Initial Drafts
If you noticed from the title of the Lab Report Analysis and Technical Description, I named them before adding “Final Draft”, since those papers were written after the initial draft I wrote after taking in feedback from the teacher and classmates themselves; I’ll post them here in order to show the differences and signs of growth between the two:
Lab Report Analysis:
“An Analytical Examination of a Lab Report: “Evaluation of a Study on Reduction of Common
Cold Symptoms”
From: aespino012@citymail.cuny.edu
To: sjacobson1@ccny.cuny.edu
March 3, 2024
Subject: Lab Report Analysis/Essay
Universally known, scientific research serves as the foundation of advancements in the
present known as life, and specific examples of branches deriving from the Esse are such as
medicine and public health. In this vein of research, science goes to drive and attracts progress
by uncovering the behind-the-scenes of disease mechanisms, and with this, developing new
treatments and presenting strategies to counter such parasites. Therefore, through research,
evidence-based practice, and innovation, science gives plenty of benefits such as the ability of
earlier detection, personalized interventions, and an improved healthcare framework overall,
ultimately leading to better outcomes for individuals and communities worldwide; one method
one can use to find such information, is through what’s known as a “Lab Report”. This present
essay will critically evaluate a lab report analyzing a study titled “Reduction of common cold
symptoms by encapsulated juice powder concentrate of fruits and vegetables: a randomised,
double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.” It will go to evaluate the report under scrutiny and will
also meticulously assess various components of the study, ranging from its title to the discussion
of results. But it’s not too early to say that through an organized structure and scholarly approach,
the authors of this report, effectively communicated the purpose, methods, findings, and
implications of their research, thereby contributing to the understanding of preventive strategies
for common cold symptoms, highlighting the importance of a well-informed, specific, and well-
written lab report.
To begin, starting from top to bottom, a Lab Report must accordingly cover 10 factors;
the First 5 being “The Title, The Abstract, The Introduction, The Material and Methods, and The
Results”; The title, which succinctly describes the content and purpose of the experiment, helps
provide readers with an initial understanding of what the report is about and offers the reader the
choice of whether to be interested or not in such a field. Additionally, it also helps by being
broad, helping readers such as scientists or engineers save time by simply knowing what they are
going to be reading about, compared to an artist for example. “Reduction of common cold
symptoms by encapsulated juice powder concentrate of fruits and vegetables: a randomised,
double-blind, placebo-controlled trial” is the title of today’s lab report. It simplistically
summarizes the focus and design of the study as well as includes key information such as the
intervention, the condition studied, and the type of trial. All of these provide readers with a clear
understanding of the experiment immediately. Moving on, The abstract, which provides a brief
summary of the entire lab report, including the purpose of the experiment, the methods used, the
key results, and the main conclusions, which allows readers to quickly grasp the essence of the
study without having to read the entire report. In this specific lab report, it effectively outlines
the purpose of the study, stating, “to determine the preventive effect of a dietary supplement
from fruits and vegetables on common cold symptoms” (Roll et al., 2010), additionally, the
methods used found in, a “randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial” (Roll et al., 2010),
the key results stated as, “reduction in days with moderate or severe common cold symptoms”
(Roll et al., 2010), and the main conclusions, “intake of the dietary supplement was associated
with a 20% reduction in symptoms” (Roll et al., 2010). Overall, the abstract provides a quick
overview of the study’s design, findings, and implications, helping readers to decide whether to
read the full report for additional research. Moving accordingly, The Introduction is self-
explanatory. It sets the context for the experiment by providing background information,
explaining the scientific concepts relevant to the study, and stating the objectives or hypotheses.
It’s important because it helps readers understand the purpose and significance of the experiment
at hand. In this specific introduction, the authors provide background information on the
common cold, which goes to highlight its prevalence, symptoms, and economic impact on
society. They then discuss previous research on preventive strategies, for example, dietary
supplements. They also went and justified the need for further investigation; The objectives of
the study are clearly stated overall, along with the hypothesis for using encapsulated juice
powder concentrate from fruits and vegetables as the intervention which we saw from the title
already which helps the reassure readers by showing your methods are reliable and appropriate.
And speaking of methods, next up is The Materials and Methods. This section describes the
materials used in the experiment and the procedures followed in great detail. It’s important
because it allows other scientists to replicate the experiment and serves as a reference for
understanding how the data were collected through difficulties, observations, etc. This section
goes into detail about the study design, including the participant’s selection criteria, the
randomization process, the intervention protocol, and the outcome measures. The authors of the
lab report also describe how participants were recruited, allocated to treatment groups, and
assessed for compliance in their work, which shows a lot of their effort on paper. Additionally,
they provide information on data collection methods, including the use of common cold diaries,
and outline the statistical analysis plan. This section overall was crucial for understanding how
the experiment was conducted and how the data were analyzed, and it was perfectly explained.
