1. What was the purpose of this lab?
Introduction
What was the purpose of this lab?

2. Scientific information
Discuss the differences between plant and animal cells.
Discuss any other scientific information we covered during this lab
If needed, use textbook(s) and the internet to back up this information---Make sure to cite your sources!

3. Observations What happened in this lab?
What did you observe in the plant cells?
What did you observe in the animal cells?

4. What factors influence your results?
Were there any factors that affected what you saw? (i.e., the condition of the slide, your ability to use the microscope effectively, etc.)
Did anything else go wrong? Were there any errors? (i.e., your drawing ability, inaccurate observations, you weren’t actually looking at the cell, etc.)
What would you do differently next time?

5. Write a concluding sentence (or two) summing up the entire lab.
Conclusion
Write a concluding sentence (or two) summing up the entire lab.

6. Scientific Language Use correct tense----PAST TENSE!
Write in the third person----ELIMINATE PRONOUNS! (e.g., I, me, my, we our, or us)
Weak: I placed the three pieces of potatoes in each solution for 2 hours and then I weighed the potato and took the average
Strong: Three potatoes were placed in each solution for 2 hours and then the potato was weighed and the mass was recorded. The average mass was calculated using the class data.

7. Be clear but concise; select vocabulary carefully
Avoid words like “little”, “a lot”, “easy”, “many”, etc.
Try words like increase, decreased, observed, etc.
Experiments should be described in a factual manner
Write concisely---DON’T BE TOO WORDY!
Use appropriate units and abbreviate when you can (i.e., mL, cm, etc.)
Numbers must be spelled out when found at the beginning of the sentence or used non-quantitatively

8. Presenting Data: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
Describe all data thoroughly, whether it is correct or incorrect
Were your results correct or incorrect based on the hypothesis? (i.e., Our data was consistent/inconsistent…)
Describe what you did wrong
Suggest ways to improve the lab (methods, avoid errors, etc.)

9. Revise and Proofread Use your computer’s GRAMMAR and SPELL CHECK!
READ ALOUD!
Give to a parent/friend/sibling to read.