Lab reports
Include the following sections in all formal lab reports. Also, make sure to write in past tense and to avoid personal pronouns.
- lab info
- Include the title, lab partners, and date performed at the top of the first page (don’t use a separate title page).
- purpose
- State the purpose in a sentence beginning with the word to.
- sketch
- Draw a sketch of the lab setup.
- procedure
- Don’t copy out the procedure, but indicate where it can be found. If it is a handout, attach it to the end of the lab.
- observations
- Use tables and point-form writing.
- calculations
- Provide a sample calculation for each type of calculation that you did.
- graphs
- Make your graphs by hand with pencil. Each graph needs a title, labelled axes, a sensible scale (you’re safe with 1, 2, 5, or 10), and circled data points. Include a legend if applicable.
- analysis
- Answer the assigned discussion questions.
- sources of error
- List reasonable, significant sources of experimental error and their likely effects on the results.
- conclusion
- Write a brief conclusion that summarizes the results.