Lab+and+Lab+Report+Standards

=Lab Report Rubric=

=Lab Report Expectations (from the syllabus)=

Lab Report Guidelines:

 * 1) ====All laboratory reports are to be word-processed, double spaced and printed on one side of each sheet of paper only.====
 * 2) ====Identifying Information is to be written in the upper right hand corner of the first page of each report.====
 * Your name
 * the name(s) of all members of your laboratory team
 * the date the investigation was performed

Title:

 * Titles should be straightforward, informative, and less than ten words and centered on the first page. Examples include: a statement like “The effect of independent variable on the dependent variable” (use the names of the actual variables in your experiment)

The report should also the sections indicated below. Each section should be labeled with a title in bold type. The contents of each section are explained in the table below.

 * Purpose
 * Apparatus
 * Procedure
 * Table(s) containing all observed data
 * Evaluation of Data
 * Conclusion

Purpose:
The purpose states the objective of the experiment. State the topic of your report clearly and concisely, in one or two sentences. Example: The purpose of this experiment was to identify the specific element in a metal powder sample by determining its crystal structure and atomic radius. These were determined using the Debye-Sherrer (powder camera) method of X-ray diffraction.

Apparatus:

 * List all laboratory apparatus used in the investigation
 * Include a detailed diagram of the apparatus used (an example is shown to the right).
 * The diagram must show what is do be changed [|(independent variable)]. In the example on the right, Δh=the height of the ramp is being changed
 * The diagram must also show what is to be measured (dependent variable). In the example, x, or distance that the ball lands from the table is the dependent variable.
 * The Diagram must have labels

Procedure:

 * Describes the process in chronological order.
 * Using clear paragraph structure, explain all steps in the order they actually happened, not as they were supposed to happen
 * Be sure you document occasions when you did not follow procedure exactly (e.g. "At step 4 we performed four repetitions instead of three, and ignored the data from the second repetition").
 * If you've done it right, another researcher should be able to duplicate your experiment.
 * Identify and name all experimental variables

Data Table

 * Prepare a table to contain all values measured directly from the experimental apparatus
 * The column headers should include the units and units should not be shown in the cells underneath the column header
 * The results of mathematical operations or interpretations of any kind should be placed in another table (Values Table).
 * Data should consist 3 or more trials

Evaluation of Data

 * 1) ====Construct a table of values for all additional calculated values====
 * 2) ====Number and Title all tables and graphs====
 * 3) ====Use a sentence or two to draw attention to key points in tables or graphs====
 * 4) ====Provide sample calculation only. Do not show your arithmetic calculations====
 * 5) ====State key result in sentence form====
 * 6) ====State each formula, and identify the symbols used in the formula====

Conclusion

 * This is the most important part of your report.
 * You show that you understand the experiment beyond the simple level of completing it.
 * State the relationship between the variables identified in the purpose in a clear, concise English sentence

Explain.

 * This part of the lab focuses on a question of understanding "What is the significance or meaning of the results?" To answer this question, use both aspects of discussion:

Analyze

 * What do the results indicate clearly?
 * What have you found?
 * Explain what you know with certainty based on your results and draw conclusions:
 * “Since none of the samples reacted to the Silver foil test, therefore sulfide, if present at all, does not exceed a concentration of approximately 0.025 g/l. It is therefore unlikely that the water main pipe break was the result of sulfide-induced corrosion”

Interpretation

 * What is the significance of the results?
 * What ambiguities exist?
 * What questions might we raise?
 * Find logical explanations for problems in the data
 * When your results differ from what is expected, provide a plausible explanation