Name ____________________________ Hour ____
Middle School Science Lab Report Format
Your lab report should represent organization, neatness and professionalism. This word-processed report is expected to be singlespaced, using 12-point Times New Roman or Tahoma font.
Creative cover page: Title is typed with large clear lettering and centered on the page. Include a picture that
represents your project (either printed in color or printed in b/w and colored nicely). Your name, hour, teacher, and date,
should be in the lower right-hand corner of the page.
I) Introduction:
A) This section explains the purpose of doing this lab.
Ex. The purpose of this _____________ lab is to…
B) It is here that you give background information on the general topic that the lab is studying to help a reader of
your lab report to understand the problem. You may need to refer to your textbook, notes from the teacher,
library books, credible Internet sources, etc. Include as much as you can find that is relevant to the topic. *Keep
track of all sources for your bibliography.
II) Experimental Design
A) The experimental question/problem that accurately states what is being investigated. What is the question you
are going to answer? The problem should be stated as clearly as possible and written as a question that cannot
be answered with “yes” or “no.”
B) The independent variable. The variable that you are going to alter or change throughout your experiment,
identified after the word “if” in your hypothesis.
C) The dependent variable. The variable that you are measuring, identified after the word “then” in your hypothesis.
Also, note the operational definition of how you will measure your dependent variable (time in seconds, distance
in meters, etc.).
D) The control. What are you using for a comparison? The control condition can be thought of as the “baseline” or
“normal” condition.
III) Hypothesis
The hypothesis suggests an answer to the above experimental question. It is an educated, scientific guess taking into
consideration the background information you researched, prior knowledge or evidence that you have.
You write a hypothesis in the if/then/because format.
If…(independent variable), then…(dependent variable), because….a reason for your prediction.
Ex: If different types of racquetballs are dropped, then they will bounce to different heights, because they are
made of different materials.
IV) Test
This section contains a bulleted list of materials you used. Be sure to give the sizes of beakers/cylinders used, quantities
of items. Be specific and descriptive with every item.
This section is a list of numbered steps in the order that you took to complete the lab. The reader should be able to use
this section to duplicate your experiment exactly. Your description should be detailed, concise and specific. Write in
complete sentences (starting with a verb and ending with a period) and list exact quantities and techniques.
V) Observations
This section contains a summary of your data in the form of graphs, tables, diagrams, calculations, etc. All of these
should be labeled appropriately. This section is just for graphs, tables, and diagrams. Do not give interpretations,
explanations, or inferences of your data as this belongs in the discussion section.
A) Written observations. Qualitative observations – descriptions such as sights, sounds, smells, etc. you have
observed during your experiment. This can be written as a paragraph or bulleted sentences.
B) Graphs representing data. Quantitative observations – this could be any type of graph (bar, line, circle) you
choose that represents your data properly. You may do this on the computer or by hand on graph paper (neatly
using a ruler and in blue or black ink). Be sure to include a title, labeled axes, and proper data points. Also
include a data table you make to organize and record measurements during your experiment. Some examples of
information that might be recorded in data tables are frequencies, times and amounts.
C) Diagram of Experiment. Diagrams/pictures of what your experiment looks like. You can design these on the
computer, by hand, use a digital camera, etc. All diagrams should be done very neatly including colors and proper
labels.
VI) Discussion
The discussion is based on your actual results, whether they were expected or not. Explain the significance of your
results. Were they what you predicted? Why or why not? How do your results relate to the “because” portion of your
hypothesis?
**This section is worth the most point value, so be sure you explain why.**
A) Do NOT re-write your results.
B) This section is where you are to EXPLAIN YOUR RESULTS and what they mean. You should develop inferences
based both on your experimental observations and on your prior knowledge of the topic. Your inferences must
logically follow and be supported by your results. Discuss trends observed throughout your experiment.
C) Explain why certain data was important and decide if and how the data supported your hypothesis.
D) Discuss any weaknesses/problems in the experimental design. Identify sources of error.
E) Suggestions for improvement and design changes to remedy errors or weakness in the design.
VII) Conclusion
A) The conclusion section should be brief with no new information. Address only the factors that were tested during
the experiment.
B) This section is where you state whether or not the data supported the hypothesis. Ex: The data collected did not
support the hypothesis. (Do not use the word “my” in this sentence.)
C) Talk about significant results, and explain how your data fits into the body of knowledge on the topic. Avoid
indicating a definite cause-and-effect relationship.
