HOW TO WRITE A LAB REPORT

Title Page
All lab reports should contain an APA formatted title page. Your title page should contain & look like the
following:

Running head: TITLE OF PAPER 1

Number your title page as page 1

Each letter of your title in the running head should be

capitalized. Copy the words running head exactly as it
appears here.
Title of Paper
Your Name
Date All font should be:
Times New Roman 12 pt font.
School Continue this throughout the entire lab

Double Space between lines.

Continue this throughout the entire
lab

Title
All written lab reports must begin with a title. The title should be written at the top of the page.

Introduction
The introduction presents the background information for the experiment. It is a summary that includes
definitions of new terms and explanations of theories and formulas associated with the experiment. It must be
written in paragraph form and in your own words. To help you, think about what was taught in class that is
related to the lab. Do not explain what you are going to do in the lab in this section. This section should be
about 1 page, double spaced. You must
TITLE OF PAPER 2
provide APA in text references.
Title of Paper Repeated

*In text references are used to cite any ideas that are Introduction
not your own original ideas. In a science introduction, Begin typing your introduction.
almost every single sentence will contain an in-text
citation after it.

The citation for the textbook should be as follows:

(Adam Carr et al., 2010).
Purpose
The purpose is a clear statement that indicates the reason for performing the experiment. It is a statement and
therefore should not be written as a question.
Example: ✗ What happens to ice when it is heated?
✓The purpose of this experiment is to determine the effect of heating ice.
Do not directly copy the purpose from the lab handout.

Hypothesis
The hypothesis is a prediction of the results of the experiment. It is not just a guess of the outcome, but is
based on previously known information or experience. It is always stated in the form:

If... (independent variable) then… (dependent variable)

Example: If ice is heated, then the ice will melt

Materials and Apparatus

This section is a list of all materials, equipment, apparatus, and chemicals used in the investigation. Any
required diagrams for equipment or unusual set-ups should be placed in this section.

NOTE: All diagrams must be neatly drawn in pencil, fully labelled, and titled. A ruler must be used

Safety
This section is a list of all hazardous materials, their WHMIS symbols, and the safety precautions that must be
taken during this lab.

Example: Hydrochloric acid is corrosive. Avoid contact with skin.

Goggles must be worn.
Concentrated sulphuric acid must be used in the fume hood.

Procedure
The procedure is a brief summary of the steps followed in the experiment. Each step should be numbered,
written clearly and concisely, and in the past passive tense. Each step should be written as a complete
sentence.
Example of using the past passive tense:
✗I filled the beaker with water.
✗ I will fill the beaker with water.
✓The beaker was filled with water.
Observations
Observations can be Qualitative (involves using senses to describe matter) or Quantitative (involves
measurements). It’s a good idea to make separate tables for qualitative and quantitative observations.

This section includes:

1. Tables: title, headings, ruler, appropriate units

2. Graphs: title, fully labelled, pencil, appropriate units
3. Diagrams: proper format (to be discussed)
4. Calculations (including formulas and shows all work)
Discussion
i.
1) Questions will be assigned and should be answered concisely and in complete sentences. Use
textual references to support your ideas (eg. Class notes and other sources).
ii.
2) Include a discussion of the sources of error that occurred in the experiment. Errors include human
and experimental errors that affect the results of experiments. You must state the error and explain
how it affected your results. You must also suggest any modifications that would minimize each
identified source of error.

Conclusion
The conclusion is a brief statement that summarizes the results of the experiment. It should relate back to the
purpose and hypothesis of the experiment. No explanations of the results are included in this
section.
iii. Example: When ice was heated to a
temperature of 0oC, it melted and
become water.

NOTE:DO NOT use personal pronouns in any part of your lab report, including your discussion. Make sure
your lab report is written in past tense (except for your introduction).

APA Formatted Reference Page

Your APA formatted reference page should be set up as the following. It should be written in 12pt Times New
Roman Font and be on a separate page titled References.. If you have multiple sources they should be placed
in alphabetical order. If your reference continues on to a second, line you must indent every line, except for the
first line of each reference.

Contributors' names (Last edited date). Title of resource. Retrieved from http://Web address for OWL

resource

For Example:

Angeli, E., Wagner, J., Lawrick, E., Moore, K., Anderson, M., Soderlund, L., & Brizee, A. (2010, May

5). General format. Retrieved from http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/

