The following are describes the basic
format that should be followed when creating a lab report for
Biology class. These points regard the basic format of the report.
With most labs I have given you hints on what to write
about specifically. Check those out with your lab handout, suplementary
hand-out, or with the On-Line
Lab associated with
these pages.
Lab Reports for Biology
Your reports that you write for your Lab Book should follow the following format that will help you organize the information collected and used in the labs we conduct in class. Points will be deducted for not following a proper format.
- A. Title- Give your lab an
appropriate title. Often this may be given to you already.
- B. Purpose- Identifies the problem and sets the limits for how it is to be studied. This is -(what question you hope to answer)- by doing this experiment. ie. To find the height of freshmen at Lincoln. (the limits are that you are only testing freshmen and only at Lincoln.)
- C. Procedure- Provides the methods and techniques for gathering the information needed to solve the problem. *This is how you are going to carry out the experiment (the steps you will follow). You are not allowed to merely recopy the procedures you may receive from me. You must rewrite them in your own words.
- D. Data (experiment and observations)- This section provides for the recording and computation of what you have measured during the lab. Included in this section are the tables, graphs, summaries, figures, drawings, etc. that you need to report the data. *This is where you put what you see, hear, measure, observe, or smell. It is where you record any changes you have seen; where you record and calculate any measurements you have made.
- E. Analysis/Study Questions- this section is were you made inferences about the results. You study any data collected and try to reach a conclusion about the problem. Any study questions will assist you in analyzing the data. *Discuss what occurred, why it may (or suggest reasons why, based on your results), discuss the possibility of error and how it may affect your results. Examine what the experimental data means.
- F. Conclusion- This section provides for the interpretation of data in such a way as to stating if the problem has been solved. The conclusion must always be supported by your data and observations. *This is were you make firm decisions on what the results mean and if the problem has been solved. You may also suggest other problems for future study if they arise.
* Data is the only thing you should ever copy from your lab partner. Points will be subtracted for copied work*
Title, Purpose, and Procedure
sections will be given to you for every lab. No extra copies will
be provided. You are responsible for the following sections. You
will be graded accordingly. Observations/Data Study Questions 1. interpret your data *General Points*
Lab Write Up
1. complete
2. List in order of occurrence
3. clearly stated
1. Complete
2. properly labeled and with units
3. presented in an organized manner (ie. tables)
4. Calculations and formulas shown (when appropriate)
1. a title that clearly explains what the graph is showing
2. both axes clearly labeled (including units)
3. information (data) plotted correctly
When appropriate study questions will be added to the labs to
enhance your understanding of the material. They should be answered
completely, either by reference in the Data or Analysis section.
Your answers should be in reference to the results in the lab.
Study questions should help you make conclusions about the lab.
Conclusions should:
2. state if the problem has been solved
3. be supported by and agree with your data 4. answer the main
point(s) discussed in the Purpose
Labs must be...
1. neat and legible
2. in proper format and sequence
3. be written in the lab notebook only