D) Identify limitations. There are always factors outside of your control that influence your results. It’s important to
identify these factors before, during, and after the investigation.
E) Generate new questions. A good experiment raises as many or more questions than it answers. List further
questions that you have and suggestions for further research.
*VIII) Bibliography
It is extremely important that you cite any and all sources that you use for your experiment. This includes any graphics
that you use. Refer to the MLA Citation Guide in the Writing Handbook for proper format. You may skip this section if the
only materials used were instructions given by your teacher (verbal or written).
Reports should be written as shown above, listing the headings in bold and underlined and meeting the criteria under
each heading. The discussion section is worth the most points. Spelling and grammar count and your report should be
well written.
Mrs. Lawton’s Science Class
Middle School Science Lab Report Format Rubric
CATEGORY
Cover Page
Introduction
Advanced (3)
• Page has the following requirements:
Title-Centered
•
Name
•
Hour
•
Teacher
•
Date
• All lower right corner.
• Purpose listed in complete sentence with
reference to the lab.
•Background information is relevant to topic and
cited properly.
Experimental
Design
• Problem is clearly stated and canNOT be
answered with yes or no.
• Independent variable listed.
• Dependent variable listed.
• Control stated.
Hypothesis
• Written in if/then/because form with 2 variables
defined correctly.
Test
(Materials &
Procedure)
• Materials were listed very
specifically.
• Steps were listed in the exact order needed to
duplicate lab.
• Steps listed in complete sentences starting with
verb and ending with a period.
(weighted 2 times)
Observations
(Data
Collection)
(weighted 3 times)
Discussion
(weighted 3 times)
Conclusion
*Bibliography
(2 pts.)
Spelling &
Grammar
Components of
the report
Neatness
Identified qualitative observations.
Appropriate display of quantitative data.
Extremely well designed diagram
(colored, labeled).
•
Table represented data very well.
•
•
•
Results were very well explained.
Inferences logically followed and
supported your results.
•
Trends were discussed.
•
Explained WHY data was important.
•
Weaknesses in experimental design
were discussed.
•
Sources of error were indicated.
•
Suggestions for improvements were
listed.
Conclusion indicates 4 factors:
•
Whether the findings supported the
hypothesis
•
Limitations
•
What was learned from the experiment
•
Generated a new question(s)
• Several reputable background sources were
used and cited correctly.
• Material is translated into student’s own words.
•
•
• Two or fewer errors in spelling, punctuation and
grammar in the report.
• All required elements are present and additional
elements that add to the report (thoughtful
comments, graphics) have been added.
•
Report is neat in appearance.
•
Rulers are used in appropriate places.
•
Report is completed in blue or black ink.
Proficient (2)
Basic (1)
• One item missing from the
requirements.
• Two or more items missing from
the requirements.
• Purpose listed without
complete sentence with
reference to the lab.
• Background information is
relevant to topic without proper
citations.
• Problem is clearly stated and
can be answered with yes or
no.
• Missing one of the following
variables:
Independent, dependent or
control.
• Written in if/then/because
form with 1 variable defined
correctly
• Missing two items quantities
from list of materials used.
• Some steps were listed in
order.
• Most steps were listed in
complete sentences with a verb
or period missing.
• Data Collection is missing one
or two of the requirements.
• Purpose listed without a
complete sentence and without
reference to the lab.
• Background information is not
relevant to topic and not properly
cited
• Problem is not clearly stated.
• Missing two of the following
variables:
• Independent, dependent or
control.
• Three or more Items missing
from list of materials used.
• Most steps were not listed in
proper order.
• Most steps were not listed in
complete sentences and verbs or
periods were missing.
• Data Collection is missing two or
more of the requirements.
• Discussion is missing one or
two of the requirements.
• Discussion is missing three or
more of the listed requirements.
• Conclusion includes 3 of the 4
factors required.
• Conclusion includes less than 3
of the 5 factors required.
• A few reputable background
sources were used and cited
correctly.
• Material is translated into
student’s own words.
• Three or four errors in
spelling, punctuation and
grammar in the report.
• All required elements are
present.
• One reputable background
source was used and cited
correctly.
• Most material is translated into
student’s own words.
• Five or more errors in spelling,
punctuation and grammar in the
report.
• Several required elements are
missing.
• Two of the requirements
have been met.
• One of the requirements have
been met.
• Not written in the proper format
and no variables listed properly.