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When you are assigned a lab, the requirements may vary. It may be simply turning in a form, or synthesizing an entire formal report.
Your lab report is a summary of what you did. A person with a basic science literacy should be able to logically understand and follow the report. If you show this to your grandparent, or another person who was not in the lab with you, they should be able to read and understand exactly what you did, what information was recorded, what calculations were performed, and logically understand your conclusion(s).
The most important advice I can provide is to always follow the grading rubric. It is how you are scored.
A laboratory summary (report) should be used to explain a purpose and process for a laboratory procedure, record all laboratory data, demonstrate the analysis of the data, discuss the results, question errors, and explain the theories involved.
Write the report in the third person, impersonal, passive, past tense. Avoid using the first person perspective. The report should focus on the experiment, not the experimenter. Avoid any personal opinions about the experiment or results. You are trying to convey an objective scientific point of view that others can reproduce.
Keep the laboratory report in the order of the experimental process. The report should maintain a logical flow. It should begin with an introduction that explains the purpose of the experiment and the precise objectives. The procedure should be explained concisely. It should include the key steps and processes as well as essential equipment required.
Sections of the lab should be clearly labeled and organized.
Reports should be word-processed on a computer. Data tables should be computer generated. Calculations can hand-written in pen, and incorporated into word-processed documents via picture. If mistakes are made during writing, simply draw a single-line through the error and continue on the next line. Do not scribble, white-out, or scratch out errors.
Laboratory Report Sections and Requirements:
Each laboratory summary and report will have a basic set of requirements. Others, may require more detail. Always refer to the grading rubric when writing the report. Here are the sections of a report:
1. Title – The title should be descriptive.
2. Date – The date you performed the experiment.
3. Purpose – A brief statement of what you are attempting to accomplish. If a chemical reaction is involved, you should include the chemical reaction with the purpose or in the introduction section in which the purpose is stated.
4. Procedure – A brief summary or description of the method you are using is provided along with the essential equipment required. Do not include lengthy detailed directions. A person who is science literate in chemistry should be able to understand what you are doing.
5. Data – Record all your data directly into your lab notebook as you experiment, making clear descriptions of the information. Do NOT abbreviate, make stray marks, write down obscure numbers without units. Make clear statements of exactly what is recorded, take down all significant figures of the measurement, and include the relevant units. Organize your data into a neat, orderly, arrangement with very clear labels. Heading the table should be a brief statement that explains how and why the data was obtained. This is a chance for you to add clarification to the information in the table. Do NOT use generic statements such as “the masses taken in lab.” The information presented in a data table should be universally understood. There should be no ambiguity in reading and understanding the information presented. Do NOT calculate in tables, simply display information recorded in the lab.
6. Graphs – If graphs are included, make the graphs appropriately sized, at least ½ page in size. The chart should use up at least 80% of the visual area in the plot. An appropriate scale should be used for displaying trends.
a. A title should head the graph that describes the comparison.
b. All axes should include titles, labels with units.
c. Equations, r2, error bars, legends, should be included upon requirements in rubric. Other specific details may be required.
7. Calculations – You should show how data has been processed. Every calculation should have a title or description that states the objective of the calculation. If an equations are used, provide the equation and show how your values are substituted into it. Give the calculated values. Space things out. All calculations should be put into a results table. A results table can contain original data as well as the results for ease of communicating essential ideas about the experiment.
8. Conclusion – Use the claim, evidence, reasoning (CER) format for your conclusion. Make a simple statement claiming what you can conclude from the experiment. Use the data and results to cite as evidence supporting your claim. Do NOT introduce new values in the conclusion, stick with the calculations from your analysis to make your claim. Explain the reasoning for why this information supports your claim. Generally, as you cite the evidence it is natural to include the reasoning.
9. Post Lab Questions or Discussion of Theory – In this section you may be required to demonstrate understanding of the experiment. This may be questions to answer, additional calculations, or error analysis. If you are answering a question, be sure to use the “complete sentence including the question” method in the response. When discussing error analysis, be sure to explain how the experimental process can alter the experimental outcome, and how it specifically will alter results. Do not simply say the results are skewed or off, be specific how the results will differ. Ex: The percentage water in the hydrated salt would be greater if the sample was not sufficiently evaporated in the final heating step with the Bunsen burner.
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