THE
LABORATORY REPORT
BIOLOGY
1110-1120
A complete and accurate record is an essential part of meaningful laboratory work. Indeed, a thoughtfully constructed laboratory record is perhaps the single most important document in science. Failure to keep such a record means laboratory labor lost. Adequate laboratory records include as a minimum an introduction (what you will be doing), purpose (why), procedure (how), observation (what happened), and the ever important, conclusion. Format is important.
There are several components that belong in every experimental write-up:
I. INTRODUCTION
The introduction provides background information for the lab.
II. PURPOSE
Why is the experiment being run? What are you expecting to achieve form this laboratory exercise?
III.
PROCEDURE
The procedure should not be a direct copy of the book, but should be detailed enough to carry out the experiment. Include diagrams of any apparatus used.
IV. DATA and OBSERVATIONS
Data includes tables of
information and sample calculations, if applicable.
Any changes made during the
experiment are documented here. Answers to questions asked in the lab belong
here. The difference between data and observations is the difference between
quantitative and qualitative. Data are typically collected numbers -- they are
quantifiable (measurable). Observations include what you saw, heard, smelled,
and are of a qualitative nature.
IV. CONCLUSIONS
This is where the real
opportunity for insight exists. The conclusion should contain a brief
summary of the purpose, data, and your observations. Based on these parameters,
you will now interpret the facts. Include your degree of success in achieving
the goals of the experiment. Look for trends and search for explanations.
Your laboratory reporting will occur in three stages:
1. Advance preparation required before lab.
2. Data gathered and recorded during the lab.
3. Thoughtful analysis & interpretation leading to logical conclusions developed after lab.
|
BEFORE LAB |
In your laboratory notebook, fill in the following information at the top of every page: title, date, name, and page number (if not pre-numbered, pages should be consecutively numbered from the beginning of the notebook). And by the way, your signature should be on the bottom of every page as evidence that this document is indeed your work.
Read the assigned laboratory exercise(s) carefully. Provide a thorough introduction to the laboratory work. Practice using the scientific vocabulary you are acquiring. State the purpose or objective of the laboratory exercise.
Describe or outline the procedure
for each experiment including sketches of any apparatus used. Do not merely copy
the instructions given.
Write clear directions for how the experiment will be performed. This might
take the form of a "recipe." However you describe the procedure, your
instructions should be written clearly and concisely enough that another
experimenter could use your write-up to accomplish the work. Tables for
recording data should be constructed in the laboratory report before
lab. Use of a ruler keeps things nice
and neat.
|
DURING LAB |
Listen carefully to the pre-lab
lecture. Make corrections to your pre-lab write-up as directed by your
instructor. Also, add any special instructions or safety precautions described
by your instructor. (Safety is of paramount importance. Expect some questions
related to safety issues on your laboratory examinations.)
|
AFTER LAB |
The only remaining component of your report is to develop the conclusion section. This is where you summarize your observations and interpret work as it relates to the purpose of the lab. It is appropriate to describe any problems, inconsistencies, or revealed flaws in this section.
Did the experiment
work? A short statement of original thought summing up the experiment is
required. If the results were not as expected, suggest possible causes of
the errors. The conclusion should have scientific and practical
significance. It should not be a personal comment such as "this
experiment was fun." A statement such as, "this experiment was
successful," is unacceptable without further explanation. List
possible sources of error, and explain whether they would change the expected
results. If you have suggestions for improving the experimental
procedure, you should include them as well.
ATTENDANCE: Attendance at all laboratory
meetings is required. If you find you can not attend a given
lab then you will
have to use it as your 'drop lab'. If you miss a second lab, a grade of
zero (0) will be
assigned.
There are no make
up labs.
IMPORTANT
FORMATTING TIPS FOR A GREAT LAB REPORT
§
Use
a durable, bound, notebook with gridlines and alternating white and yellow
pages. These can be found in the VSCC
bookstore for a reasonable fee.
§
On
the first page of your notebook, put your name, section number, desk number,
course title, semester date, and phone number in case your notebook is lost.
§
The
first page or two of the laboratory notebook should be reserved for a table of
contents. This table should include the title of the experiment,
date(s) conducted and page numbers.
§
You
will record your information on the white pages. Because your notebooks
use carbonless technology, everything you write on the white pages will be
automatically transferred to the yellow papers. NEVER write directly on
the yellow pages.
§
All
entries should be made in permanent blue or black ink.
§
Every
page should have your name, the date & day of lab (ex:
§
Never
leave blank sections on a page. If there are more than two empty lines at
the bottom of any page, draw a diagonal line through the space and initial.
§
All
mistakes should be clearly lined out and replaced with corrections.
Never write over, erase, or white-out any
information recorded in you notebook.
§
Do
not record any data on scrap paper. Scrap paper used for this purpose
will be taken up, and your data will be lost. Record all data directly into you notebook and date. **Be
sure to take your notebook to the balance whenever you weigh something.
§
The
notebook should be a complete record of what was actually done.
Completeness is more important than neatness.
§
The
usual rules regarding significant figures should be observed. Never
report more significant figures than warranted by the data.
§
Make
it clear what apparatus was used. Whenever an unusual piece of equipment
is first used, a sketch of it should be included.
§
What
should NOT go into a laboratory notebook: Lecture notes,
personal matters, material from other courses.
§
You
must have your lab instructor initial your data and observations pages before
leaving the lab.
§
Be
sure to sign and date the bottom of every page of your lab notebook.
§
Draw
up any tables needed to record information as part of your pre-lab write-up
§ Your completed laboratory report is
to be turned in at the beginning of the next laboratory period to
be considered on time. The white pages of your lab notebook should be the ones
submitted (some people do not have a heavy enough hand to make the yellow copy
clear enough to read). Your completed
lab report must be torn out of your notebook with the chit removed, stapled in
the upper left hand corner and placed on the instructor’s desk before the
laboratory lecture begins. Any reports
that do not meet these standards will have points deducted.
GRADING
OF THE LAB REPORTS
Each
lab report is worth a total of 100
points which will be distributed as follows:
·
Format (20 points):
o
Each page should contain the
following: student’s name, title of experiment,
date performed, and lab partners, if any.
o
The bottom of each page of the lab
report should be signed and dated by the student performing the experiments.
o
Each section of the experiment should
be clearly indicated and labeled (Introduction, Purpose, etc.).
o
Mistakes should be properly corrected
and all blank spaces are crossed through.
o
Tables, charts, and drawn
representations are clearly labeled.
·
Introduction, Purpose, and
Procedure (20 points):
o
What exactly are you attempting? What
is the goal of this experiment?
o
Give an overview of how you intend to
accomplish this.
o
Whenever
an unusual piece of equipment is first used, a sketch of it should be included.
o
Include detailed, step by step
instructions explaining how to carry out the experiment.
o
Copying the lab report word for word is
plagiarism!
·
Data, Observations, and Analysis
(30 points):
o
Include detailed descriptions of what
you see, hear, taste, smell, and/or feel happening during the experiment.
o
In other words, write down everything
you experience.
o
Include calculations, if any.
o
Remember that every measurement and/or
calculation includes units and the proper number of significant figures!
·
Summary, and Conclusions (20
points):
o
Review why the experiment was
attempted.
o
Review how it was carried out.
o
Review your observations.
o
Were the results as expected? Why
or Why not.
·
Performance (10 points)
o
How closely did your result match what
is expected?
o
How careful were you? SAFETY FIRST!
Late reports will be accessed a penalty
of 25% the first week, 50% the second week. If your report is three weeks
late, you will receive a zero (0).