How to write a Formal Lab Report
I. Cover Sheet
 Use unlined paper with the title of the lab printed across the midline of the paper
 Bottom Center should include the following: Your name (underlined), your lab partners
name(s), date the lab is turned in, class and period, teachers name
II. Abstract
 one-paragraph, concise summary of what you did and your interpretation of what you
found
 Include very short statement of purpose, very short statement of the general (not specific)
techniques used, mention of results, and summary of interpretations
 Type single spaced
III. Introduction
 Write any necessary background information, including definitions of any scientific
terms and any relevant theories
 State the problem, question, or purpose of the lab IN YOUR OWN WORDS
 State your hypothesis
IV. Procedure
 List all materials required for lab
 List all safety precautions
 Describe what you did in lab so that anyone could repeat it
 Include a set up diagram if necessary
V. Results
 Describe in detail your observations or experimental results
 Include all data tables, graphs, charts, diagrams, drawings
 Show sample calculations if necessary
VI. Conclusion
 Explain results (why they occurred), and relate results to your hypothesis
 Discuss possible sources of error and how they could have affected your results OR if no
errors occurred describe how this lab could be improved
VII.
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Discussion
Interpret the results
Answer questions provided with the lab in paragraph form
Explain how this lab applies to a real-life situation
VIII.
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Format
Must be typed, double spaced, 12pt clearly readable font
Pages should be numbered (not including cover page)
Staple in the upper left hand corner… do not use report covers
Lab should be in paragraph form (except coversheet, materials, and procedure)
Lab should be presented objectively and written in third person. NEVER use “I,” “we,”
“us,” “you,” etc…
Graphs, tables, charts, and diagrams would be titled and labeled appropriately
Be sure to use proper grammar and spelling (No slang, abbreviations, text, etc)
Cite any outside sources in MLA formatted works cited page
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Formal Lab Report Grading Rubric
Pts
4
Introduction
Complete thought out, and
well written
-presents ALL relevant
theories and clearly relates
them to the lab
-clearly defines all scientific
terms
-all objectives are clearly
stated
Procedure
Complete and Correct
-All safety precautions are
clearly stated
-All materials are listed
-procedure lists steps to
replicate procedure as
completed, any departure
from lab handout or manual
has been noted
-gives well thought out
hypothesis stating
expectations of the lab
3
Complete and Correct
-all raw and calculated data
are presented
-All calculations are correct,
shows sample(s) for all
calculation(s)
-Tables and graphs are
correct, have proper labels
and headings, units are
indicated
Complete but not well
thought out
Complete but some items
incorrect
Complete but some items are
incorrect
-presents ALL relevant
theories but does not clearly
relate them to the lab
-Safety precautions are
clearly stated
-all raw and calculated data
are presented
-most materials are listed
-most calculations are
correct, shows sample(s) for
all calculation(s)
-defines all scientific terms
-objectives are clearly stated
2
Results
-presents hypothesis stating
expectations of the lab
Incomplete
-presents most relevant
theories but does not clearly
relate them to the lab
-defines most scientific
terms
-procedure lists steps to
replicate procedure as
completed
Partially complete and some
items incorrect
-Tables and graphs are
complete but partially
incorrect
Partially complete and some
items incorrect
-some safety precautions are
stated
-some raw and calculated
data are presented
-some materials are listed
-some calculations are
correct, shows sample(s) for
some calculation(s)
-partial procedure listed
-objectives are not clearly
stated
-tables and graphs are mostly
complete but incorrect
-presents partial hypothesis
1
Incomplete and poorly done
-Few if any theories
presented
-few scientific terms
presented
-objectives incorrect
Incomplete and mostly
incorrect
Incomplete and mostly
incorrect
-few safety precautions are
stated
-few raw and calculated data
are presented
-few materials are listed
-few calculations are correct,
shows sample(s) for some
calculation(s)
- procedure is incorrect
-Tables and graphs are
incomplete and incorrect
-little thought given to
hypothesis
0
All items missing
All items missing
All items missing
Conclusion
Discussion
Complete, Correct, Thought
Out, and well written
Complete, Correct, Thought
Out, and well written
-thoroughly discuss
hypothesis and relevant
results of the lab, including
what they mean relative to
the topic of study
-thoroughly discuss how
results differed from
expectations and explain
why
-presents specific, reasonable
sources of experimental error
and how they affected the
experiments results OR
-thoroughly explains how
this lab could be improved
Complete but some items are
incorrect
-answers to questions are
correct, well thought out, and
clearly explained in
complete sentences
-discusses hypothesis and
relevant results of the lab,
but does not relate to the
topic of study
-discuss how results differed
from expectations
-presents reasonable sources
of experimental error OR
- explains how this lab could
be improved
Partially complete and some
items incorrect
-answers to questions are
mostly correct, well thought
out, and explained in
complete sentences
-relates lab to real life
situations and explains
reasoning
-briefly discusses relevant
results of the lab, but does
not relate to the topic of
study
-briefly discuss how results
differed from expectations
-briefly presents reasonable
sources of experimental error
without explaining OR
- briefly explains how this
lab could be improved
Incomplete and mostly
incorrect
-answers to questions are
partially correct, and poorly
explained
-mentions some of the
results of the lab, but does
not relate to the topic of
study
-little or no discussion on
how results differed from
expectations
- little or no reasonable
sources of experimental error
without explaining OR
- little or no explanation how
this lab could be improved
All items missing
-answers to questions are
partially correct, and barely
explained
-relates lab to real life
situations and thoroughly
explain reasoning
Complete but some items are
incorrect
Partially complete and some
items incorrect
-briefly relates lab to real life
situations
Incomplete and mostly
incorrect
-barely relates lab to real life
situations if at all
All items missing
Cover Sheet should correctly present all necessary information out of 4 possible points ___________
Grammar & Spelling out of 4 possible points _______________
Format out of 4 possible points _________________