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Guidelines for Writing Formal Laboratory Reports in Biology
Once you have carried out the scientific method in your investigation, you can communicate
your investigative approach and findings in writing. Often for biology labs, students write formal
laboratory reports to organize and communicate this information. The following guidelines are used
in writing these formal laboratory reports, and your instructor will use the rubric included (Table 3.4)
when grading your lab report. You will be writing a formal laboratory report for the Ecology lab, but
your instructor will introduce the guidelines today.
THE PARTS OF A FORMAL LABORATORY REPORT
Title
Straightforward (informational is better than catchy)
• Less than ten words
• Reflects factual content of the report
Abstract
• An abstract is a brief summary of the lab report's main points.
• Include one or two summary sentences for each of the lab report's section (i.e. Introduction,
Methods, Results, and Discussion).
• Include your hypothesis. A hypothesis is a clearly stated single idea that you explore in the rest
of your report. It is not a fact or question. All facets of your study should revolve around your
hypothesis.
Introduction
• A reasoned statement of why you did the work in the first place. It should contain the following:
• Description of the problem/question being addressed.
Summaries of existing relevant research on the topic to provide the reader a reasonable
framework for understanding your work.
Express the hypothesis addressed in your study.
Express the purpose, scope, and general methodology of your study.
o
0
o
Methods
A description of all experimental protocols followed during your investigation. It should contain
the following:
. A statement of the steps taken during experimentation.
o Mathematical equations and statistical tests should be described.
• A reader should be able to repeat your experiments using only this section.
Scientific Method, Information Literacy, and Graphing Laboratory 3
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Results
· A presentation of the data collected during experimentation with text, tables, and figures. It
should contain the following:
. ALL results should be presented, even those that do not support your hypothesis.
NO CHERRY PICKING!
• All statements in your report must be supported by data contained here.
.
Discussion
An explanation of how the results of the study are significant and how these results fit into the
broader scope of existing knowledge on the topic. It should contain the following:
o A summary of the important findings of your study.
For each result, explain how the data relate to expectations and to your references cited.
Explain any agreements, contradictions, or exceptions.
• A statement of the theoretical implications of your results. Extend your findings to the big
picture: Do your findings help the world better understand the topic?
o Describe what additional experiments may be performed to enhance understanding of
the topic.
Works Cited
• A listing of published works that you have cited in your report.
For science papers, these are generally listed in order of appearance in the article, with each
citation assigned a corresponding number for in-text references.
Table 3.4: Rubric for formal laboratory reports.
(Your instructor will use the following rubric to grade your lab report.)
Nearly Meets Standard
Does Not Meet
No Evidence
Score
Category
Meets Standard (3pts)
(2pts)
Standard (1 pt)
(Opts)
Title
Evidence of 4
Evidence of 3
Evidence of 2 or less
Absent
Exceeds Standard
(4pts)
Title, Your Name,
Instructor's Name,
Course and Section
Number, Date. Neatly
Finished with No Errors
Clearly and concisely
states the paper's
purpose in a single
sentence, which is
engaging and thought
provoking
Engaging, states
hypothesis, and
previews content of
Clearly states the paper's
purpose in a single
sentence
Hypothesis
States the paper's purpose
in a single sentence
Incomplete and/or
unfocused
Absent
States hypothesis and
previews content.
Introduction
Absent
paper.
Absent
No clear introduction
States hypothesis but
or hypothesis.
does not adequately
Content preview
preview content.
missing.
Describes wrong
Describes some of the
materials or
materials and equipment. equipment.
Describes all steps in a
Describes steps
sequential fashion that are out of order, not
not easily followed. easily followed, or
incomplete.
Discusses all materials
and equipment.
Discusses all steps in
a detailed, sequential
order that is easily
followed.
Methods
Describes most of
the materials and
equipment. Describes
all steps in a detailed,
sequential order that is
not easily followed.
Absent
Incorrect data
provided, regardless
of inclusion or
presentation of all
other criteria
All data recorded
and organized
clearly. All visible
observations provided.
Complete and
correct date analysis
provided. Errors of
experimentation
provided.
Restates hypothesis,
supports or refutes it,
and explains role of
experimentation in
making decision.
All data recorded and
organized clearly. All
visible observations
provided. Analysis of
data provided with
few errors. Errors
of experimentation
provided.
All data recorded and
organized clearly. Visible
observations missing.
Analysis of data provided
with few errors. Errors
of experimentations
provided.
Results
Restates hypothesis and
supports or refutes it
Absent
Supports or refutes
hypothesis without
restating it
Does not address
hypothesis
Discussion
Done in the correct
Done in the correct format
format with many
Done in the correct
format with no errors.
Includes more than 3
major references.
Done in the correct
format with few errors.
Includes 3 major
references.
with some errors. Includes
3 major references.
Absent or
inappropriate
references
used (e.g.
Wikipedia).
errors. Includes 3
major references.
Citation
Х
No errors in
punctuation,
capitalization, and
spelling
Almost no errors
in punctuation,
capitalization and
spelling
Many errors in
punctuation,
capitalization and spelling
Mechanics
Numerous and
distracting errors
in punctuation,
capitalization and
spelling
Numerous and
distracting errors in
sentence structure
and word usage
Almost no errors in
Many errors in
sentence structure and
Х
No errors in sentence
structure and word
sentence structure and
Usage
word usage
word usage
usage
Scientific Method, Information Literacy, and Graphing | Laboratory 3
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T-Mobile
6:55 PM
17%
Done
Photo
Table 4.3: Number of survivors for each generation.
Population 2
(death from predation
and disease)
Population 1
(death from predation)
Percentage
surviving
Number
surviving
Percentage
surviving
Number
surviving
Generation
0
80%
1
2.
3
4
5
6
7
100%
20
100% 20
16
80%
16
55% 9 35
10
50% 8 3%
2 Pro
8
40
เ
2
15%
6
30%
25%
2
15%
5
5
25%
2
15%
J
25% +
to sa
5%
4 나
20%
3
15%
3
15%
1
139
3 - 15%
3 15%
10%
8
9
Bonamom
10
S%
ses
0%
11
12
13
14
N
15
20
Erology Laboratory 4