1. Writing Lab Reports

2. Writing Lab Reports
Purpose of a lab report
Format
Available resources

3. Consider the Writing Situation
Audience: Other engineers
Purpose: Discuss significance of experimental results

4. Engineering Needs Reliable Knowledge
Use standard procedures and describe your findings qualitatively
Report only the results of your specific trial, not general ideas
Avoid claims that are beyond your evidence

5. Analyze the Experiment, Not Yourself
Do not report what you “learned”:
your data is not the results from a quiz!
Report whether you reached your experimental objective.

6. Practice Writing Like a Professional
Write complete sentences in passive voice
When using graphics, label and describe them
Do not “copy and paste” from another source, even the lab manual
Print and proofread before you upload
Hand in reports on time

7. Writing Lab Reports
Purpose of a lab report
Format
Available resources

8. Standard Format Conserves Effort
Title Page
Abstract
Introduction
Procedure
Data/Observations
Discussion/Conclusions
Works Cited
Lab Notes (Extra Credit)

9. Logic, Not Time, Organizes the Report Brief trajectory of the report
Abstract
Brief trajectory of the report
Introduction
Background information to understand the hypothesis you test in the experiment
Procedure
The steps you took to test the hypothesis
Data/Observations
What you saw when you used the procedure
Discussion/Conclusions
Based on the Introduction, did the Procedure produce the expected results? What is next?

10. Logic, Not Time, Organizes the Report Brief trajectory of the report
Abstract
Brief trajectory of the report
Introduction
Background information to understand the hypothesis you test in the experiment
Summarizes the experimental objective (“what you did”) – tells result and its significance
Procedure
The steps you took to test the hypothesis
Data/Observations
What you saw when you used the procedure
Discussion/Conclusions
Based on the Introduction, did the Procedure produce the expected results? What is next?

11. Logic, Not Time, Organizes the Report Brief trajectory of the report
Abstract
Brief trajectory of the report
Introduction
Background information to understand the hypothesis you test in the experiment
Procedure
The steps you took to test the hypothesis
Data/Observations
What you saw when you used the procedure
Presents concepts and equations that come up later
Discussion/Conclusions
Based on the Introduction, did the Procedure produce the expected results? What is next?

12. Logic, Not Time, Organizes the Report Brief trajectory of the report
Abstract
Brief trajectory of the report
Objective, without evaluation or calculations
Introduction
Background information to understand the hypothesis you test in the experiment
Allows an outsider to verify results
Procedure
The steps you took to test the hypothesis
Data/Observations
What you saw when you used the procedure
Discussion/Conclusions
Based on the Introduction, did the Procedure produce the expected results? What is next?

13. Logic, Not Time, Organizes the Report Brief trajectory of the report
Abstract
Brief trajectory of the report
Introduction
Background information to understand the hypothesis you test in the experiment
Procedure
The steps you took to test the hypothesis
Data/Observations
What you saw when you used the procedure
Analyze and interpret how well the hypothesis was supported
Discussion/Conclusions
Based on the Introduction, did the Procedure produce the expected results? What is next?

14. Learn to Excel Within This Format
Abstract: State experiment clearly and avoid educational goals
Introduction: Provide important knowledge needed to understand what should happen
Data/Observations: Explain what happened in detail so the report is like a movie
Conclusion: Analyze your data to explain how close your test came to the ideal case in the Introduction

15. Writing Lab Reports
Purpose of a lab report
Format
Available resources

16. Where to Find Help Lab Manual (https://manual.eg.poly.edu)
Lab Report Format
Annotated Lab Report: Competition, Regular
PTC Writing Center (JAB 373)
(646)
Your writing consultant

17. Writing Lab Reports
QUESTIONS?