• High School Science Lab Report Format

    Cover Page

    Title                            The title should be descriptive of the laboratory investigation conducted.

                                        Underline the title.   

     

    Introduction               Briefly state the purpose or Problem Statement.

    When writing the purpose, you should ask yourself: “What am I trying to show, find or do?”   The introduction must be short and precise. No more than one or two paragraphs in length.  The Introduction should have background information pertaining to the laboratory. 

     

    Hypothesis                If required write your hypothesis using one of the following formats:

    • If    cause   then   effect, because…(give reasons you have to make such claim)
    • If  the variable is applied   then   this result will be observed, because……              

     

    Materials                    List the name, size, type of units, and quantity of the equipment and materials used to do the lab.  For example:

    • One 30 cm ruler ● One 200 g mass scale
    • 20 ml of alcohol ● Four 50 ml volumetric cylinders

     

    Procedures                List the steps performed in your lab, in your own words. Steps MUST be in the correct                            

                                         order.

    Variables & Control Independent (Manipulated) Variable: what is changed or tested

                                        Dependent (Responding) Variable: what is affected by the change

                                        Constants: what remains the same throughout the experiment

                                        Control:  what is used for comparison with the Independent Variable

     

    Data                            All descriptive (Qualitative) information and also numerical (Quantitative) information

    (Observations)          goes in this section. For example: graphs, data tables, math calculations, and written

    observations.  This section could be written in pencil.

     

    Data Analysis            Use words and math (mode, median, mean or average, range, percents, etc.) to analyze and (Results) describe your data.

    For example: “Over a period of 5 days, three amoebas were observed in the beaker containing .25 M of Na2NO3.  No species were observed in the beaker containing 0 M Na2NO3.”

     

    Conclusion                A conclusion statement answers the following questions in at least three paragraphs

    Introductory Paragraph

    • What was investigated?
    • Which were the Independent (Manipulated) and Dependent (Responding) Variables that were manipulated?
    • Did your results agree, disagree, or don’t provide enough information to support your hypothesis?
    • What were the major findings in your experiment?

    Body Paragraph(s)

    • How do your results compare with other people’s results?
    • Did you find any connections in your data? (Graphs, Tables)
    • What differences and similarities did you observe?

    Conclusion Paragraph

    • What possible explanation can you offer for your end results?
    • What recommendations do you have for improving the experiment?
    • What are some applications for the experiment? (9th graders one example, 10th-12th two examples)

     

     

    Lab Report Rubric

     

    Part of Report

    Brief Description

    Maximum Points

    Cover page/Title

    Descriptive title of the lab investigation conducted.

    1

    Introduction

    Briefly states the purpose or problem statement.  Includes background information pertaining to the laboratory.

    3

    Hypothesis

    Consists of a statement that predicts the outcome of the experiment.  Use the “If… then….because” statement format.

    3

    Materials

    List that includes the name, size, type of units, and quantity of the equipment and materials used to do the lab.

    2

    Procedures

    List that outlines the steps performed in your lab, in your own words. Make sure they are in the correct order.

    2

    Variables & Control

    Identify the factors that may change in the laboratory; such as independent variable(IV), dependent variable (DV), constants and control.

    4

    Data (Observations)

    Include descriptive (Qualitative) information such as observations and numerical (Quantitative) information (graphs, data tables, math calculations).

    4

    Data Analysis (Results)

    Use words and math (mode, median, mean or average, range, percents, etc.) to analyze and describe (Results) your data.

    4

    Conclusions

    A conclusion summarizes what happened in the experiment. It needs to accept or reject your hypothesis and answer your problem statement.  Should also be written in essay format.

    7

     

    Lab Report Format

     

                                                                                                                                               Total 30 points

Last Modified on August 20, 2020