1. Biology Laboratory Report
Writing Checklist
Write in the 1st person
Use pronouns such as “I” and “We” to indicate you performed the experiments.
Write succinctly
Try to keep your sentences direct and avoid adding in unecessary details.
Reference all information acquired from sources other than your own knowledge
If you find information in a book, a scientific paper, or your lab manual; you must reference where you obtained the information from.
Begin the report with a short abstract
An abstract should be a one paragraph summary of your entire lab report, including results and their significance.
Provide background in the introduction
This is where you introduce the topic of your experiment. Be sure to include references to any sources used.
Include your purpose and hypothesis in your introduction
Your introduction should conclude with the experimental purpose and your hypotheses for the laboratory.
Write the materials & methods in past tense and in paragraph format
Enough detail should be provided in this section for someone else to run the experiments.
Display tables and figures in your results section
Your experimental data should be presented in either a table or a figure.
Properly number and label all tables and figures
Tables and figures are numbered separately. Each should have its own descriptive title. Titles go above tables and below figures.
Write out a brief description of your results
This should accompany your tables and figures and be written in paragraph format.
Explain your results in the discussion section
Use this section to go into detail about what your results mean in reference to the laboratory purpose.
Reference tables and figures in your discussion
When discussing your results make sure you reference the table or figure you can find that data in.
State conclusions in your discussion
These should be in reference to the original laboratory purpose and your hypotheses.
Include a references section
References should be listed in an organized and consistant manner (alphabetical, numbered, etc.)
REMEMBER DO NOT
- Use emotional language - Explain data in the results section
- Quote reference materials - Display data in a table AND a figure