SCIENCE LAB REPORT
GUIDELINES
Dr. Hellstrom
GENERAL DIRECTIONS
·
Body (written
material) must be on looseleaf paper or typed on plain white paper. DO NOT tear pages out of a spiral binder.
·
Write on ONE
side of the page only.
·
Paper: drawings
- plain white paper; graphs - graph paper, tables - looseleaf or plain white
paper. Use dark blue or black ink for
body of report. Graphs, tables and
drawings may be done in pencil.
·
The purpose,
results, conclusion, and answers to questions must be written in complete
sentences.
·
Use correct
spelling and PROOFREAD!!
·
DO NOT
PLAGIARIZE (copy from another person or source).
·
Pages of report must all be STAPLED together.
·
ALL LINES must
be drawn with a ruler.
·
Your name and
class period must be on the front page of your report.
SPECIFIC DIRECTIONS:
Organize your
report into the following sections in order.
Identify each section with a heading.
¯ TITLE
·
Should be brief
and descriptive. Do not use "Lab
Report".
¯ PURPOSE
·
Use simple
sentences to state intent or objective of exercise.
·
If a hypothesis
is being tested, it should be stated here and identified as the hypothesis.
¯ MATERIALS
·
List materials,
apparatus, chemicals (and amounts) etc.
·
List items in 2
columns. You do not have to write this
in complete sentences.
·
Do not list
pens, pencils, calculators, etc.
¯ PROCEDURE
·
Should be
procedure actually used, including modifications from written description.
·
Use a numbered
sequence of steps.
·
Use formal
English - no "I" or "we".
·
DO NOT copy from
the lab manual (that’s plagiarism) – Use your own words.
¯ RESULTS / DATA / OBSERVATIONS
·
Include
description of results in complete sentences or as labeled tables, graphs, or
drawings.
·
There may be
questions to answer about the observations and results.
¯ Graphs (use graph paper)
·
ALL lines must
be drawn with a ruler.
·
Include a
descriptive title (NOT "Data" or "Graph")
·
X-axis
represents independent variable; Y-axis represents dependent variable.
·
Each axis must be
labeled (what it shows) AND the units indicated.
·
Divide axes into
regular intervals with "tic" marks; label tic marks.
·
Different colors or patterns may be used to
represent different data sets.
·
Include a key or
legend to explain multiple lines.
¯ Tables
·
Include a
descriptive title (Not "Table" or "Results").
·
All lines must
be drawn with a ruler.
·
Label all
columns; include units of measurement where appropriate.
¯ Drawings
·
Use colored
pencils if possible.
·
Use simple lines
- no shading or scribbling.
·
Draw what is
observed; do not copy diagrams from text.
·
Check drawings
with text, partner, or teacher (don't draw an air bubble instead of an
amoebae!) Arrange drawings vertically on page (not side by side); maximum of 2 - 3 drawings per page.
·
A circle (about
5 cm) may be used to represent the microscope field.
·
Draw selected
cells and representative structures
·
Label each
drawing completely; use a ruler to connect labels to parts identified.
·
Label microscope
drawings with magnification (e.g., 400x).
¯ Questions - answer in complete sentences
¯ CONCLUSION
·
Most important
part of report; will count 10% - 30% of lab grade.
·
Should be 6 - 10
sentences.
·
Must be directly
related to purpose. Interpret results
and explain if purpose was fulfilled successfully. If hypothesis-testing is
involved, state whether results support or contradict hypothesis. DO NOT simply restate purpose.
·
Incorporate
information from other sources - lecture, text, compare with previous labs, etc. Information
from outside sources will usually be required; **this must be cited and
referenced appropriately.
·
For quantitative
labs - include mean or average values where appropriate, and a discussion or
possible sources of error.
·
Comments about
personal feelings are not appropriate.
¯ QUESTIONS
·
Number answers
to match question.
·
Answer in
complete sentences so that question is understood. DO NOT copy question.
¯ REFERENCES
·
All sources,
including text book(s), must be referenced.
·
Use standard
reference format.
¯ SIGNATURE AND DATE
·
Sign your name at
END of report.
·
Enter lab
partner's name (label: lab partner:
_______________).
·
Enter date.
FINAL NOTES
·
You are expected
to be prepared for lab. On the day of
the lab, you must come prepared with:
o
a pre-lab
write-up, as instructed by teacher. It
should include appropriate data tables.
o
lab book, if
required.
o
pen, pencil,
ruler, colored pencils and other required materials as instructed.
o
approved lab
safety goggles and aprons, unless otherwise instructed.
·
If you are not
prepared, you will be excused from the lab and will receive a zero for that
grade.
·
Lab reports are
due at the beginning of the period on the day assigned. No time will be allowed for stapling
reports, filling in lab partner's name, etc. Lab reports turned in late will receive a deduction of 10 points
per day late.
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