1. How to Write an AP Biology Lab Report

2. Step 1: Before starting the Lab
Read the lab – thoroughly (that means every part)
There are 4 parts of the lab write-up you can do before starting the lab:
Title of the lab
Introduction
Materials
Methods

3. Step 2: Initial Write-up Part 1: Title
Title of a Lab:
Needs to be specific – NOT “Lab #1”
Cannot be the same as the title in the Lab Manual
Ex. – How enzymes are affected by temperature, acids, and bases

4. Step 2: Initial Write-up Part 1: Title
Brainstorm some examples for the Surface Tension Lab

5. Step 2: Initial Write-up Part 2: Introduction
State the problem
State the purpose of the lab – usually found on the first page of the lab manual (DO NOT COPY IT)
State your hypothesis
Do Background research about the topic on which the lab is about

6. Step 2: Initial Write-up Part 2: Introduction
What would you include in your introduction of the Surface Tension Lab?

7. Step 2: Initial Write-up Part 3: Materials
These need to be listed in a bulleted list in your lab write-up
Include details (how many pipettes, how much water, what type of water, etc)
Don’t leave any items out – even if you just used them for a second

8. Step 2: Initial Write-up Part 3: Materials
What were the materials used in the Surface Tension Lab?

9. Step 2: Initial Write-up Part 4: Methods
Write out the steps to the experiment as commands – like you are writing a recipe
NO Pronoun usage
Detailed commands – DO NOT COPY THE METHODS IN THE LAB – put them in your own words

10. Step 2: Initial Write-up Part 4: Methods
What are the methods of the Surface Tension Lab?

11. Step 3: Complete the experiment
Make sure to write down ALL data yourself – even if you are working in a group!
After completing the experiment, complete final write-up:
Results
Conclusion
Citations, Syntax, and Format

12. Step 4: Final Write-up Part 1: Results
Need to be written in paragraph form AND data put into charts or graphs
NO EXPLANATIONS of WHY here
Make sure correct units are used and graphs/charts are given a title and a number so you can refer back to it

13. Step 4: Final Write-up Part 1: Results
How would you record the results for the Surface Tension Lab?

14. Step 4: Final Write-up Part 2: Conclusion/Discussion
Explain why you got the results you got!
Reject or Accept your hypothesis and tell why you did that.
Explain any errors that might have occurred and what effects they might have had
Explain how you would expand this research for later projects or to find out different information

15. Step 4: Final Write-up Part 2: Conclusion/Discussion
What would you include in your discussion of the Surface Tension Lab?

16. Step 4: Final Write-up Part 3: Citations, Format, Syntax
Must include at least 2 that are not the lab manual – your book may count as one
Use the correct format – you can find this by googling the “OWL at Perdue”

17. Step 4: Final Write-up Part 3: Citations, Format, Syntax
Make sure it is clear
Each section needs a heading: “Introduction”, “Materials”, “Methods”
Syntax:
No Personal Pronouns
Proofread for grammatical and spelling errors

18. Grading Each Lab Write-Up counts as 150 points
The initial write-up will be due 2 days before beginning a lab and will be graded for accuracy and handed back for the lab
The final write-up will be due 1 week after the last day of the lab