Instructions for Writing your Unknown Bacteria Project Paper
You may work with others to determine which bacterium is your unknown, but each person must write
their own project paper.
Due Dates:
Your first draft is due 8/16. Your peers will review your first draft in lab to give you
suggestions for improvement. If your first draft is in on time and contains all the required
sections, you will receive 5 points.
Your final draft is due 8/23. It is worth 35 points.
Guidelines:
Your unknown bacteria project should include:
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A descriptive title. The title should give the reader an idea what this project is about,
even if they don’t know anything about this class.
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A “Background Information” section. This section should explain what this project was
about, what you were given at the beginning, what bacteria you had to choose from to
determine your unknown, etc.
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A “Tests Performed” section. This section should describe each of the tests we did in
class. For each test, state the purpose of the test and describe the results of the test we
did in class. If you think that there were problems with your test results, cite sources to
explain why you think the results from class were wrong. Attempt to explain the odd
results by describing possible sources of error. At a minimum, this section should
include descriptions of these tests: simple stain, gram stain, endospore stain, acid fast
stain, differential and selective media plates, antibiotic sensitivity tests, and catalase
test. You should write a separate paragraph about each test you performed.
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A chart or other visual. Your chart or visual should show the basic results you got for
each bacterial species, including your unknown, which led to your conclusion. Look at
the lab webpage for more information on your chart.
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A conclusion. Your conclusion should be about a paragraph long and briefly state that
based on these particular test results, you think your unknown bacteria is this species.
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References. In MLA format, cite any sources you consulted in writing this paper. This will
probably be sources you used for finding information about bacterial species. Please
ensure that you used reputable sources and are not citing false information; unknown
bacteria projects are common in microbiology classes and you may find websites that
were posted by other students. Some of these may not be reliable. I recommend using
the NoodleBib website to format your references easily.
Grading Rubric for Project Paper
__ /2 Title: Title is descriptive without being overly wordy. Someone unfamiliar with this
project could get a basic idea of the subject by reading the title. The author’s name is
present below the title.
__/3 Format: All required sections are present. Each section has a bold heading above
it, allowing the reader to easily navigate between sections. Formatting does not distract
from the reader’s ability to read the paper (e.g. no weird fonts, colors, or margins).
__/5 Background Information: Background section includes information on the purpose
of the project, what the assignment was, and which bacteria were included.
__/9 Tests Performed: All tests are described. The purpose or function of each test is
explained along with the class results. Possible sources of error are described, and any
test results thought to be incorrect are backed up by reference information.
__/5 Chart: The chart is well-organized and neat. Chart should show key results from all
possible species and show clearly why your unknown matches the species you chose.
__/3 Conclusion: One bacterium is stated to be the unknown based on test results. The
bacterium chosen is consistent with the previously stated test results.
__/3 References: Complete references are cited in MLA format at the end of the paper.
References are also cited in the text when necessary. All references come from reliable
sources.
__/5 Writing: The writing style is concise and easy to understand. The writer avoids
confusing syntax and uses correct spelling and grammar.
REMINDER: I check assignments (especially written assignments) for plagiarism, and
you will receive a 0 grade if you plagiarize.