Materials – 8 peas, 8 sandwich bags, 8 napkins and you choose one independent variable and follow the principals of designing a scientific experiment.

Fold napkin to fit in sandwich bag – if you are applying a liquid as your independent variable then water regularly with the liquid to keep the napkin damp. If you are not using a liquid independent variable you will need to water regularly to keep the napkin damp. If the napkin and then the pea dry out you will kill your plant. Each control and experimental group should have two replicates – thus you will have 2 controls, 2 experimental group 1, 2 experimental group 2 and 2 experimental group 3 to give you a total of 8 bags.

examples

Nonliquid independent variable could be temperature – such as room (control), fridge, freezer and outside.

Liquid independent variable such as coffee – get 4 water bottles, in one place only water, in second place one quarter coffee and three quarters water, in the third place half coffee and half water and in the last place only coffee. Regularly water you peas from these bottles to keep the napkin moist.

The day you start the experiment is day one, then count the days to germination and at least 5 days of growth after germination.

This paper can be turned in on line or via canvas.

Below is the outline of the paper you need to submit – it needs to be two page single spaced ( font 11) and margins no more than 1″, this does not include a table or graph. You need to collect 5 days to measurable data – in other words don’t write a paper on your seeds not growing.

Title / An abstract ( 2)

Title – must be descriptive and have the scientific name for pea included

A brief summary of your entire paper- it must have a bit from each section of the paper. This is the very last section of the paper to be completed.

Introduction (4)

1. What pollutant did you investigate and why and a clearly stated hypothesis

2. Where and how is it produced / released into the environment?

3. In what quantities is it being released, and/or is there a part of the country or the world where it is a significant problem?

4. What is its documented impact on plants and animals (including humans)?

5. Have any studies similar to yours been done? If so, briefly describe their results.

Materials and methods (4)

Write down all the material you used. Write down in detail how the experiment was conducted and what data was collected and how it was collected. Also write as if someone must repeat your experiment. NO LISTS

Results ( 4)

You may use table or graphs – graphs are preferred as they show trends. Never present the same data twice choose a graph or table. Each table or graph must have a title. You must also write a minimum of one paragraph per table or graph describing the data the table or graph contains.

Examples of tables or graphs

a. time to germination

b. “days since planting vs. plant height” – again only give averages.

c. days since planting vs. total plant length/ root length/ shoot length

Discussion ( 4)

Discuss the results, did you accept or reject your hypothesis. Compare your results to other similar experiments (literature research) . State your conclusion clearly at the end of the paper

Bibliography (2)

APA or MLA style – choose one style and be consistent. You must include 4 journal articles.