To end this section, The results, which present the data collected during the experiment, are often
in the form of tables, graphs, or figures which are extremely specific and detailed when it comes
to what information they show. It’s a great way to provide readers with the raw information
obtained and allows them to see the outcomes of the experiment. It also allows the writer to
persuade the readers by using their results to support their claims and hypotheses. Here, they
provide demographic information about the study participants, they also went out of their way to
summarize the primary and secondary outcomes and reports of the results of such statistical
analyses. The findings are presented clearly, with tables and figures to illustrate key findings,
one of these was a bar graph titled, “Encapsulated juice powder and common cold” (Roll et al.,
2010), showing the days of both groups and their cold symptoms along each month. This goes to
show that these authors go to compare outcomes between the intervention and control groups,
and then discuss any statistically significant differences observed.
On to the next section, covering The Discussion, The Conclusion, The
Acknowledgments, The References, and lastly, The Appendices. To commence, the discussion
section follows from the results section, where they are interpreted and analyzed in the context of
the experiment’s objectives and the broader scientific field. This section also discusses any
limitations of the study and suggests directions for future research in case the study went through
some failures. In this case, the authors do go on to discuss the implications of their findings,
including the potential mechanisms underlying the observed effects and their relevance for
public health. And to my surprise, they also acknowledged the limitations of the study, such as
the predominantly female participant population, and suggested directions for future research
alongside improvements they could have made. This overall, led to the discussion providing a
comprehensive analysis of the study’s findings and their significance for future works.
Furthermore, The conclusion. It summarizes the main findings of the experiment and explains
their significance. It also restates the original hypotheses or objectives and may suggest practical
implications or applications of the results. In the lab report, the authors briefly did this by
concluding that the intake of encapsulated juice powder concentrated from fruits and vegetables
was associated with a reduction in common cold symptoms, suggesting potential benefits for
individuals exposed to such symptoms. To proceed, there are The Acknowledgments. This
section goes on to acknowledge any individuals or organizations that contributed to the
experiment. It may come in the form of funding sources, technical assistance, or other methods
of support. In this case, the authors detail their roles in the study and affirm that they have no
personal or financial conflicts of interest, which adds transparency and credibility to the report.
Then, there are The references. This section lists all the sources cited in the lab report, such as
scientific papers, textbooks, or other literature the writer may have used to further support their
reports. It allows readers to locate and verify the information presented in the report and
potentially builds the writer a good reputation by using non-misinformative sources. In this
context, the authors indeed cited previous research studies, guidelines, and other relevant
sources, but not to fear, they were all mentioned in this section, demonstrating the scholarly rigor
of their work. Lastly, there’s The Appendices. It contains additional materials that are not
essential to understanding the main content of the report but may provide supplemental
information, such as raw data, calculations, or detailed experimental procedures which may help
the reader clarify any unanswered questions they may have had during their journey through the
report, however, in this Lab Report, there are no signs of Appendices, which doesn’t affect the
Lab Report much, but certainly would have benefit because of it in helping still confused
readers.
To conclude, the analyzed lab report goes to exemplify meticulous attention to detail and
commitment to a scholarly convention in scientific writing. It’s done through a structured
approach where it encompasses sections such as the title, abstract, introduction, materials and
methods, results, discussion, conclusion, acknowledgments, and references. Additionally, the
authors effectively communicate the findings of their research on the reduction of common cold
symptoms, informing readings expertly and thoroughly. While acknowledging the report’s
strengths in clarity, organization, and scholarly rigor, it is imperative to recognize opportunities
for enhancement, such as addressing minor spelling errors and expanding on certain aspects for a
more comprehensive analysis, such as including an appendix. Overall, the report stands as a
testament to the significance of rigorous scientific inquiry in advancing our understanding of
strategies for common disorders, thereby paving the way for a world with newly improved public
health outcomes.
