1. Notes Title = How to write the “Methodology” section “Procedures” vs
Notes Title = How to write the “Methodology” section “Procedures” vs. “Methodology”
Procedures
Instructions are written as commands
Steps are numbered
Materials listed separately
Instructions are detailed enough for others to repeat the experiment.
Methodology
Written as a narrative (paragraph form) in the past tense
Written in 3rd person (no “I” or “we”) using the passive voice
Materials are embedded in the paragraph, explaining what they were used for.
Descriptions are detailed enough for others to repeat the experiment.

2. Active vs. Passive Voice
Video on active & passive voice:
Why should we write the Materials and Methods section
in passive voice? *hint* “depersonalize”
Identifying active vs. passive using "by zombies"
How can you use “by zombies” to see if you’re
using active or passive voice? (Give an example for each)

3. Convert DNA extraction lab “procedures” into “Methodology”
Things you SHOULD include:
Why you used the materials or what the materials were used for
What kind of data you collected (or what you measured)
Things you should NOT include:
The act of gathering materials or cleaning up
Who did what
The actual results, observations, or data

4. Include ingredients for the DNA extraction solution
Write a narrative (full sentences in paragraph form) describing what happened in the DNA extraction lab., including mistakes!
Include ingredients for the DNA extraction solution
Write “(by zombies)” to check each sentence
Do not include clean-up steps
Do not include the results of the lab.
Procedure:
1) “Put the strawberry into the ziploc bag”
Methodology (Passive voice, past tense, 3rd person)
“One strawberry was put into the ziploc bag (by zombies).”