Lab Write-Up Format

THIS OUTLINE WILL HELP YOU TO WRITE YOUR LABS. There may be changes or modifications but all elements must be included in your lab write-up. Each section on your lab paper must include the Roman numeral and heading (as in I. TITLE: )

I. TITLE: As given in your text book, handout, or by the teacher.

II. PURPOSE: Referred to as the "PROBLEM" in the text, handout, or by the instructor. This will be a short description of the purpose of the lab answering the question: "Why are we doing this lab?"

III. HYPOTHESIS: Your guess or prediction as to what will occur stated by using an "if – then- because" statement. For example: “If I don’t turn in my homework on time, then Mrs. Parrish will be really ticked off because I am being a dork.”  This is not a required section in all labs.  I will inform you if you are not to include it.

IV. MATERIALS : This is a recipe list of the materials that must include size, shape, color, and quantities used in the lab.  You may simply say "REFER TO PAGE ??? IN OUR TEXT BOOK" if appropriate.

V. PROCEDURE: Written out step-by-step instructions referring to all materials, times, etc. to be used in this lab. You may simply say "REFER TO PAGE ??? IN OUR TEXT BOOK" if appropriate.

VI. DATA COLLECTION: There is always some kind of data that needs to be taken down during an experiment. This section includes the notes you collect like the times, temperatures used, quantities, good things that happened and the bad. If possible, data should be in a graph or chart. Sometimes data tables will be provided for you.

VII. ASSIGNED QUESTIONS: Answer all questions in the procedure of the book or any of the additional questions at the end of the lab that the instructor assigns.

VIII. CONCLUSION: Conclusions always follow a 3 paragraph format:

Paragraph 1 reviews the purpose of the lab, usually giving more explanation or background so that you convince the reader that you understand what you did and why you did it.  You would also evaluate whether the hypothesis was supported or not.   

Paragraph 2 uses specific data to explain why or why not the hypothesis or purpose was achieved.  You can compare and contrast the data to make your point.  Again, convince the reader that you understand the data and how it fits into the big picture of what you are trying to achieve.  You will also apply major concepts to what we are doing in class. 

Paragraph 3 ties the data into real world applications and raises any conjectures that you may wonder about or desire to test in the future.  This is the icing on the cake.