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Lab Report Formatting

The document provides guidance for writing a lab report, including recommended sections and formatting. Key sections are an introduction, purpose, hypothesis, materials, procedure, results, analysis, conclusion, and works cited. Details are given on what to include in each section, such as background information in the introduction and step-by-step instructions in the procedure. Writing should be in third person passive voice and measurements should include units and significant figures.

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61 views4 pages

Lab Report Formatting

The document provides guidance for writing a lab report, including recommended sections and formatting. Key sections are an introduction, purpose, hypothesis, materials, procedure, results, analysis, conclusion, and works cited. Details are given on what to include in each section, such as background information in the introduction and step-by-step instructions in the procedure. Writing should be in third person passive voice and measurements should include units and significant figures.

Uploaded by

monaxe.from.xbox
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Lab Report Format

General Information:
12 pt Times New Roman font
Double Spaced
1 inch margins
Always write in third person
Write in Full Sentences except for the materials list

Important Reminders for a Lab Report


Check Spelling
Use Significant figures and units regarding measurements and
calculations Avoid personal pronouns
Headings should stand out and each section should be separated by 1 line
Neatness counts -> use rulers when needed (especially when using tables and
graphs), type if possible
Do not copy verbatim (word for word) from the lab handout or any other
source. This is plagiarism and would result in a zero mark and
possible further consequences.

Title- Heading, Name, Class Name, Teacher Name, Date Lab Report

Introductory Paragraph – This section should be written in complete sentences and


should connect lab concepts to class content, The introduction should provide
background information on the history of the concepts tested, scientists, theories, and any
laws tested in the experiment. Cite Sources Used. The introduction should contain any
prior knowledge on which the experiment is based including an explanation of principles,
definitions, experimental techniques, theories and laws.

State Problem / Purpose The objective is a concise statement in complete sentences


outlining the purpose of the experiment. The purpose section of a lab is where you tell the
reader your reason for doing the lab in the first place and briefly summarize any relevant
background information about the experiment, including any relevant chemical equations
and/or algebraic equations.
Hypothesis: Possible if____ then_____ statement. Define any variables such as
manipulated, measured, controlled and the cause and effect predicted. The hypothesis is
a one-line sentence where you discuss how you’ll solve the problem at hand. The
statement after “if” is the independent variable. The independent variable is whatever
you will do to solve the problem. The statement after “then” is the dependent variable,
because what happens will depend on what you did in the first place. Generally, the
dependent variable will be the problem you mentioned in the purpose.

Materials: (Bulleted List) The materials section is a list of all equipment, reagents
(chemicals), and computer programs that were used to complete the experiment.
Drawings of the apparatus setup should be included in this section if needed. The
materials list must be complete. Indicate how much of each material will be used in the
experiment.
If you plan on arranging some of the equipment into a more complex setup (for example,
if you are going to heat something over a Bunsen burner, you will need a ring stand, wire
gauze, etc.), draw it as well as mention the equipment used.

Procedure: This section may be written in either paragraphs or numbered steps. Explain
the test design, and allow for pictures and diagrams. The procedure is a detailed
statement (step by step) of how the experiment was performed such that the experiment
could be repeated using your report. Safety precautions that were followed should be
stated in this section. The procedure must be written in the impersonal (3rd person) past
tense:
e.g. We are taking the temperature every 2 minutes. NO
The temperature was taken every 2 minutes. YES

Data / Results / Observations: This is a collection of observations, measurements,


multiple trials, data tables, charts, and repeating steps. This section may consist of
quantitative and/or qualitative observations of the experiment. A qualitative piece of data
is a written description and/or sketch of what was seen during the experiment.
Quantitative information may be in the form of a table or simply a written description.
When graphs are required, special attention should be paid to the following items: the
type of graph expected (straight line or curve), utilizing the entire graph paper, plotted
point size, title of the graph, and axis labels. When numerous measurements have
occurred, data is to be placed in a data table whenever possible. Figure headings are
placed below the figure and should give a short description of the figure. The figure
number should be in bold print. Table headings are found above the table and should also
have a brief description.

Analysis / Calculations: Graphs, Error Calculations, Equations, Statistical Analysis -


One example of each type of calculation should be included. Results from numerous
calculations should be placed in a data table with the proper number of significant figures
and correct units. % yield and % error calculations should be included when possible.

Conclusion: The conclusion is a concise statement that answers the objective. The result
of percent error and/or percent yield should be discussed and compared with known
results. A portion of the conclusion should be dedicated to error analysis which discusses
any possible sources of error that may have contributed to the percent error or yield. The
conclusion should be written in the impersonal past tense.How to change the experiment
for improved results, What did you learn? Explain what the results are telling you,
Accept/Reject Hypothesis, Answer any Questions posed by the lab or teacher. A one-line
sentence that supports the hypothesis or states that the hypothesis is incorrect. For
example, if you proved the hypothesis that “If I poke myself in the eye, then my eye will
hurt”, this first sentence would be “When I poked myself in the eye, it hurt.” If the
hypothesis didn’t work, an explanation of what possibly went wrong. These should be
specific suggestions (I should have heated the mixture to 550 C), not general suggestions
(I should have heated it more). List at least two possible errors in the lab, as well as ways
to prevent those errors in the future. The errors you mention should be errors that you can
do something about, not mystical errors that probably did not occur.

Works Cited: Any information borrowed from another source which is not common
knowledge must be cited within the text of the report.

Additional Notes:
Reports will be graded largely on their ability to clearly communicate results and
important conclusions to the reader. You must, of course, use proper English and
spelling, along with comprehensible logic and appropriate style. You should proofread
your report as well as spell-check it.
-Neatness and organization will also influence the grade a report receives. Be sure to
follow explicitly the format indicated above. Type reports, and attach lab notes as
appendices.
-Avoid being overly verbose and flowery when attempting to convey your point - be
concise.
-Avoid qualitative phrases such as "the results were quite close" or "heat fluxes were
in good agreement with the correlation." Be as quantitative as possible. - Do not copy
material without citing the source. This includes lab manuals, text books, your neighbor,
old labs, etc. Plagiarism, of any degree, will not be accepted.

Complete Formal Lab Report Marking Rubric

Student: _____________________________________________
Mark out
Items Being Assessed Comments
of 4

Title Page: The Title page is on a separate page &


contains your name, partner’s names, the date, the
teacher’s name & a suitable descriptive title

Abstract: The abstract is of an appropriate length &


contains the necessary elements: what was done, how it
was done, results & importance of the work.

Introduction: The introduction contains an appropriate


amount of information. There is the appropriate number
of references properly cited using in text citations.
Paragraphs are well structured & each paragraph
discusses only 1 idea. Paragraphs are arranged from
most general to most specific & progress in a logical
fashion. There are no/few grammatical errors.

Methods: The methods section is a separate section; the


methods are accurate, clearly written & contains
sufficient accurate detail that someone else could
perform the lab.

Results: The results are presented in an appropriate


format (table, chart, calculations, labeled diagrams etc).
The results are labeled with an appropriate title & a
descriptive caption.

Discussion: Answers to discussion questions are


at/above a SPH3U level: Answers are correct, complete
and display a considerable amount of critical thinking and
insight

Professionalism: Overall, this lab report is at/above a


SPH3U level.

Total /28

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