1. Writing a Lab Report

2. Why????? Why? To learn how to write a scientific publication
Writing a factual report is an important skill in all walks of life
Golden rule - Aim for Clarity
Use good English throughout, complete sentences, paragraphs etc.
Impersonal, avoid first person - I/we
Best to use passive voice – “The candle was connected to the pie plate by dropping 4 drops of wax on the pan….” rather than “I connected the candle to the …”

3. Major Parts of a Lab Report
Title on a Cover page
Purpose
Hypothesis
List of Materials and Equipment
Procedure
Observations
Data Chart
Calculations and Analysis
Graphs
Conclusion

4. Example Cover page:
Title of Lab (given) Your Name Date the lab was performed Course Name Instructor Name

5. Purpose
Describe why you are performing this investigation. (Stating the Problem)
Explain how you are going to prove or disprove you theory or hypothesis.
“To be able to……”

6. Hypothesis
Educated guess including the student’s expected results.

7. List of Materials and Equipment
Materials and equipment are two different things:
Materials: chemicals and supplies you use
Equipment: safety equipment, beakers, flasks, bunsen burners, etc.

8. Procedure Describe step by step “what to do”
Summary, either in a numbered or bulleted list, of what was done in the activity.
Make a labeled diagram of the experiment.
There are no understood procedures!!!

9. Observations
Describe the initial visual appearance and any other information using your senses
Describe any changes during the experiment.
Use an organized chart for this.

10. 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

11. Calculations and Analysis
Record of all formulas and complete equations used to arrive at your conclusions.
Measurements are accurate and within 5% of the true answer and show proper units!

12. Conclusion At least 2 paragraphs!!!
Summarize essential lab data.
Explain how the essential data answers the purpose.
Support your analysis with data from the lab (usually numeric).
Identify possible reasons for error and how they should be corrected.
Define (teacher-directed) new vocabulary terms and answer all questions given in the lab.

13. Self Evaluation:
Students are expected to honestly evaluate their own work. If the difference between the student evaluation and the teacher evaluation is more than 10 points, 5 points will be deducted from the teacher’s score when the grade is recorded.

14. Summary Lab reports represent 20% of your quarterly grade
You must include all sections of the report
Use Word, Excel or PowerPoint to compose your lab
A portion of your grade will be in the presentation of your work.