1. Tutorial: Writing a Lab Report CHEM 1154
References:
Lab text by Steve Brown
Grading rubric on Moodle

2. Improve Writing Skills
This is one of the course outcomes for CHEM 1154.
Having good writing skills is an essential asset that will further your success as a student, in your career, and as a community member.
In General Chemistry Lab, you will write and submit a Lab Report for every experiment.
A Lab Report is a scientific report organized around six distinct report sections.

3. What you will learn in this course?
How to communicate clearly, succinctly, and persuasively
the goal of conducting the experiment (what were you trying to learn, what theories or laws you were you probing).
the experimental techniques you used.
what you measured and observed; i.e. what raw data did you collect and how did you display them.
how you treated your data (calculations) and how good are they (error analysis).
what you concluded from your results.

4. Write a draft of the “Egg” Lab Report
Your TA will guide you through the sections of this Lab Report.
During the rest of this lab period, you will write your Egg Lab Report on your laptop and ask questions when the requirements are not clear.
When finished, this lab report will be uploaded and graded on Moodle.
You are expected to open the graded assignment and read the comments your TAs made when grading your report so that you can improve each report.

5. Cover Page and Abstract
Cover Page must include
Your name
Partner(s) name
Lab section number
Title
Brief purpose that includes the primary result being sought in the experiment, how what you measured is used to obtain the primary result, the value of the primary result you determined with the standard deviation, if applicable. (This is sometimes called an abstract.)
Specifically, in your abstract you should
Indicate the type of glassware that resulted in the most precise value of the density of an egg
The density of the egg and uncertainty measured indirectly by determining the density of water in which the egg just floats.
Each student should write their own abstract.
It is sometimes easiest to write this section last.

6. Introduction
The introduction should include a discussion of the chemical principles being investigated. This should be one to two paragraphs.
This includes a definition of the primary result, the relationship between the primary result and what you measured, any equations (chemical or mathematical) or laws that define this relationship, and the specific chemical system you studied.
The introduction section should conclude with a brief restatement of your purpose but should not include details of the experimental steps.

7. Data Tables, Results, and/or Graphs
This section is the most heavily weighted section of your lab report grade so it is very important you do well
Tables and graphs are given a title such as "Table 1" which should contain a brief description of what is in the table or graph.
Graph titles should be placed below the graph, data table titles should be placed above the table.
Data table rows and columns should have a label with the correct units present. An appropriate number of sig figs should be used.
Graphs in a lab report should never be hand-drawn. It is best to use Excel. Axes should be labeled with units.
See pages in your lab textbook for information on Excel
Specific results with correct units that are derived from experimental data on the graph should be clearly identified.
Data also need to be calculated correctly

8. Sample Calculations and Error Analysis
One correct representative sample calculation of each type done and with correct units included.
Also include a calculation of the mean and standard deviation if appropriate (replicate measurements).
See page in the lab textbook
Calculations should NOT be written by hand
Calculations should also NOT be written in Microsoft Word on one line using multiple sets parentheses (creating a long, confusing equation.)
Instead by using Microsoft Equation or something similar. Your TA is in lab to show you how to do this.

9. Conclusion and Discussion of Results
A conclusion/discussion should address whether the data and results support scientific concepts and/or theory.
This should include
A summary of main experimental results.
Possible sources of error (be specific!)
Ways to minimize error (if any).
If possible, find the accepted value for the primary result, report it, and identify the source of this value (this may not apply in all experiments.)
Does the "accepted" value fall within the range of your standard deviation values?
Do the results make sense or are they considerably different from what was expected?
The conclusion/discussion should be one to two paragraphs.

10. Post-Lab Questions
You may discuss these questions with your lab partner, but under no circumstances should one student write this section and have their partner simply copy and paste into their own report.
Write the answers to these questions in your own words.
For full credit, post-lab questions must be answered correctly with correct units and showing all work.
Again, do NOT write the calculations by hand or on one line with multiple parentheses, instead use Microsoft Equation or something similar.

11. Submitting a Lab Report
You will submit your lab report (Word or pdf formats only) electronically using the appropriate link on the course moodle site.
Late reports will be accepted, but will be penalized 2 points per day.
The software we use, Turnitin,
Displays the rubric that your TA will use to grade your Lab Report.
Records the grade you receive for each required Lab Report section and your TA comments.
Checks the originality of your Lab Report and reports plagiarism.
Plagiarized lab reports will receive a grade of zero, and a report may be sent to the Office of Student Conduct.