All chemistry laboratory experiments require a formal ...



Most biology laboratory experiments require a formal laboratory report. Laboratory procedures will be distributed prior to the lab date. ALL RELEVANT PRE-LAB WORK MUST BE COMPLETED IN THE LAB NOTEBOOK BY THE FIRST DAY OF LAB. Lab Notebooks will be checked on lab day for 5 lab points. If it is not complete, you will not perform the lab that day (it will be made up on your own time). The notebook serves as a written record of your lab work (not just results) to help you write your final lab report.

GENERAL FORMAT FOR ALL LABS

• Labs must be typed in BLACK INK ONLY

• On UNLINED PAPER

• ONE SIDE of the paper only

• Each page of the lab should have a TITLE and your NAME.

The final lab report should be organized into the following clearly labeled sections. The headings must be included. Neatness is important, so remember to leave spaces between sections.

PROBLEM STATEMENT / HYPOTHESIS

Problem Statement / Research Question

• For EVERY lab experiment, you must give a problem statement .

• Should give the purpose of the experiment (what we want to learn, causal question).

Hypothesis Statement

SOME labs may require you to write a hypothesis statement.

• A hypothesis must be testable (we have to be able to make some measurements).

• The hypothesis is not a guess and should be based on prior knowledge.

• Hypothesis statement: If…hypothesis (explanation), and…experiment (what we are doing), then…prediction (what will happen to the DV)

MATERIALS

• ALL materials must be listed in columns.

METHODS

• Methods will only be required for student-designed experiments

• The methods should be realistic and control for variables.

• The steps of the procedure will be numbered and listed.

• The steps need to be written in complete sentences with a noun and a verb.

• The methods should be written in third person, past tense.

• Never start a sentence with a number.

• Never use personal pronouns in the laboratory report.

Example: "Ten drops of water were added to 15 g NaCl" rather than

"We added ten drops of water to 15 g NaCl".

DATA

Collected Data

• Present collected data in an ORGANIZED, clear fashion.

• Give the results you observed, not what you think you should have observed

• Use TABLES and DRAWINGS when appropriate.

• Drawings should be clearly IDENTIFIED and use of colored pencils is encouraged

o All drawings down the center of the page (do not draw them side-by-side)

o Large enough to see details (no more than 3 drawings per page)

o Microscope sketches must include the magnification (100X or 400X).

• All tables must have a TITLE that clearly indicates what variables are being measured.

• Always include COLUMN HEADINGS and UNITS of measurement.

• Do not allow a single table to split onto two separate pages.

• Qualitative Data: Include ALL relevant observations.

Data Processing

• Report your data processing work in a clear, ORGANIZED fashion.

• LABELS for drawings:

o All labels near the right or left margin (not below or above the drawing)

o Use a ruler to make STRAIGHT lines from the label to the drawing

o Do not cross label lines

o Do not use arrows

• GRAPHS should be appropriate to the data and drawn on graph paper or computer-generated.

• AXES of graphs should be labeled clearly with the independent and dependent variables and unit of measurement, with accurate scales.

CONCLUSIONS

• Clearly state conclusions (what you think your data shows)

• Fully explain the conclusions –do not guess; use resources, prior knowledge and the class post-lab discussion to help.

• Restate the hypothesis statement and state whether it was supported or not. Explain.

• You will sometimes have questions in the lab instructions to guide you with conclusions; however, the conclusions should flow smoothly and never be written as direct answers to questions.

• State possible errors and explain how these errors might have affected the data.

• Include improvements and how they would improve the experiment

Professionalism

• Lab reports are professional. Never write "I learned . . ." or "This lab was fun . . .".

• Appropriate grammar and spelling.

• Use new paragraphs when necessary. (Never only one paragraph).

• NO personal pronouns.

REMEMBER:

• Fully explain your statements. I cannot read your mind; the lab report should be clear to anybody who reads it.

• Start early. You are given a week to write the lab report. Do not wait until the last minute.

• Get help. See Mrs. Lewis during office hours or visit the science learning center to ask questions and use the computers.

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