1. Writing a Lab Report

2. Major Parts of a Lab Report
Title page
Abstract
Purpose
Procedure
Observations
Results/Data Chart
Calculations
Conclusion
Questions answered in conclusion

3. Title Page
Title
Name
Date
Class

4. Title Straightforward (not more than a few words) Examples:
Too little detail: Fast food purchases
Too much detail: Differences in the fast food purchasing habits of men and women in the last month in Brighton
Just right: Differences in the fast food purchasing habits of men and women

5. Abstract Describe why you are performing this investigation.
What you did, what you got, how you got it, and your percent error
Short Sweet to the point
No more than 5-7 sentences

6. Purpose
Purpose
review prompts from lab
Why are you performing the lab

7. Procedure Describe step by step “what you did”
Include all experiments for each day
written in a paragraph form
Past tense because it has already happened
Do not use I, me, we, you, etc…
What safety cautions should you be concerned with.

8. Observations
Describe the initial visual appearance and any other information using your senses
Describe any changes during the experiment.
Describe the result of the experiment

9. Data Chart / Graph
Time (s)
Position (m) 1 6 2 12 3 18 4 24
Organize your observations and measurements in a clear chart or graph
All charts must have a description

10. Figures:
Figure 1: The mean number of fast food purchases made by males and females in last month. Error bars show ± 1 S.E.M.

11. Calculations
Show an example of one calculation and the answers to the same
Show how theoretical and percent yield were calculated

12. Conclusion Questions Summary of all results
Include where any possible errors could have occurred.

13. Summary You must include all sections of the report
Use Word or Excel to compose your lab
Never use I, me, you, we, etc…
Past tense
All figures and charts must have description
Always explain figures/charts in report and reference them.
12 pt Times New Roman
Double space
1 in margins
Number pages bottom right
Last name in header right