Download Lab Report Format

Name______________________________
Teacher____________________________
Date___________
Class___________
Completing a Lab Report
Labs are an integral part of our science class. You are to use the following format when
completing all labs.
Overall Format:
• Typed or neat legible handwriting.
• Proper heading (name, date, science period, and title of lab).
• All section headings underlined (use this sheet as an example).
• Correct grammar, spelling, and terminology.
Problem
or Purpose:
Why are we doing the lab? State what topic is being investigated and why.
The purpose should be one or two sentences and begin with: ‘To determine;’
‘To recognize;’ etc. If you have a hypothesis, you must have a problem
written as a question.
Example: This lab is being conducted to determine the different stresses on
the Earth’s crust.
Hypothesis:
State an educated guess – what you think the results of the experiment will
prove (before conducting the experiment). The hypothesis is one sentence
stated in ‘if…then’ terms. Hypotheses are only necessary if you have a
problem/question.
Example: If salt is added to water, then the temperature of the water will be
higher than 100° C at its boiling point.
Materials:
Every item used during a lab must be vertically listed in the material section
(more than one column is allowed).
Example:
Plastic Knife
100mL Beaker
2T Sodium Chloride
3 Test Tubes
Bunsen Burner
Test Tube Holder
2 Matches
Procedure:
This is a step-by-step account of how to do the lab. A number should proceed
each step listed in the procedure. Each step begins with a new line. The steps
must be so exact that a fourth grade student could come in and accurately
complete the lab.
Example:
1.) Pour 100mL of water into a 500mL beaker.
2.) Turn the hotplate to a setting of ‘6’ and place the 500mL beaker onto
the hotplate.
3.) Wait 3 minutes, and then take the temperature of the water.
Name______________________________
Teacher____________________________
Date___________
Class___________
4.) Record the data in the table.
5.) Wait 2 minutes and then take the temperature of the water.
6.) Record the data in the table.
Results:
This section is where your table, chart, and/or graph will appear. If there is no
need for a table, chart, or graph, this section may be excluded from your lab
write-up.
Analysis:
This section is where you will answer the analytical questions given to you.
This area should be well thought out using the data you collected
and/or your observations to support your scientific reasoning.
Example:
Question: Why did the hot water dissolve the food coloring more quickly
than the cold water?
Answer: The hot water dissolved more quickly because the molecules in hot
water were moving around faster than in cold water. I know this because when
you add heat to substances the particles become excited and move more
rapidly, as we discussed in class and I read in the textbook. While the
molecules are moving faster they ‘grab’ molecules of food coloring more
quickly, causing the food coloring to spread throughout the water faster.
Conclusion: This part of the lab report is short and to the point. It should be no more than
one paragraph. After completing your analysis, you should be able to state
whether or not your hypothesis was true. Did your results prove or disprove
your hypothesis?
Be sure to:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Restate the problem or purpose.
State how your hypothesis was supported by your data or rejected by your data.
Give a one-sentence summary of procedure.
Explain what data you found or observed in your test.
Summarize what you believe happened in your test.
Below is an example conclusion using these guidelines.
The purpose of this lab was to find out what happens to a person’s heart rate as that
person increases his or her activity level. To determine this, the members of my group
gradually increased their activity level and measured their heart rates. I found out that
my hypothesis was supported by my data because when the members of my group
went from resting to walking, and then walking to running, their heart rate went up
each time. Therefore, I conclude that when a person increases his or her activity level,
that person’s heart rate will also increase.