results. You also give any explanation why certain crucial steps were need in the method. Also, you may give an idea as to how the experiment may be improved upon.

9. Conclusions: A short statement that answers the aim and proves or disproves the hypothesis (for example, "Chlorophyll is needed for photosynthesis.").

Questions

1. Convert the following set of instructions to the method of writing for a laboratory report.

• Select a variegated leaf.
• Sketch the leaf showing the distribution of chlorophyll.
• Boil leaf in water for one minute.
• Decolourise the leaf by putting it in a test tube of ethanol and placing it in a hot-water bath.
• Dip the leaf in hot water.
• Spread leaf on white tile.
• Cover the leaf with Iodine solution.
• Note observations and sketch the leaf showing the distribution of colour.

Joanna George-Johnson teaches at Ardenne High School.
Email: Masterbio@gmail.com.