Writing the First Lab Report

Step 1: Create a “Chemistry” folder in your JPII Google Drive

  • Sign into your JPII Gmail account.
  • Click the icon at the top right of the screen.
  • Choose “Drive.”
  • Hit the red “New” button and select “Folder.”
  • Type in “Chemistry” for the name.
  • Open the folder.
  • Click the icon in the toolbar.
  • Click “advanced.”
  • Then, click “change” under “who has access.”
  • Select “On – anyone with the link.”
  • Next to “Access: Anyone (no sign-in required), change “Can view” to “Can edit.”
  • Click “save.”
  • Then click “done.” Your chemistry folder is now ready for the year!

All of your online work (lab reports, research projects, etc.) this year should be completed and saved in this Google Drive folder. Please do not delete any completed assignments from the folder until after final grades have posted in May.

Step 2: Creating your first lab report using Google Docs

  • Open your “Chemistry” folder in your Google Drive
  • Click the red “New” button and select “Google Docs”
  • Click “Untitled document” at the top left corner of the page and rename your document (Unit 1, Lab 1 Title should be in the following format: Lastname_firstinitial_U1L1).
  • Name and Date- Please type in your name (next to the Veritas pledge) and the date you completed your report at the top.
  • Copy and paste the “Unit 1, Lab 1 Report Template” into your Google Doc (the report template can be found on my webpage:
  • Fill in the title of the lab
  • Fill in the purpose/question of the lab
  • Fill in your hypothesis for each part of the lab. Reword your original hypotheses into “If/then” statements that include a justification (Ex. “If a solid precipitate is formed, then the mass will increase because solids have more mass than liquids.”). Your original hypotheses should be used. Do not change your hypothesis even if the data showed something different!
  • Complete the data tables. The first table is for your group data. The second table is for class data (only change in mass is shown in the second table). Don’t forget to add table titles after the table numbers. Titles should thoroughly explain what is being shown in the table. Remember change is mass should be recorded as a + or – number! Units do not need to be added to each individual cell in the table. Units should be present in the column headers. Class data can be found on my webpage.
  • Complete the analysis and conclusion.
  • For each part of the lab, you should explain and analyze the data. Discussion of particles and number of particles is necessary. You should cite specific evidence to determine whether or not your hypothesis was supported. You should discuss sources of lab error in the experiment.
  • Overall- Referring back to the purpose of the experiment, summarize the results in the context of the entire experiment. (Law of conservation of mass should be discussed.) Discuss the significance of the experiment. Discuss future applications or further questions to be tested.

You have class notes to refer back to as you complete the assignment! Use your class notes to help you identify everything you need to discuss or identify in the report.

Step 3: Submitting your lab report

  • With your lab report open in Google Docs, click the blue “Share” button.
  • In the pop-up, click “Get shareable link.”
  • Copy the URL link shown.
  • Go to my website (Ms. Drumwright  Chemistry  Unit 1  Unit 1, Lab 1).
  • Scroll down and click the lab submission link for your class period.
  • Fill in your last name and first name.
  • Paste the link into the “URL for Assignment.”
  • Hit the blue “Submit” button
  • You are finished!