How to Write a Formal Lab Report

Why do we write lab reports?  Essential to clearly communicate how the lab was conducted and what the findings were  All scientific and medical journals use a format similar to this to convey information found in lab investigations and field studies.  Instructions for lab reports can be found online!

3 lab report formats for Biology  Formal:  Full lab report  Typed  All 5 sections included (purpose, hypothesis, procedure, observations, and conclusions)  Proper Title! The effect of _____________ on _____________  Informal:  Typed  Includes observation and conclusion sections with a title  Lab Activity:  A worksheet that is turned in after the lab is performed in class

Tips for writing each section! The Pre-Lab  All laboratory assignments begin with a pre- lab  This portion of the lab includes the purpose, hypothesis and procedure  Done in lab journal (or typed if preferred)  You must read and be familiar with the lab prior to writing a purpose or hypothesis!  ULTIMATLEY MUST BE TYPED FOR FORMAL LAB REPORTS

Procedure  Because you need to read the lab before writing the purpose and hypothesis, this is a great place to start!  Remember when you type your report though you still put the purpose and hypothesis first!  Summarize all the steps of the lab!  Be detailed, but DO NOT copy the lab manual  Avoid listing materials, containers and elaborate procedures  Make sure you still have enough info to perform the lab!  Number your steps! (no bullet points or paragraphs!)

Procedure Samples!  Example:  Original: Label six clean beakers with the following concentrations of sucrose and create and place those solutions in the appropriate beaker: 0, 7%, 14%, 21%, 28%, and 35%.  Revision: Label beakers: 0%, 7%, 14%, 21%, 28%, and 35%, and place the appropriate sucrose solutions in each beaker  Example 2:  Original: Place a few yeast under a microscope and draw what they look like.  Revision: Observe and draw yeast under a microscope

Purpose  Purpose: What is the point of the lab, what are you trying to learn, why it is interesting, etc.  Approx. 1-2 sentences to 1 paragraph  A statement not a question!  Example:  Purpose: The purpose of this lab is to observe osmosis using carrots and varying sucrose solutions.

Hypothesis  Hypothesis: If---, then----, (because----)  If (IV), then (DV), because (prediction, guess, explanation of known causes)  NOTE: Again, this will be easier to do after you have read the lab!

Hypothesis Example  Hypothesis:  If a microscope and a sugar-water mixture are used, then yeast and/or sand will show signs of life  Do you have any prior knowledge that can help make this more specific?  If a microscope and a sugar-water mixture are used, then yeast will show signs of life and sand will not because yeast is a fungus and sand is made of rock particles.

Before Conducting the Lab…  Know what to expect from the experiment  Know the hypothesis and what the outcome will be if the hypothesis is right!  Recognize other (standard) variables  Know what other variables may effect the lab so you can do your best to control them  What should remain constant? Make sure they do!  Identify a control group or groups  Groups using standard variables

Title  The Effect of the IV on the DV  Example:  The hypothesis was:  Hypothesis: If a microscope and a sugar-water mixture are used, then yeast will show signs of life and sand will not because yeast is a fungus and sand is made of rock particles.  The Effect of using microscopes and sugar-water on determining whether sand and yeast are living or not living

During the lab  Collection of observations and data  Throughout the lab use your senses to make observations! What could one, hear, smell (if appropriate), taste (if appropriate), and touch (if appropriate) during this lab.  Note these observations, you never know what will be important when you start to draw conclusions!  Qualitative- make notes in your journal, it will help you with your lab report!  Quantitative- use a data table to collect numerical data, with units of measurement

During the lab cont…  Make drawings with dimensions and magnification, where appropriate.  Think about questions, possible errors, and other anecdotal notes as you go, it will help with your lab report!  Decide if the data is trustworthy or erroneous, if you have time you may need to repeat a portion of the experiment

Observations  Answer all observation questions, include any graphs necessary.  Number answers (rather than putting them in paragraph form)  For a formal lab report, you should have at least 3-4 sentences of your own observations (in addition to your answers to the observation questions).  Use proper grammar and “good writing techniques”  If references are used, be sure to include the number of the reference according to your reference page, in parentheses, after the sentence(s) containing the information.

Conclusion!  Follow steps for writing a Power Conclusion  Your conclusion is your summary of the experiment, the data you collected, experimental error, and future implications for experimentation  If references are used, be sure to include the number of the reference according to your reference page, in parentheses, after the sentence(s) containing the information.  Use proper grammar and “good writing techniques”

References  Include a references list for any references used, including your text book, to find information or definitions to help answer questions or make statements in the observation and conclusion portions of the lab  Use MLA format  For help creating MLA references go to the Citation Machine Website, on the left hand side of the screen select MLA, then the appropriate reference type. Citation Machine Website