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ERS Lab Format

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NYS  Learning Standards

 

 

Last Updated:

07/29/2003

 

 

 

 

 

COLD SPRING HARBOR HIGH SCHOOL

LABORATORY REPORT FORMAT

 

 1.     Heading-   

              Include the title:  name of the lab as described by the manual or provided by the teacher.  Include your name, date and lab number.

2.     Safety Precautions-

                Describe all steps and measures taken to ensure that the experiment is conducted   in a controlled, safe manner.

3.   Purpose-

       A single statement describing what measurement will be made, what  relationship will  be investigated or what skill will be mastered. 

4.   Hypothesis-   

            If…………., then…………….should occur.      

5.     Materials and Equipment-  

            A list of all materials and equipment necessary to conduct the experiment.

 6.   Procedure

        A concise explanation of how the laboratory experiment will be carried out.  This should be written in paragraph form.  Diagrams might be included and referred to in this section.  Any large diagrams should be attached to the end of the lab and labeled Appendix I, II, etc.

 7.   Data tables, Graphs, and Observations

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 All data should be presented in this section in a neat, clear manner –   tabular form usually proves best.  Data tables must include units and proper number of significant figures.

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 Graphs are to be constructed according to standard graphing procedures.  Axes MUST be labeled properly and trend lines should be drawn to show any patterns of the plotted data points if necessary.  They should be attached at the end of the report and referred to as Graph I,II etc. 

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 Calculations should also be included in this section.  Show all work.  Pay attention to significant figures.

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Observations should be to the point and made in complete sentences.        

 8.   Theory and Discussion

            This is the most important part of the lab report.  The bulk of the grade will be determined from this section.  Describe, in your own words, the reasons for what happened in the experiment.  State all illustrated scientific principles.  Include all results and then describe what these results mean and how they apply to what you know.  Use any additional drawings, diagrams, explanations, and graphs as necessary to make your case convincing.  If you use any reference books, cite your sources of information. You must cite the sources of error in the experiment and their effect on the results.  Did the error make the data go too high or too low?  Why?  Include suggestions on how to improve the experiment by reducing or eliminating these sources of error.

 9.   Conclusion

            A single statement of conclusion, relating to your purpose or hypothesis.  The conclusion should include the numerical value of the experiment as well as the percent error, when appropriate.