Biology Labs
Each biology lab will have all of the following components. Each of these sections must be in the
correct order and be incorporated in every lab report. Each section will be worth 100 points, with 12
sections, for a total of 1200 points per lab report. Each section that is not in order will be penalized 50
points for each section out of place. The sections must be clearly divided and stated. Below is a description
of each section and the requirements for each.
1.
Title: There must be a separate page with a title on it. The title must be very specific to the
lab. For example: if we are testing the effects of heart rate when someone is breathing and not
breathing, the title should tell all of this information. The title in this case could be: Heart rate:
breathing vs. non-breathing. The biological theory we are testing should also be in the title.
Labs with titles that are not specific to the lab will be handed in, and the student’s lab
partners.
2. Purpose: In this section, the students must include the purpose or objective of the lab. This
should include the biological theory we are testing. The purpose should be written in the
following manner: The purpose of this lab is to…
3. Pre-Lab questions: The lab write-up will include pre-lab questions that the student will be
required to answer before starting the lab. These questions must be written on the lab write-up
along with the answer to the questions.
4. Hypotheses: In this section, the student must make an educated guess as to what will be the
end result of the lab being preformed. The hypotheses must be very precise. The hypotheses
for the lab must be written in the following manner: My hypothesis is that…
5. Prediction: The prediction will include all of the information the students knows about the
theory we are testing, This background information the student knows will help him/her come
up with a good hypothesis.
6. Material: the student is required in this section to list ALL of the materials used in the lab. In
some labs, the students will be required to make a drawing of the lab set- up. Whether the lab
requires a drawing will be determined by Mr. Gomez.
7. Procedures: The lab report is required to have the step- by –step process the lab groups went
through to complete the lab. This information will be provided in the lab instructions provided
by Mr. Gomez. These steps must be copied word for word from the lab instructions.
8. Data Table: In the data table all the information collected in the lab must be provided. This
must be organized in a data table to clearly present the information gathered throughout the
lab.
9. Calculations: Some labs will require calculations to determine the outcome of the lab. The
formula for this information must be provided. Some labs will not require calculations. In this
case, there must still be a section for calculations. The section will merely state that no
calculations were required in this lab if there are none.
10. Graphs: The information from the lab (provided in the data table by the student) must be
presented in graph form. The graph must include all the information required. My. Gomez
will determine the type of graph.
11. Conclusion & Discussion: In this section, the following questions must be answered in a
paragraph to describe what the outcome of the lab is.
1. What was your hypothesis?
2. What were your results?
3. Were they the same?
4. Why or why not?
12. Questions: To help the students write their conclusion, these questions are provided. These
questions will help the student determine the outcome of the lab. They will also help Mr. Gomez
evaluate and determine the effectiveness of the lab to the student.