Formatting Guidelines

Reports

Reports should be prepared in a word processor with all sections typed.
Care should be taken to ensure that content uses page space wisely (don't start a new section title at the very bottom of a page etc...)
All images and graphics should be large enough to communicate the point intended. Always use images with high enough resolution.
All sections should be named and ordered as presented in the report guidelines.
Graphics, Equations, Tables, and Graphs should be named as follows:
- A number for each type of graphic beginning with the lab number, then a ".", and then a number incremented for each graphic.
- A title describing what is being presented.
Reports should be a single PDF document including all sections (Prelab and Experimental results scanned and included).

Each equation should be titled in a way that describes what it represents.
If your discussion refers to a specific equation(s), you should number them as described above.
All equations should be typed (Equation Editor in Word or similar) handwritten calculations will not be accepted.
Units should be shown in the equation used, and then at least once with actual data. You should show new units again whenever a conversion takes place.
Appropriate units, significant digits and scientific notation should be used to present your data.
All equations used should be explained in the introduction section of the lab report.

Each table should be titled in a way that describes what it represents.
If your discussion refers to a specific table(s), you should number them as described above.
Tables should be generated in your word processor and fit neatly on the page with appropriate spacing.
Each column should have a bolded title, and unit when appropriate.
The coloring of rows is appropriate when it increases readability or draws attention to an important result.
Tables must not extend beyond one page without an additional title/header on each page.

Each graph should be titled in a way that describes what it represents.
If your discussion refers to a specific graph(s), you should number them as described above.
Graphs should be of the appropriate type (line, bar, scatter etc).
Graphs must present data in a way that effectively communicates the desired message.
Graphs must have labels and units for both horizontal and vertical axes.
Each graph (or pair of graphs when appropriate) should be large enough to be clear and sufficiently detailed.
Individual data points may be labeled when desired so long as they don't clutter the presentation.
Trendlines should be included when using scatter or line plots depicting a relation within the data.
Trendlines must fit the data (or approximate it linearly when appropriate).
The equation of a trendline should always be shown either on the graph, or in your data.

Examples:

These guidelines are good practice, but your focus should always be to present the report in a neat, well organized and attractive manner.

Exceptions can always be made in favor of improving readability in reports.

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