Writing a Formal Lab Report

Writing a Formal Lab Report

General Rules:

Correct spelling; grammar usage and complete sentences are essential. Do not use words such as “it”, “they”, or “some.” Be specific in what you describe. When writing this report think of a letter you might write to a friend who was absent for the lab but will be tested on the material when he returns.

*First:

Creative Title: Always Title Your Formal Lab Write-Up. This should be descriptive of the actual lab. (Ex. Observance of a Chemical Reaction NOT “Formal Lab Write-Up” or “Lab #1”)

*Second – WHAT AM I LOOKING FOR?

Problem: Written as a question. This should describe what you are trying to solve or answer.

Background information: Research your problem and find information that can be used to help you answer the problem. Your background information should be a paragraph that helps explain why you chose your hypothesis. For example if you wanted to know if pillbugs prefer light or dark environments, you should include background information about pillbugs and their natural habitats.

Hypothesis: The “educated” or predicted answer to your problem. Be sure to write your hypothesis as an “if…then…because” statement. Be sure your hypothesis is testable (can you attempt to prove it?) and measurable (can you collect measurable data?).

*Third – HOW DID I LOOK FOR IT?

Describe what you did to answer the research question or test your hypothesis.

Materials: This should be a list of the items needed to test your hypothesis (preferably in columns).

Procedure: Numbered steps you would use to test your hypothesis. Include any necessary descriptions of how you used them (your methods). There is no need to list specifics. For example a “250 mL beaker from the teacher’s cabinet” may be shortened to “250 mL beaker.”

Safety Precautions: mention safety precaution issues if relevant.

Independent variable: what are you manipulating in the experiment?

Dependent variable: what change did you observe as a result of the manipulation?

Control: known factor to which you will compare the variables.

Constants: what stays the same in the experiment to maintain a controlled environment?

*Fourth – WHAT DID I FIND?

Observations/Data: Include a data paragraph as well as pictures, tables, charts, graphs.

Tabulate data you collected, show calculations you made, draw pictures of what you observed, and/or use tables/graphs etc. Make sure your results are measurable. Writing “It turned a pretty color” is too subjective since “pretty” is not a measurable result, and color is not descriptive enough. All data should be in this paragraph, not at the end of the report. Data may be reported as graphs, charts, tables, drawings, etc. DO NOT EXPLAIN YOUR RESULTS UNTIL THE NEXT PARAGRAPH.

*Fifth – WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?

Based on what you have learned from the lab, your background information and your data, formulate a conclusion. This should be a fairly long paragraph and should include the following points:

Re-state your hypothesis (exactly)

Accept or reject your hypothesis

Explain why you accepted or rejected your hypothesis

Support your decision with data

Errors (human/mechanical) that could have interfered

How could you improve the lab through extension activities (what would you do with

different or better equipment?)

What did you learn?

Applications of this experiment to every day life (how can the information from your lab

be used? Or who might use this information?)

Example of conclusion paragraph beginning:

The hypothesis, “If plants are exposed to different colors of light, then the plant grown under white light will grow the most because white light has a similar range to natural light”, was accepted. The hypothesis was accepted because……………….. USE DATA to support!!!

Here is an example of the rubric.

Points Possible / Points Earned
Title (creative +1) / (2)
Problem / (4)
Hypothesis / (6)
Background (cite sources) / (6)
Materials Listed / (2)
Materials Complete / (2)
Safety Guidelines / (4)
Procedure - Complete / (4)
Numbered steps / (2)
Easy to Follow / (2)
Independent Variable / (4)
Dependent Variable / (4)
Constants or Control / (4)
Data Paragraph / (4)
Data Tables/Charts/Graphs / (4)
Title / (2)
Labeled Categories / (4)
Complete Data / (4)
Conclusion (overall) / (2)
Re-stated Hypothesis / (4)
Accept/Reject Hypo. / (2)
Support (used data) / (6)
Errors Mentioned / (4)
What did you learn? / (2)
Improvements to lab? / (4)
Applications / (4)
Technical Aspects / (8)
TOTAL / 100