Photosynthesis Post-Lab Rubric

4 points 3 points 2 points 1 point

Diagram of Diagram is Diagram is
Experimental labeled and labeled and
Set up includes both includes one
treatments. treatment.
Table of Table incudes Table
Results both includes one
treatments of treatment of
spinach leaves. spinach
leaves.
Graph of Correct title, X and Y axis Most labels Some labels Few or no
Results correctly labeled and placed. and titles and titles labels
correct and correct and correct or
appropriately appropriately appropriately
placed. placed. placed.

To make comparisons between experiments, a standard point of

reference is needed. Repeated testing of this procedure has shown that
the point at which 50% of the disks are floating (the median or ET50) is
a reliable and repeatable point of reference. In this case, the disks
floating are counted at the end of each time interval. The median is
chosen over the mean as the summary statistic because it will generally
provide a better estimate of the central tendency of the data since, on
occasion, a disk fails to rise or takes a very long time to do so. A term
coined by G. L Steucek and R. J Hill (1985) for this relationship is
ET50, the estimated time for 50% of the disks to rise. That is, rate is a
change in a variable over time. The time required for 50% of the leaf
disks to float is represented as Effective Time = ET50.

Determine the ET50 for each group of leaf disks and compare the ET50 for the different
treatments.

Control Group ___/1

Outside Treatment ___/1

Indoor Treatment ___/1

Compare the ET50 for different treatments ___/1

Conclusion Paragraph:

Q1: Explain why the leaf disks started to float. ___/1

Q2: Explain what caused the variation in the different environments. ___/1
Q2: Include both the difference in temperature and amount of light. ___/1
Q2: Refer to specific parts of photosynthesis as part of your answer. ___/1
Q3: Discuss possible sources of error that may have impacted your results. ___/1

Q3: If you were a group that moved outside after a period of time, explain ___/1
how that might have impacted your measurement of the rate of
photosynthesis. If your disks never floated, suggest at least reason
why that may have happened.

Q4: If we put a cup containing all floating disks into a dark environment, what ___/2
would happen? Explain why.

3 points 2 points 1 point

Propose an Proposal meets the following 3 Proposal Proposal

Experiment that requirements: meets 2 meets 1
would allow you to  Clear procedures so that requirements requirement
answer the question: another person unfamiliar with
the lab could follow them
Was the difference in
effectively.
photosynthesis due to  A hypothesis about which of
the increased sunlight, the two variables was
or increased responsible.
temperature?  The evidence or results that
would support your hypothesis.

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