Lab Report & Notebook
Guidelines
ELEC 204
Basic Requirements
 Succinct and clearly written.
 Sufficient description to enable an
engineer familiar with basic electrical
measurements to reproduce your results.
 Printed output from a word processor.
 Figures may be hand-drawn, if necessary.
 Proper grammar, punctuation, spelling
expected
Formatting
 Typed in 10 or 12 point type
 formulae typeset using an equation editor
 Same font and form for all headings.
 One inch left & right margins
 Number every page of the report, but
don’t show number for cover page.
 Cite your source as a reference (a number
in square brackets, e.g. [1])
 A list of references at end of report (IEEE)
Tables & Figures
 Tables and figures must have a title, a
number, and a caption (above for table,
below for figure).
 Referenced in the text by title and number
 Specify unit of measure associated with
variable
 Use table when there is no relation
between subsequent datum
Required Elements
 Cover page
 Purpose of experiment
 Test configuration
 Circuit tested
 Test procedure
 Measured results/Comparison with
theoretical results
 Conclusion
Cover Page
ELEC 204-01
Technical Report for Lab Assignment #0
Resistor Combinations in Series
 Course/section number
 Assignment number
 Experiment title
 Engineer names
G. Kirchhoff
E.L. Thevenin
January 31, 1872
 Engineer signatures
 Date of submission
Purpose of Experiment
 State theoretical principles or concepts that
this experiment is trying to prove.
 May also be to gain experience in using the lab
equipment.
Test Configuration
 Block Diagram
 Instrument Manufacturer/Model Number
HP34401A
MULTIMETER
RESISTOR
NETWORK
UNDER TEST
Circuit Tested
 Schematic of circuit
 Reference designators
 Nominal element values should be given.
1.5K
R1
7.5K
R2
Test Procedure
 Enough description that the experiment could
be reproduced by anyone familiar with basic
electrical measurements.
 Sequential in narrative style (i.e., no bulleting
or numbering)
 Do not just copy the instruction lists in the lab
assignments.
 Write in third person, past tense, passive
voice.
First Person
 We connected the function generator to the
input port of the circuit.
Second Person
 We connected the function generator to the
input port of the circuit.
 Connect the function generator to the input
port of the circuit.
Third Person
 We connected the function generator to the
input port of the circuit.
 Connect the function generator to the input
port of the circuit.
 The function generator was connected to the
input port of the circuit.
Measured Results
 Nominal value is the value expected by looking
at the markings on the device.
 Measured value is read off the test equipment
during the experiment.
 Use tables where appropriate.
 Deviation from nominal
measured  nominal
%deviation 
 100%
nominal
Comparison with Theoretical
 Measured values versus what would be
predicted by a theoretical analysis of the
circuit performance, e.g., compare the
measured resistance of two resistors
connected in series with R1+R2.
 Express comparison as a %error.
measured  theoretical
%error 
 100%
theoretical
 Discussion of results in present tense,
passive voice
Conclusions
 What theoretical principle or concept did this
experiment prove?
Within experimental error, this laboratory exercise has
demonstrated that the equivalent resistance of two
resistors connected in series is equal to the sum of the
individual values.
 Describe how the principle is supported by
your findings/data.
Conclusions
 What theoretical principle or concept did this
experiment prove?
Within experimental error, this laboratory exercise has
demonstrated that the equivalent resistance of two
resistors connected in series is equal to the sum of the
individual values.
“I learned a lot” or “it was fun” are not
valid conclusions.
Typical Grading Form
Lab Notebooks
 Most companies require their engineers to
keep notebooks of their work.
 Effective evidence in patent disputes
 Chronological account of work helps
engineers remember what has been done.
Requirements
 Bound volume. Loose leaf notebooks are
not acceptable.
 All pages must be sequentially numbered.
Each side of a sheet is considered a page.
 The first sheet should be reserved for a
table of contents.
 Label the first page used for a particular
experiment with the title of that
experiment, and reference the page
number in the Table of Contents.
Requirements
 Make all entries in ink.
 Do not erase entries. To delete information,
cross it out with a single line.
 The date entries were made must appear on
every page.
 Each page must be signed by the engineer
taking the data.
Requirements
 No blank numbered pages are permitted.
Write “This page intentionally left blank.” if
necessary.
 Any added material, such as PSPICE plot, must
be permanently affixed using tape or glue. The
material itself must be signed and dated.
Summary
 A lab notebook is not intended to be a
publication quality document.
 It is first and foremost a chronological record
of the daily work of an engineer.
 As such, it can serve as a valuable legal
document and guide for others carrying the
work forward.