HONORS EARTH SCIENCE LAB REPORT FORMAT
1. Title: Should be placed at top of first page only.
2. Purpose:
A simple statement of the purpose, problem, etc. of the lab. This may be written as a question or as a
statement.
3. Background:
Use the introduction to the lab to get you on the right track. Don’t just copy the information. Give me
enough information that an uneducated person reading the report would have enough background to
understand what is going on.
4. Materials:
This can be a list but must be in paragraph form.
5. Hypothesis:
Write a hypothesis. Make an if ..... then statement (when possible). You will also be able to figure out
what should be graphed if you will make a statement - What is the effect of the independent variable (IV) on
the dependent variable (DV)?
6. Procedure:
Write a summary when you are preparing the prelab. Steps used to complete ALL processes must be
explained clearly and precisely. Should be in paragraph form NOT a numbered list. Another person
should be able to repeat the process by reading the directions you have written. Be sure to make
reference as to when data is collected and where it is to be recorded.
7. Data:
Most of the time a data table is the best way to report this. Use a straight edge when making your tables (or use
computer generated table) and make sure they are “roomy” enough for data. Always use
the proper units! IV goes on x-axis and DV goes on y-axis. There should also be room in this section of report
where you record observations or comments about what happened while running the experiment.
8. Analysis:
This is the heart and soul of your report. No report will receive a passing grade without an analysis.
This should be written as a paragraph. If there are questions on the lab, use those as guides as to what
to include in the analysis section. This is the place where you identify the independent and dependent
variables, controls, and constants. You should explain what the data means and the source of errors.
If there are ways to improve the lab, mention them here. If there are graphs, include them in the
analysis. Always use graph paper (or computer generated graphs) with the essentials: title, both axes
labeled with units and name, and a legend. Do not hand draw a graph.
9. Conclusion:
This section can be fairly short. It should answer the question in the purpose. Avoid “wordy”phrases
which are unnecessary and do not add to the report.
Poor example: “In this lab, it was first concluded that the best or optimum pH for bean seed
germination was 5.6”.
Better example: “The optimum pH for bean seed germination is 5.6”.
General Information:
1) Write in passive force, no first person “I” or “we”. Example: Four test tubes were assemble in a test tube
rack. To each tube, 4 mL of H2O were added.
2) If report is hand written it must be done on unlined white paper. Do not write on the back of the sheet.
Must complete in black or blue ink or will not be graded.
3) Report should not exceed 6 pages in length. This does not include strictly data pages.