Lab Expectations
Before your experiment
You will always be told about an upcoming lab. You are expected to:
-read the lab
-compete the assigned pre-lab questions
-complete any calculations
-complete the pre-lab report
-Be expected for a pre-lab quiz
Your pre-lab will be checked for marks. If it is not complete you will NOT be able to complete the experiment until it is finished. You will then run the risk of not completing the lab in class time.
When writing the pre-lab report leave lots of space to write out the observations.
During the experiment
As you do the experiment you should record all of your observations in your data section of your pre-lab report. This will be done in ink. DO NOT use a scrap piece of paper. You have 1 chance to do this. You are not allowed to re-type your pre-lab.
After the experiment
Clean up all of the equipment you used and your work area. There will always be enough time in class to do a proper job cleaning. If time permits start the lab report.
Marking Lab Reports
Marks will be deducted if sections are missing and will be based on the quality of the explanations and accuracy of the calculations. Marks will be deducted for incorrect answers, poor organization, and the overall neatness of your lab. All of the sections
Typical Marking Guide
Pre-Lab/ 3 - 7
Title/ 1
Objective/ 1
Procedure/ 2
Diagram/ 2
Data Tables/3-5
Observations/ 3-5
Calculations/ 3 - 5
Questions/5 - 15
Discussion/ 5
Conclusion/3
TOTAL / 35 – 45 marks
Lab Reports
Each lab report has the following sections. The sections MUST be in order.
TITLE
OBJECTIVE – States the purpose of the lab in 1 or 2 sentences. Most of the time you can copy exactly what in the lab manual.
PROCEDURE – Summarize in short points. Do not use complete sentences.
DIAGRAM – only necessary if there is a specific diagram shown to set up to the lab
DATA & OBSERVATIONS - most of the time you will write your observations in data
tables. These data tables are drawn during the pre-lab.
CALCULATIONS – Some of the labs require you to perform a few calculations during the pre-lab. Calculations can be done in pencil. Use a ruler if necessary. Units and significant figures will be counted for marks.
QUESTIONS – Each lab will have a few follow-up questions that must be answered. These questions can also be done in pencil.
DISCUSSION – This section should discuss the experiment and quickly outline the procedure. List any possible errors that you made during the experiment or any explanations of your results. Try to explain why the results occurred or why they didn’t occur. Were the results achieved expected? How could you have corrected any errors?
CONCLUSION – A conclusion is a statement that is based on the objectives that are set out
at the beginning of your lab. Did you complete the objectives? Use a complete sentence or 2 or 3 to answer this question.
There will 1 or 2 formal lab reports. This is done to show you the intensity of the university labs reports. A formal lab report includes a detailed introduction and discussion. The prelab work will be attached to the typed lab report.