 Name: ____________________________

Lab Report Rubric

Criteria Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4

(50-59%) (60-69%) (70-79%) (80-100%)
Overall
THINKING
Hypothesis Hypothesized relationship Hypothesized relationship Hypothesized relationship Hypothesized relationship
between the variable and between the variable and between the variable and between the variable and
the predicted results has the predicted results is the predicted results is the predicted results are
been stated, but appears somewhat clear and considerably clear and is clear and reasonable and
to be based on flawed somewhat based on what based on what has been is based on what has been
logic has been studied studied. It is in the form studied. It is in the form
(If..then..) (If..then..)
Procedures Procedure is present but Procedures are listed but Procedures are listed in Procedures are listed in
most steps and/or some steps and changes logical order and steps are clear, logical order and
changes are missing or are missing numbered. Most steps each step is numbered.
are incorrect and/or changes are They are written in
present. Each step is complete sentences and
written in past tense and are in the past tense.
with complete sentences
Calculations Few calculations are Some calculations are Many calculations are All calculations are
included and are correct included and are included and are mostly included and are correct.
somewhat correct correct
Analysis Discussion illustrates Discussion illustrates Discussion illustrates Discussion illustrates a
limited understanding of some understanding of considerable high degree of
scientific concepts scientific concepts. understanding of scientific understanding of scientific
concepts concepts.
Few questions are Some questions are Most questions are All questions are
answered and/or answered and/or answered and/or answered correctly and
answered correctly answered correctly. answered correctly thoroughly.
Some sources of error
Few or no sources of error have been identified At least three sources of All sources of error have
have been identified error have been identified been identified and
and explained explained thoroughly.
Overall:
APPLICATION
Safety, Performance & Clean Student is unable to Student is able to perform Student is able to perform Student is able to perform
Up perform the lab without the lab with some the lab with minimal the lab with no guidance.
guidance. Student did not guidance. Student guidance. Student Student performed the lab
perform the lab carefully, performed the lab performed the lab carefully, was on task,
was not on task and did somewhat carefully, was carefully, was on task and wore safety equipment at
not wear safety somewhat on task and wore safety equipment. all times. Glassware and
equipment. Glass and lab sometimes wore safety Glassware and lab bench the lab bench were
bench were not cleaned equipment. Glasswear and were cleaned thoroughly cleaned.
lab bench were somewhat
cleaned.
Applications of Everyday life Makes connections with Makes connections with Makes connections with Makes connections with a
limited effectiveness some effectiveness considerable effectiveness high degree of
effectiveness.
APA Formatting -does not apply proper -numerous mistakes with -applies proper APA/MLA -applies proper APA/MLA
APA/MLA format: proper APA/MLA format: proper format: accurate quoting format: accurate quoting
quoting and citing; quoting and citing; and citing; and citing;
-lacking application of -satisfactory application of -effectively applies -highly effective
knowledge of literature & knowledge of literature & knowledge of literature & application of knowledge
writing techniques writing techniques writing techniques of literature & writing
-no connections made -makes some connections -effectively makes techniques
connections -highly effectively
connections made

1
COMMUNUICATIO Overall:
N
Introduction Present few of the key Presents some of the key Presents most of the key Presents all of the key
ideas related to the lab ideas related to the lab. ideas related to the lab. ideas clearly, logically, and
effectively.
Written with limited Written with some degree Written with considerable Written with a high degree
effectiveness of effectiveness effectiveness of effectiveness using own
words.
Format Several errors in spelling Some errors in spelling & Few errors in spelling & Minimal errors in spelling
& grammar grammar grammar. and grammar.

Personal pronouns are Personal pronouns are Personal pronouns are Personal pronouns are not
used often. The lab is not used sometimes. The lab used rarely. The lab is used. The lab is not
written in the past tense is mostly written in the written in the past tense. written in the past tense.
past tense.
Lab report is not The lab is organized with Lab report is effectively
organized; not neat The lab is organized and subheadings and follows organized into sections
follows APA expectations APA expectations with a and is clean and
with some degree of considerable degree of professional looking. APA
effectiveness. effectiveness. expectations are followed
with a high degree of
effectiveness.
Purpose, Materials, Safety Few sections are present Some sections are present Most sections are present, All sections are mostly
Procedures and complete and complete mostly correct, & complete correct and complete
Observation Table(s) Observation table(s) is not Observation table(s) is Observation table(s) is Observation tables are
neat or organized. somewhat neat and considerably neat and extremely neat and
organized. organized. organized.
Few headings are present
and/or effective Some headings are Most headings are All headings are present.
present and/or effective. present. Most headings All headings are effective.
Title is missing are effective.
Title is present and is Title is present and
somewhat effective Title is present and effective.
effective.
Observations Inaccurate. Somewhat accurate Mostly accurate Accurate

Incomplete. Somewhat complete Complete Complete and thorough

Few scientific terms used Some scientific terms Many scientific terms used Highly appropriate
to describe observations used to describe to describe observations scientific terms used to
observations describe observations
Graph(s) & Diagram(s) Figure(s) are not neat, Figure(s) are somewhat Figure(s) are considerably Figure(s) are neat,
disorganized and labels neat, organized, but some neat, organized, labeled organized, labelled,
are incorrect/missing labels are and correct. appropriately and correct.
incorrect/missing
The figure is incorrect
The figure is somewhat
correct.

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