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This lab report format will be used for all formal experiments.
Note: please title each sub-section of your report, as I have done above (i.e. PROCEDURE: and then the information).
After you have finished the experiment, the report is to be turned in at the BEGINNING of the next class meeting.
*** Lab reports MUST BE TYPED, except for graphs and drawings which must be done in pencil. *** Please make sure to put headings on each of the sections of the lab report. Check out this website for help on writing lab reports! |
| Purpose // |
| 1-2 sentence description of the "why" of the lab. Begin the purpose with... "The purpose of doing this lab exercise is..." Always write the purpose in your own words. (It is helpful to look at the "Objectives" of the lab when writing the purpose.) |
| Hypothesis // |
| Write a statement making an educated guess about the results of the lab. Always write the hypothesis in your own words. |
| Procedure // |
| Outline in no more than 2-3 sentences the directions to be followed when carrying out the lab experiment. Write in a paragraph format, do not list the steps. |
| Data // |
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Data is the information gathered in the lab during the experiment.
Data may take the form of DATA TABLES, GRAPHS, DIAGRAMS, or WRITTEN OBSERVATIONS and MODELS.
Each lab report will have specific instructions as to how to collect and record data.
Data simply states WHAT YOU SEE not
WHY" it happens.
Never explain how or why in the data. Data tables must have a title. Graphs must be done on graph paper and have a title and properly labeled axes. All graphs must be done in pencil. |
| Calculations // |
| Show ALL arithmetic, including additions, and subtractions, labeled completely. Please BOX your answers. |
| Discussion // |
| The Discussion is the answers to questions on the laboratory experiments. All questions are to be answered in FULL SENTENCES or no credit will be given for your discussion. The discussion questions try to answer the ÒHOWÓ and ÒWHYÓ for the experiment. The answers to these questions reflect your understanding of the experiment, so this is the most important part of the report and it receives the greatest number of points. Spend time carefully answering these questions. |
| Summary // |
| Write a 3-5 sentence summation of what you learned in the lab. Was your hypothesis supported by the experiment? Explain. Include at least 3 FACTS from the experiment. HINT: go back and look at what the purpose was and look at the discussion questions for results. DO not state any opinions in the summary - facts only! |