Works Cited:
Roll, S. N., Nocon, M. N., & Willich, S. N. W. (2010, August 23). Reduction of common cold
symptoms by encapsulated juice powder concentrate of fruits and vegetables: a randomised,
double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. https://www.cambridge.org. Retrieved March 3, 2024,
from https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-
core/content/view/4E3A02A6D1E0EF0A17D0043394E843C4/S000711451000317Xa.pdf/div-
class-title-reduction-of-common-cold-symptoms-by-encapsulated-juice-powder-concentrate-of-
fruits-and-vegetables-a-randomised-double-blind-placebo-controlled-trial-div.pdf”
Feedback given –
“What is the opening sentence trying to say? It is not readily understandable.
The essay begins with too much generalization, Simply discuss the elements of a lab report.
The essay should be divided into further paragraphs.
The descriptions are sufficient, but I would urge you to add more detail when making claims. Sometimes they are backed up by explanations or quotes but many times statements are made without sufficient evidence.”
The Lab –
Additionally, I wanted to add this since It was due with the initial draft as well, which in short words, is the lab report I targetted within my analysis alongside my annotations:
Technical Description:
“From: aespino012@citymail.cuny.edu
To: sjacobson1@ccny.cuny.edu
March 25, 2024
Subject: Technical Description of a Plane Engine
Outline of Contents:
Introduction
• 1.1 History and Innovator
• 1.2 Need for Innovation
• 1.3 Background Information
Body
• 2.1 External Components
• 2.1.1 Cowling
• 2.1.2 Air Intake
• 2.1.3 Exhaust System
• 2.2 Internal Components
• 2.2.1 Compressor
• 2.2.2 Combustion Chamber
• 2.2.3 Turbine
• 2.2.4 Accessories
• 2.3 Functions and Operation
Conclusion
References
Introduction:
As a lover of planes themselves, they possess many complex pieces that are noticeably
fascinating. And along those, is the plane engine; one of many marvels of engineering that has,
likewise, revolutionized the way humans travel and ability to explore the skies for decades now.
It’s safe to say that from the earliest piston engines to the modern turbofans that we see today, the
evolution of plane engines has truly been remarkable and something worth speaking about and
learning about. Therefore, this technical description will go to delve into every component and
workings of a plane engine, giving us the clear lens to look upon its importance in history, their
innovators, and their necessity for continuous innovation.
1.1 History and Innovator:
And speaking of their innovators. It’s significant to know that the development of the plane
engine can be traced back to the Wright brothers, which are “Orville” and “Wilbur Wright”, two
pioneers who built and flew the first powered aircraft in 1903 (Crouch, 2024). To be more
specific, their engine was a four-cylinder, water-cooled internal combustion engine producing 12
horsepower. And since then, numerous other innovators and engineers from companies like
Rolls-Royce, Pratt & Whitney, and General Electric businesses have contributed to
advancements in plane engine technology.
1.2 Need for Innovation:
And this is important; Because, you see, the need for innovation in plane engines arises from the
demands for increased efficiency as society evolves. Like things such as reduced emissions, and
enhanced performance. We must understand that as air travel became more popular and
widespread around the globe, the aviation industry faces many challenges such as fuel
consumption, environmental concerns, and the greedy quest for higher speeds and altitudes.
1.3 Background Information:
Now, before delving into the technical description itself, it’s essential to understand the basic
principles behind a plane engine first, so that we can have some sort of understanding already to
transport our knowledge off to other branches. Simply put, a plane engine, whether piston or
turbine-based, we’ll be focusing on a turbine-based in this paper, operates on the principle of
converting fuel into mechanical energy to propel an aircraft forward. It achieves this by
generating thrust through the expulsion of high-velocity exhaust gases. And this helps due to the
fact: “The thrust from one or more engines pushes a plane forward, forcing air past its
scientifically shaped wings to create an upward force called lift that powers it into the sky”
(Woodford, 2021).
Body:
2.1 External Components:
Now to begin with the dissection of the engine itself, we’ll divide it into two sections:
External Components, and Internal Components. This way, we can keep things organized and it
will be much easier to understand how each component works with one another.
2.1.1 Cowling:
Starting with the cowling, it is basically the outer shell covering the engine, designed to
streamline the airflow and provide protection to internal components which will touch upon later.
It consists of two main sections: the upper cowling and the lower cowling, both covering the
entire engine. The image below goes to illustrates the main cowling components.
From the image we can see the cowling of a plane engine consists of the upper and lower
sections which supply protection for the pressure area, simply providing aerodynamic
streamlining and protection to internal components.
Source: https://okigihan.blogspot.com/p/maintenance-of-engine-cowlings.html
(Quick note, this site got deleted, which made me change it compared to the final draft.)
