Laboratory Reports:

A. Formal Lab write-up includes all components discussed below.
B. Informal/Pre-lab write-up includes the following sections: Title Page, Framing the Investigation (all sections), Designing the Investigation (all sections), and construct of data tables in bound lab notebook
General Info:
• Provide a heading for each section.
• Be positive - avoid “the data might suggest” instead use “the data show.”
• Avoid non-informative abbreviations like etc., and phrases such as “and so on.”
• Use Latin names correctly. Genus species or Genus species.
• Avoid repeating facts or thoughts
• Be succinct.
Format [5 points]
• Must be typed, using word or appropriate word processing software
• 12 point only, using Times or Arial.
• Heading may be 14 point and bold
• Sections are sequential (in order), with 12 point spacing between sections
• Graphs and Tables must be incorporated into the word document (paste or paste special)

Title Page/Cover sheet [5 points]
• Title of the experiment, this should be relatively short and reflect the content of the lab. Don’t Use “The Effect of Drugs on Lab Animals” Instead Use “The Effect of Caffeine on Heart Rate in Daphnia.”
• Also include your name, start and end date of the experiment, class, period, and names of persons performing the experiment in your group.

I. Framing the Investigation: [15 points]
Background
• A written description of related scientific information or observations.
• What the reader needs to know to understand why this investigation was done.
• This information can be gathered from class notes, class discussions, lab sheet, or research
• Cite any literature using APA format
• 18-22 sentences (~230 words)
Purpose/Objective [10 points]
• A purpose is a clear and concise statement of the reason for doing the experiment.
• State the problem or question that is being studied as it relates to biological principles or concepts being tested during this laboratory investigation.
• The nature of the lab…the real world connection!
• Introduction to experimental design; include independent and dependent variables.
• 5-8 sentences (~ 100 words)
Hypothesis [5 points]
• For many experiments it will be appropriate for you to form a hypothesis before conducting the procedures (after you have thoroughly read the lab).
• A hypothesis is an educated answer to the question or problem before performing the experiment. Follow the If, Then format when appropriate.
• Ex: If leaf color change is related to temperature , then exposing plants to low temperatures will result in changes in leaf color.
• 1 sentences (~20 words)


II. Designing the Investigation: [15 points]
Materials [5 points]
• A concise list of all materials, equipment, solutions, or organisms to be used.
• Make a note of any special procedures, handling or disposal of materials, such as biological hazards.

Procedures [10 points]
• Include a complete/detailed list of all materials and equipment used.
• Your procedure is a record of the steps you performed in the experiment.
• DO NOT COPY ENTIRE PROCEDURES from lab. A flow chart of procedural steps may be helpful to you as you perform the lab.
• Think of this as a recipe with when to do a step, how to do the step, amount used, and what equipment/supplies used for each step.
• For precision and accuracy, use multiple counts whenever possible.
III. Collecting and Presenting Data [15 points]

Results
• All qualitative and quantitative data must be shown.
• Show all data (raw data goes in lab notebook) Control data goes in lab notebook but needs formal representation as well.
• Always use correct units for your measurements (in calculations, tables, and graphs)
• Units go at the head of columns
• Use significant figures when appropriate.
• No interpreting here; present the data only!
• Mathematical manipulations belong here, anything from averaging to chi square.
• Show how you carried out the calculations for a representative sample. Show your work!
• If appropriate, construct a graph to represent your data. Be sure to properly label the X and Y axes. Dependent variable =Y-(vertical), Indep.=X-(hor.)
• All tables and graphs should be labeled and titled. Ex: Table 1: Graph displays the height of radish plants, which were supplemented with various nutrients for a period of 2 weeks.
IV. Analyzing and Interpreting Results: [30 points]
Analysis
• Interpret your data – what does it mean?
• Answer questions in complete sentences
• Explain the significance of your results and support with either qualitative or quantitative data
• Don’t assume your reader has prior knowledge, explain, explain, explain!

Conclusion Your summary should include a discussion, in paragraph form, of the following issues:
• What was the problem or question (purpose) being studied?
• Was your hypothesis supported or disproved? Cite actual data (qualitative or quantitative) to support this.
• As you interpret the data, explain the significance of your results.
• Experimental Error: Explain at least 3 factors that could have caused your results to be inaccurate or to vary.
• What next? What questions do you have after performing the experiment?
• What questions need to be answered to continue learning more about the problem studied? What important factors might have affected your results or influenced the data collected.
• 25-30 sentences (~ 300 words)