Lab Write-ups
What do I put into my
lab report?
Format
All
typed assignments are to be
12
point
Times New Roman
Double Spaced
If
it!
the report is not, I will not accept
Title
Format
Each Section separately
Introduction
Materials
Results
and Methods
Conclusion
Discussion
Works
Cited
Introduction
Background
information
Problem: written as “To investigate
the effect of _(IV)__ on _(DV)__.
Hypothesis: If…then…because
Variables: I.V. & D.V.
Control
Controlled variables = constants
Materials & Methods
DO
NOT LIST MATERIALS!
Materials
including size & quantities should be
included in procedure (Not Separate)
DO NOT GIVE ME A RECIPE!
Procedure should bulleted and
tense (NO PRONOUNS)
in the past
Materials & Methods
Be
Specific.
“5
pill bugs were placed in the center of a
choice chamber with two sections, each section
having an 8 cm diameter chamber.”
Includes the control
States how D.V. will be
measured
Results
Show
your data in a table
Table Should have both I.V. & D.V.
Title should be: The effect of ___ on ___.
Measurement units must be included
Results
Observations
(Qual & Quant) go under the
table
Figure Title: An explanation of what the
table, graph, photo, or figure shows (NOT
YOUR INTERPRETATION)
“Figure
3: count of pill bugs on each side of the
choice chamber after 4 minutes”
Results: Graph
Title:
The effect of ___ on ___.
Axes labeled
Measurement units included
I.V. on X-axis D.V. on Y-axis
Results: Statistical Analyses
Statistical
test results, if applicable,
are to be placed in the results section
of the paper.
Conclusion
What did you find out?
Did the I.V. (X-axis) affect
the D.V. (y-
axis)? If so, how?
Does the data support or refute the
hypothesis (It NEVER proves or
disproves)? How?
USE THE DATA!!!!!!!!!!
Compare the control & D.V.
Discussion
What do your results
How does it relate to
mean?
the “Big Picture”?
Discussion
Validity:
results?
How much confidence in your
# of trials
Control group
Controlled variables
Limited errors
Statistical tests (if applicable)
Discussion
Identify
at least 3 experimental
errors
Effect(s) of errors on results
Further Experiments?
Alternate hypothesis?
Works Cited


Minimum of 2 sources
MLA Citations
Use
library website
http://www.easybib.com/cite/view
Turnitin
Submit a hard copy (printed)
AND
Submit paper to “Turnitin”

Self Scored
Use
the rubric to score yourself
before you submit.
ONLY papers with self-scored rubric
will be accepted