2.1.2 Air Intake:
Moving on is the air intake; responsible for supplying air to the engine for combustion. It is
strategically positioned to capture clean, non-dangerous airflow, ensuring optimal engine
performance and safety. The design of the air intake varies depending on the engine type and
aircraft configuration, but since we’re focusing on a turbine, the image below shows how a
turbine-based engine’s air intake looks like.
Overall, the air intake of a plane engine captures clean airflow for the internal components,
contributing to the engine’s efficiency and allowing these internal components to receive what
they need to work properly.
Source: https://etc.usf.edu/clippix/picture/jet-engine-intake.html
2.1.3 Exhaust System:
Now another important aspect of the engine. The exhaust system, which is responsible for
expelling or releasing combustion gases from the engine. It consists of exhaust pipes, mufflers,
and thrust reversers. Additionally, it is important to understand that the design of the exhaust
system influences the engine’s noise, thrust output, and emissions overall. The picture below
shows the components of an Exhaust system in a plane engine.
Overall, the exhaust system of a plane engine expels the combustion gases accumulated within
and contributes to thrust generation as well as noise reduction, even though it’s still pretty loud.
Source: https://www.aircraftsystemstech.com/p/exhaust-system-with-turbocharger.html
2.2 Internal Components:
Noting now how the external components are very significant when it comes to a plane
engine, as equally important, are the internal components. These components work hand in hand
with the internal components and take what the internal components provide and make the
engine work.
2.2.1 Compressor:
To begin, the compressor, which is a vital component of a jet engine responsible for compressing
the incoming air before it enters the combustion chamber. It consists of multiple stages of
rotating blades and stationary vanes and as air passes through the compressor, its pressure and
temperature increase, preparing it for the next step, combustion. The image below represents the
components.
Overall, the compressor stage of a plane engine compresses incoming air from the air intake and
increases its pressure and temperature for the combustion stage.
Source: https://innovationdiscoveries.space/how-does-a-jet-engine-work/
2.2.2 Combustion Chamber:
Now speaking of which; The combustion chamber, this is where fuel is mixed with the
compressed air and ignited to produce high-pressure, high-velocity gases for the engine to start.
It consists of a cylindrical chamber lined with flame holders and fuel injectors. Additionally, the
combustion process releases energy, which drives the turbine and generates the thrust it needs.
Refer to the previous image to see what the combustion chamber looks like and its components.
2.2.3 Turbine:
Moving on is the turbine. And this one is crucial, since it serves as the component that extracts
energy from the high-pressure gases produced in the combustion chamber. It consists of multiple
stages of blades attached to a central shaft. As hot gases flow over the turbine blades, they
expand and transmits rotational energy to the turbine, which drives the compressor and any
accessories which we will touch upon next. Also, refer to the last image to see how it operates
alongside the compressor and combustion systems.
2.2.4 Accessories:
Lastly from the internal components is the Accessories’. Plane engines also incorporate various
accessories for supplemental functions such as lubrication, cooling, and power generation to
enhance the engine in general and reassure that the process goes smoothly. These include oil
pumps, fuel pumps, hydraulic pumps, and electrical generators. Overall, accessories play a vital
role in ensuring the reliable operation of the engine and aircraft systems in any forms of
situations.
2.3 Functions and Operation:
Now that we know the components of a functioning plane engine, we’ll be able to
understand the process in how it uses these components to operate; A plane engine involves in a
complex mechanism of mechanical, thermodynamic, and aerodynamic principles. Simply put,
Air is drawn into the engine through the air intake, compressed in the compressor, mixed with
fuel and ignited in the combustion chamber, and then expelled through the turbine to produce
thrust which goes to show how each and every part of a plane engine is needed in order to work.
Also, the engine’s performance is influenced by other factors such as altitude, airspeed,
temperature, and throttle setting which either make the process faster, or slower.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, the plane engine goes to represent just how capable we humans are within
the engineering world. From its humble beginnings of three pellets to the sophisticated turbofan
engines used today, it continues to evolve and obtain progress in aviation, and understanding this
essential for appreciating the marvels of modern air travel and see the path that us humans were
able to build for ourselves, because trust me, there’s way many more complex stuff than this.
References (Working on turning into APA format):
https://www.explainthatstuff.com/jetengine.html#:~:text=A%20jet%20engine%20is%20a%20m
achine%20that%20converts,called%20lift%20that%20powers%20it%20into%20the%20s
ky.
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Wright-brothers“
Feedback Given –
“The essay is well written!
Missing notes under the images according to APA format.
The works cited page must also be in APA format as you mentioned.
Good job overall!”