LABORATORY AND TEACHING METHODS 665 



SUGGESTIONS TO STUDENTS 



Concerning Notes. 



1. The laboratory notes or descriptions should embody only such facts as have 

 been gathered from your own observation and study of the object. Any collateral 

 notes written up from lectures or reading should not be mingled with those of your 

 own observation, but should be kept distinct and under separate headings. 



2. The facts observed in the laboratory or field may be gathered first on "scratch 

 [)aper" as temporary notes and subsequently be written on the note tablet in per- 

 manent form; but such temporary notes should be promptly written up and not be 

 allowed to accumulate. 



3. The permanent notes or descriptions should be an original account of your 

 own observation. The statements should be scrupulously accurate and free from 

 figurative expression and rhetoric embellishment; the style should be simple, clear 

 and concise. 



4. Frequent reference should be made to the drawings and diagrams which 

 accompany the study so that these and the notes may be mutually helpful. 



5. The ability to give a clear and accurate account of one's own observations 

 and conclusions is an essential in scientific work, and is also of much value in prac- 

 tical life. 



Concerning Drawings and Diagrams. 



1. A drawing is intended to show the size and shape of the object, and the pro- 

 portions and relations of its parts. In case the drawing is to be smaller or larger 

 than the object, the size of the object may be indicated by symbols, as for example: 

 " X ^i" or " X 4," the former signifying that the drawing is reduced to one-fourth 

 and the latter that it is enlarged to four times the actual size of the object. 



2. A diagram is intended to show only the relation of the parts of the object and 

 does not pretend to represent their size, shape or structure. 



3. In making either drawing or diagram, do not aim at anything ornamental, or 

 artistic in effect. Let your aim be to represent clearly and distinctly certain facts 

 of your observation. 



4. First, carefully examine the object and have definitely in mind what you wish 

 to show in your diagram or drawing and omit everything else. 



5. Decide in advance what view of the object you wish to represent and the size 

 of your drawing. If the object be an animal or a plant, represent it whenever 

 practicable in its most natural position. 



6. With a fine-pointed hard pencil, make a very faint outline of the object, step 

 by step comparing the drawing with the object, and omitting at first all details. 

 See that the proportions are correct, revising your drawing, if necessary, by sub- 

 stituting new lines and ignoring or erasing old ones. 



7. The details may now be worked. Avoid much shading and omit it altogether 

 whenever possible. If the drawing is merely an outline it may be improved by trac- 

 ing Its lines, and the effect of shading may be produced by tracing more heavily 

 those lines which are opposite the direction of the light. 



8. In diagrams no shading is needed, but in many cases the use of flat tints, 

 produced with colored pencils or preferably water colors is very helpful. 



