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How to write a good lab report

How to write a good lab report. What you need to know to get 100% on all of your labs!. Abstract/Purpose. Tell the person who is reading your lab report what you are doing and why. What’s the problem you’re trying to solve? Example:

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How to write a good lab report

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  1. How to write a good lab report What you need to know to get 100% on all of your labs!

  2. Abstract/Purpose • Tell the person who is reading your lab report what you are doing and why. • What’s the problem you’re trying to solve? • Example: • This is an investigation designed to test the pulling strength of a Bess bug. OR • In this experiment, the students will attempt to create a precipitation reaction by combining potassium iodide with hydrogen peroxide.

  3. Hypothesis • What do you think your results will be? • Try using an “if-then statement”. • It’s ok if your hypothesis failed! • Example: • If the Bess bug can pull 3 times its body mass, then the Bess bug’s relative strength is greater than a human’s. • OR: • If a substance has a high measure of conductivity, then it is likely to be an ionic compound. • If the substance reacts with an acid but not a base, then it is a base.

  4. Materials • What do you need for this experiment? • Make a list • Example • A Bess bug • Dental floss / fishing line / thread • Small petri dish • Weights (metal washers) • Paper towels

  5. Procedure • How am I doing my experiment? • The GOAL is to have someone be able to re-create your experiment, perfectly! • Be specific, and step-by-step • Example: 1. Obtain a Bess Beetle. Find the mass and measurements of the beetle. 2. Set up area for Bess beetles to do experiment. Use 2 sheets of paper towel, and tape it to the lab bench. Continue……. Did you change your procedure?

  6. Variables • Identify your variables. • Independent Variable- What factor are you changing on purpose? (Always only 1) • Dependent Variable- What changed as a result of your independent variable? • Example: (if you were testing the volume of rocks) • Independent: The rock being tested. • Dependent: The measure of volume of the rock.

  7. Collect your data! • Make a Table, it’s much more organized that way! Volume of a Rock in milliliters (mL)

  8. Calculations • If you needed to make calculations, describe the process used. • Trial # 1 was added to trial #2 and trial #3 for Rock 1, and the sum of the trials was divided by 3 to get the average. • This process was then repeated for Rock 2. ***pulling power of Bess Beetle. Mass of beetle Mass of weights

  9. Conclusion/Analysis • Your conclusion must be supported by your data. Use what you did in the lab to prove your point! • Usually written in paragraph form • Explanation of how your data supports or rejects your hypothesis. • You MUST USE DATA COLLECTED IN LAB TO SUPPORT YOUR STATEMENTS IN CONCLUSION!!!! Example: In my hypothesis I thought the Bess Beetles would pull more than their weight because of the body structure. In my experiment …….

  10. Discussion (added to conclusion) • Here you can use I, me, or we! • What did you/your group do well in this experiment? • What did you do poorly/what mistakes did you make? • If you think you made a mistake, or the results don’t make sense, why do you think that happened? • What did you find easy or challenging about the experiment? • How responsible were your group members?

  11. You’re done! • Tips: • Use proper English • Spelling counts! • Don’t use “I, me, or we!” • (except in discussion section) • Use: • This investigation shows… • In conclusion… • This data demonstrates… • The data proves that…

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