Instructions for Writing a Lab Report

 

General Information

·        All reports will have your name, your lab partner’s name, date, and title on the top of the page.

·        All reports will be written in third person, past tense.

·        Wrong way: I cut the kidney in half.

·        Right way: The kidney was cut in half.

 Introduction

·        This is one well-developed paragraph in length.

·        It will include background information about the observation, problem you are solving and other information you have collected.

Hypothesis

·        It will contain an if…… then…… statement.

·        It is written before the experiment or lab is begun.

Objective

·        This is used instead of a hypothesis when you are learning a technique, such as a dissection.

·        It will state what you are learning or doing.

·        Example: The kidney will be dissected and all parts identified.

Experiment

·        The apparatus must be described.  You may include a diagram.

·        You will explain what was done.  This may be the procedure in list form, or paragraph form as described by your instructor.

Results

·        This is the area of the report when you display data.

·        This could include graphs, tables, diagrams, etc.

·        You will not explain the results in this part of the report.

Conclusion

·        This is one or two paragraphs explaining your results.

·        You must include whether your hypothesis was confirmed or disproved.

·        A discussion of independent and dependent variables will be included.

·        You must state what you learned from the lab.