1. Lab Report Expectations
FEH H191 Week 5 (and forever…)

2. Formatting In other words - Please proofread!!! 20 points
Check spelling
Check grammar
Use third person consistently
Use tense consistently
In other words -
Please proofread!!!

3. Additional Formatting Issues
Provide units
Provide NEAT sketches if done by hand
Number pages. Text begins on page 2. Title page number does not appear

4. Equations Equations should not be numbered as figures
Equations should be centered on a new line with no other text
Write equation in variable form then in the text DEFINE the variables. Do not rewrite the equation in words

5. Figures and Tables Label and title all figures and tables
Number tables, figures and appendices in the order they are mentioned in the report
This should also be the order they are placed in the report
Create figures and tables in Excel or other program when possible
Charts do not exist - only tables, figures, and equations
Capitalize the title of a reference in the text:
“... can be found in Figure 1.”

6. Appendices Sample Calculations Lengthy equation derivations
Large figures
Supplemental figures
Data sheets if appropriate
Try to make figures that can be put into the body for better flow

7. Language issues This is not AP English
Do not use fancy language unless it is more descriptive. Peak is ok. Apogee is inappropriate
Do not use colloquial language. Be formal
Do not use contractions (Do not use Don’t)
Do not use subjective words like pretty good, reasonable, very, a lot
Be careful using absolutes such as exactly, perfectly, all, and every

8. Appendix Format Title Page Number every page
Title and number all figures and tables independently of report or other appendices

9. Content 80 points Discussion ~ 25% Results and Description ~ 40%
Other sections make up the rest of the points
The exact break down changes every week

10. Introduction Introduce lab objective Briefly describe report
Often found in on-line lab write up
Mention generally (i.e. do not say “students”)
Briefly describe report
Explain where data can be found in the report
State what other sections include

11. Intro Don’ts Do not include experimental methodology
DO: Spring constants were determined for x,y and z springs…
DO NOT: Spring constants for x,y,z were determined by adding weights …
Do not give background
Found in some technical reports. Not ours.
Do not explain why the world needs to bend beams for peace and prosperity

12. A good introduction tells the reader what type of experiment was performed and how the information about the experiment is broken down in the report

13. Experimental Methodology
Describe process for collecting data
Mention instruments used
When necessary, describe conditions
Sunny, cloudy, temp…
When appropriate, include a fully labeled figure of the test set up and describe

14. EM Don’ts Do not mention students, group, teams
Do not give ANY results
Do not describe format of results
Do not break down every stage of everything. A summary of the process is fine

15. A good experimental methodology gives enough information for the reader to recreate the lab. Measurement tools should be described but do not need to be exact. Transformer ratios are needed, but transformer company and year of production are not (for FEH).

16. Results & Description
State all results in tabular, graphical or written form
Describe all figures and tables
Break out equations from paragraph
Include as many tables and figures in results section as are appropriate without breaking up the report too much

17. Results Don’ts Do not discuss errors in data
Do not paste a bunch of figures with no text
Do not put everything in the appendix
Do not write everything in one long paragraph
Do not give the results personalities:
“The result came to be…” is a terrible sentence

18. A good results and description section mentions all of the data and describes all figures and tables. A reader should glean as much from the text as from the figures. There should be overlap in the information in these.

19. Discussion Compare experimental and theoretical values
Answer questions where appropriate
Discuss relationships in the data
Mention any results that seem erroneous and describe possible reasons for the error

20. Discussion Don’ts Do not number questions
Do not write one long paragraph
Do not over generalize error. What type of human error? Why was there measurement error?
Do not conclude
Do not introduce new results

21. A good discussion tells the reader about the data, what is means, and how and where it deviates from what is expected. A discussion is the segue to a conclusion. It sets up all the needed information to form reasonable conclusions

22. Summary and Conclusions
Include a summary of the important data points
Look to the introduction for items to conclude (e.g lab objectives)
Conclude appropriately on the data
Did it match the expected?
What were the sources of error?
What can this be applied to?

23. S&C Don’ts Do not include new results Do not discuss
Do not over-generalize
“All electricity distribution systems have problems with…”
Do not forget to summarize

24. A good summary mentions the important (usually most descriptive or telling) points of the data, or sources of error
A good conclusion explains how the lab objectives have or have not been met and provides considerations or recommendations for future experimentation