math lab deadline Saturday

How to Write a Lab Report

What is a lab report?

▶ It provides a formal report or record of an experiment that explores a scientific concept.

▶ Follows a specific format so that if anyone wanted to replicate the experiment they would be able to.

What is the format of a Lab Report?

▶ We use the following headings to write a formal lab report: ▶ Title Page

▶ Abstract

▶ Introduction (Hypothesis)

▶ Materials and Method (Safety)

▶ Results (Observations)

▶ Analysis and Discussion ▶ Summary

▶ Conclusion

▶ Ideas for Future

▶ Bibliography or Reference list

Title Page

▶ The following are required on a title page.

1. Title – an interesting heading that describes what you have done.

▶ Ex. Newtons Second Law Lab = Bad, Investigating and Verifying Newton's Second Law = GOOD!

2. Name (Your name and your teachers)

3. Date

4. Student Number

5. Subject

Abstract

▶ This is a summary of the purpose, procedure and any major results or conclusions.

▶ Written using complete sentences and proper paragraph format.

▶ Half page (approx. 250 words or less).

Introduction

▶ This states the purpose of the lab. Why are you doing the lab in the first place? Why is this lab important?

▶ Includes any background information that you may need to know to complete the lab. Ex. Any definitions or laws that are relevant.

▶ This is written in your own words, which means no direct copying word for word. *

▶ Includes your hypothesis (an educated guess as to what may happen).

▶ Written using full sentences and proper paragraph format.

Materials

▶ Usually we reference where the material list can be found (Ex. Specific page of a lab manual).

▶ If it is required to be written, then it should be in list/bullet formatting.

▶ Sometimes you may be required to include an image or drawing of what types of lab equipment you’ve been using.

SAFETY!!

▶ This is also the section where any additional safety hazards or precautions should be included.

Procedure

▶ This is the method you have followed to conduct your experiment.

▶ It is important because if someone wants to replicate the experiment they need to have a detailed explanation of how it was done.

▶ This is written using full sentences and proper paragraph format.

Results and Observations

▶ Results can be QUALITATIVE or QUANTATIVE.

▶ This section is usually divided into results and results text.

▶ Results usually consists of any graphs and figures that represent the trends or findings of your results.

▶ Results text usually explains the results that can’t be represented using figures or graphs.

▶ The results text section is written using full sentences and proper paragraph format.

Results and Observations

Results and Observations

You can find more information in the Purdue style guide here

Analysis and Discussion

▶ This section interprets the results and gives meaning to your findings.

▶ It answers your hypothesis.

▶ You should mention if there were any limitations to your experiment. Ex. If anything spilled or broke during the lab that would make a difference in your results. NOTE: Not every lab is perfect, there will always be some error!

▶ Conclusion: Summarize what was found and why its important. This is usually read first by the reader since they want to know what happened so it should be short and sweet!

▶ Ideas for further work: If any of your findings may generate insight into further research then give possible ideas here.

Bibliography or Reference List

▶ Ask yourself this question as you are writing: Is what I am writing mine or does it belong to someone else?

▶ General rule: it’s always better to over cite than under cite.

▶ This reference list is formatted according to a specific list of requirements which can be found at this website

Time to write your lab report!