Please take a gold lab
reporting packet
0 This will be your primary reference for use when
completing a laboratory investigation.
0 I would suggest using a laboratory notebook with
paper to take notes during the investigation.
0 You will be expected to complete a formal lab report
that you will turn into ME upon completion of the lab.
This report will be typed…more info to come.
0 You will take a lab “ASSESSMENT”, using your formal lab
report, that will account for a +20 point grade in SIS.
Lab Requirements:
INTRODUCTION
0 Purpose: State the aim for the investigation. It should be
clear and concise.
0 Hypothesis: It needs to be a clear and exact description of
might happen and why. Your prediction should be written
with an “If…Then…Because” statement.
0 Biology Breakdown: This is relevant and necessary
background information needed to understand the biological
concepts observed. This can include definitions of pertinent
vocabulary and diagrams illustrating the ideas.
0 Lab Criteria: A detailed description of the variables in the
laboratory. Independent and dependent variables, along with
the controls, should be identified and described.
MATERIALS and METHOD(S)
0 Equipment: List all equipment used during the
investigation. Give the size of beakers,
measurements (volume, mass, molarity, etc.) and
measuring devices, and all materials necessary to
carry out your investigation.
0 Procedure: Describe the steps taken during the lab.
It should be written in PAST TENSE, describing how
you did the lab, not how you SHOULD do the lab.
DATA COLLECTION
0 Data and Observations: Record all of your raw data
in tables. The tables should be numbered to
reference during the data processing, conclusion
and evaluation and have headings to briefly
describe the contents. Titles, units and uncertainty
should be given in the headings of each table.
Time
(minutes)
0
1
2
3
4
O2
(ml)
DATA PROCESSING
0 Graphical Analysis (when applicable): Graphs should
have a caption describing the contents of the graph.
The axes need to be labeled with correct units and the
points plotted correctly. Most data will use a scatter
plot graph with a best fit line.
CONCLUSION
0 Criteria Response: Discuss the results you obtained in
relation to your hypothesis. Write a conclusion based
on an interpretation of the gathered results.
EVALUATION
Method Evaluation: Identify the strengths and weaknesses in the method used.
Error Analysis: Identify at least three sources of laboratory error. This can
include personal mistakes, mistakes made by other groups, or theoretical
mistakes that could be made to skew the collected data.
Improvements: Suggest real improvements to each source of error to improve
the results in future labs.
Further Investigations: Discuss further investigations that are of interest and
can be carried out with new questions that could be asked.
Post-lab Questions (when applicable): Answer any post-lab questions, labeling
your answer with the question number/page number, respectively.
*** For example, Q1/pg. 8:
Format of the Lab Report
Talley 1
Jennifer Talley
Mr. Hemmingsen
AP Chemistry
September 2, 2014
AP Lab Reporting Using MLA
It is important when writing a formal
lab report to follow standard MLA practices and
policies. …