Abstract Perfect Paragraph

In the Fall of 2018, as a part of the Writing in Biology Class at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, I conducted a project that used observation and inference skills to create a method that would be followed in order to recreate a multi-panel scientific figure. This project challenges the ability to examine and describe the procedure used to create a multi-panel scientific figure of a spider web found on campus. The description was detailed enough to direct the reader to recreate the figure as similar to the original as possible. I explained that the spider web used in the original figure was found on the third floor of the Morrill II building and how the pictures were taken. In addition, the methods section outlined how the figure was developed on the program, Inkscape. The replicate result had eight differences from the original figure. The replicate picture had been taken at a different location, at different angles and without flash. The map picture on the replicate had different navigation symbols. The lettered labels were different sizes, fonts, and were incomplete on the replicate. Lastly, the arrow was displayed differently between the two figures. I concluded that the different location was due to the unclear explanation of the location of the web. The variance in map symbols and size/font of the labels was a result of the absence of direction in the provided methods. The incomplete labels were a consequence of the reader not thoroughly reading the methods section. Ultimately, this project reveals how important precise observations and descriptions can be when explaining an experimental procedure. If clear directions are not given, the result may be different than the writer, or scientist, had intended.