Required Incomes

Points lost

Plagiarism

Report is unacceptable and is returned without further review. One revision is allowed.

Formatting

Deficiency in 2 or more categories, without revision, results in the loss of 10 points

Check here if deficient

page numbers, spell-checking by computer

chemical names not capitalized, sentences start with letters only

consistent units and variable names

superscripts, subscripts, Greek symbols

descriptive graph titles and table titles

graphs and tables sequentially numbered

graph axes labeled.

descriptive column titles on tables

Mathematical and chemical equations clearly and consecutively numbered.

Mathematical and chemical equations indented, set off from text by carriage returns.

Uncertainties included in tabulated data.

Mathcad regions clearly annotated

Bibliography:  list of references in standard format

Printouts from instrumentation must be clearly labeled. (Can scan the printout). Caption or titles must be typed, not handwritten. Need appropriate labeling of variables. Need to decide what is in the caption or description.

English

Spelling and Grammar

Deficiency in 2 or more categories, without revision, results in the loss of 20 points

Check here if deficient

Points lost

proofread for typos by a human being, correct spelling

third-person passive; no pronouns. “The solutions were placed in the UV-Visible spectrophotometer.” NOT “Next we will put the sample in the UV-Vis.”

constant and logical verb tenses; (past tense except in rare situations.)                    

appropriate punctuation

subject/verb agreement; parallel construction          

complete sentences; no run-on sentences

no dangling prepositions; no split infinitives

no awkward sentence construction

Stylistic

varied sentence structure

writing expresses author's meaning

paragraphs used appropriately

writing flows logically and smoothly

no unnecessary words (then, next, after this was done: can’t use any of these words more than once per page!!!)

Content: Description

Outline (5 points)

Deficiency = - 5 points

Check here if deficient

Points lost

report includes an outline with the list of ideas in a logical order; thoughts in the report are expressed in a linear fashion; one idea (outline entry) per paragraph

Abstract (10 points)

Deficiency in 2 or more categories, without revision, results in the loss of 10 points

Check here if deficient

abstract is a succinct summary

goal of the experiment is clearly stated

experimental technique(s) are clearly described

results are stated

conclusions are concise and clear

Background/Introduction (20 points)

Deficiency in 1 category = - 4 points

Deficiencies in 2 - 3 categories = - 12 points

Deficiencies in >3 categories = - 20 points

Check here if deficient

Points lost

statement and purpose of planned experiment

review of prior experimental results (at FSC or in the literature, cited properly)

discussion of relevant theoretical principles (with equations) 

referenced source for derivation of equations

chemical reaction equation(s) shown

Safety

Deficiency in 2 or more categories, without revision, results in the loss of 10 points

chemical structures and corresponding names are shown in table format

safety precautions summarized and explained for hazardous compounds

Safety data is complete, accurate and includes references.

physical properties for all chemicals listed (color, phase at room temperature, bp. for liquids, mp. for solids)

Experimental details

Deficiency in 2 or more categories, without revision, results in the loss of 20 points

Check here if deficient

concise, complete explanation of actual experimental procedure

summary of dead-end experiments if applicable

names and brands of instruments, equipment, software, computers (for calculational experiments) and chemicals 

deviations from and additions to previous work

Content:  Analysis

Calculations and Error calculations and propagation. (20 points)

Deficiency in 1 category = - 5 points

Deficiencies in 2 - 3 categories = - 10 points

Deficiencies in >3 categories = - 20 points

Check here if deficient

Points lost

written-out sample of each calculation (even spreadsheet)

calculations are correct

critical, justified assignment of uncertainty present in all raw data

propagation of uncertainty through the calculations

all numbers (both data and results) are accompanied by uncertainties (number ± uncertainty). 

Data, Results, Discussion (including analysis of error).   (15 points)

Deficiency in 1 category = - 5 points

Deficiencies in 2 - 3 categories = - 10 points

Deficiencies in >3 categories = - 15 points

Check here if deficient

Points lost

compiled primary data and calculated results appropriately

table of results (with corresponding uncertainties and an appropriate number of significant figures) provided

tables and graphs discussed sequentially           

equation describing each plot

explanation of how data has been extracted from each plot

definite and concise conclusions 

comparison to previous workers' results

appropriate citations to previous work

Procedure analysis.   (10 points)

Deficiency in 1 category = - 3 points

Deficiencies in 2 - 3 categories = - 6 points

Deficiencies in > 3 categories = - 10 points

Check here if deficient

Points lost

Summary of encountered problems was provided

explanation of encountered problems was provided

explanation of encountered problems is reasonable and scientific in nature. This should include mathematical proof if possible

suggestions for improvement by future workers are provided

Summary

Number of incoming deficiencies

Number of outcome deficiencies

Total points lost

Total points (out of 100)