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Writing Lab Reports How To Guide

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28 views

Writing Lab Reports How To Guide

Uploaded by

Angela Batallang
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Writing Lab Reports

Writing Lab Reports


–What is a lab report?

–Purpose of a lab report

–Format

–Available resources
Definition

– A complete and detailed record of an


experiment.

– The information provided in a lab report


should be specific enough that the reader
would be able to replicate the experiment.
Writing Lab Reports
–What is a lab report?

–Purpose of a lab report

–Format

–Available resources
Consider the Writing Situation
–Audience: Readers, fellow researchers, scientists, etc.

–Purpose: Discuss significance of experimental results


Quantitative Analysis Needs Reliable Knowledge
1) Use standard procedures and describe your findings
analytically and systematically

2) Report only the results of your specific trial, not general


ideas

3) Avoid claims that are beyond your evidence


Analyze the Experiment, Not Yourself

Do not report what you “learned”: your data is not Report whether you reached your experimental
the results of a quiz! objective.
Practice Writing Like a Professional
1) Write complete sentences in passive voice
2) When using graphics, label and describe them
3) Do not “cut and paste” from another source, even the lab
manual
4) Print and proofread before you upload
5) Hand in reports on time
Writing Lab Reports
–What is a lab report?

–Purpose of a lab report

–Format

–Examples
Format Details

• Paper Size: Letter


• Margins: Normal
• Font Style & Size:
- Headings: Arial 14 (Bold, All Capital Letters)
- Body: Arial 12
• Line Spacing: Double (except title and literature cited sections)
• Paragraph Spacing: One (1) indention
Format Details: Title Page

Name: Due Date:


Co-worker (if there’s any): Date Submitted:

Experiment No. ____:


Title of the Experiment
Format Details: Body
• TITLE PAGE • DISCUSSION
• ABSTRACT • SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION
• INTRODUCTION • REFERENCES
• OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY • APPENDIX
• PROCEDURE
• DATA AND RESULTS
Logic, Not Time, Organizes the Report
Abstract
Brief trajectory of the report
Introduction
Background information to understand
the hypothesis you test in the experiment
Objective of the Study
Importance/ purpose of the experiment.
Contains the hypothesis

Procedure Data and Results


The steps you took What you saw when
to test the you used the
hypothesis procedure
Logic, Not Time, Organizes the Report
Continuation…
Discussion/Conclusions
Based on the Introduction, did the
Procedure produce the expected results?
What is next?

References
List of cited Literature, journals, books,
websites

Appendix
Includes other data, working equations,
sample calculations, etc.
Abstract
Abstract
Brief trajectory of the report
Introduction
Background information toSummarizes
understand the experimental
the hypothesis you test in the experiment
objective (“what you did”) –
tells result and its significance
Objective of the Study
Importance/ purpose of the experiment.
Contains the hypothesis

Procedure Data and Results


The steps you took What you saw when
to test the you used the
hypothesis procedure
Introduction
Abstract
Brief trajectory of the report
Introduction
Background information to understand
the hypothesis you test in the experiment

Presents concepts Objective of the Study


and equations thatImportance/ purpose of the experiment.
Contains the hypothesis
come up later

Procedure Data and Results


The steps you took What you saw when
to test the you used the
hypothesis procedure
Objective of the Study
Abstract
Brief trajectory of the report
Introduction
Background information to understand
the hypothesis you test in the experiment
Objective of the Study
Importance/ purpose of the experiment.
Contains the hypothesis

Answers two questions: Procedure Data and Results


• Why is this experimentThe steps you took
being What you saw when
performed? to test the you used the
hypothesis
• What information can I learn? procedure
Procedure
Abstract
Brief trajectory of the report
Introduction
Background information to understand
the hypothesis you test in the experiment
Objective of the Study
Allows an outsiderImportance/
to purpose of the experiment.
Contains the hypothesis
verify results

Procedure Data and Results


The steps you took What you saw when
to test the you used the
hypothesis procedure
Data/Results/Observations
Abstract
Brief trajectory of the report
Introduction
Background information to understand
the hypothesis you test in the experiment
Objective,
Objective of the Study without
Importance/ purpose of the experiment. evaluation or
Contains the hypothesis
calculations

Procedure Data and Results


The steps you took What you saw when
to test the you used the
hypothesis procedure
Discussion, Summary & Conclusion
Analyze and interpret
Continuation… how well the hypothesis
Discussion/Conclusions was supported
Based on the Introduction, did the
Procedure produce the expected results?
What is next?

References
List of cited Literature, journals, books,
websites

Appendix
Includes other data, working equations,
sample calculations, etc.
References

Discussion/Conclusions How to cite references:


Based on the Introduction, did the
https://www.citationmac
Procedure produce the expected results?
What is next? hine.net/apa

References
List of cited Literature, journals, books,
websites

Appendix
Includes other data, working equations,
sample calculations, etc.
Appendix

Discussion/Conclusions
Based on the Introduction, did the
Procedure produce the expected results?
What is next?

References
List of cited Literature, journals, books,
websites

Appendix
Includes other data, working equations,
sample calculations, etc.
Point System (100 pts.)
1) Title Page (2 pts.) 8) Summary and Conclusion

2) Abstract (10 pts.) (15 pts.)

3) Introduction (10 pts.) 9) References (5 pts.)

4) Objective of the Study (10 pts.) 10) Appendix (8 pts.)

5) Procedure (10 pts.)

6) Data and Results (10 pts.)

7) Discussion (20 pts.)

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