General Instruction(s) Reminders:

• All labs must be written in PEN and be submitted to the teacher in a composition notebook.

• Always use THIRD person (NO personal pronouns --- me, I, you, we, etc.) when writing all parts of a lab report. (USE HE, SHE, THEY, THEIR, THEM, ETC.)

• The following things should be written clearly in marker on the front cover --- "Subject" Lab Notebook; Teacher name; Student name; Block.

• Number each page of the composition notebook in the lower right hand corner.

• On Page 1, write the subject, year, student name, class period, and teacher name.

• Page 2 should have "Table of Contents" written at the top and TWO columns, one for "Page" and the other for "Lab Title".
• Page 3 should be reserved for the “Table of Contents” as well.
• The “Table of Contents” should be maintained as the semester progresses.

• Begin writing the first lab on page 4 of you notebook. DO NOT WRITE ON THE BACK OF YOUR PAPER!

• SKIP A LINE BETWEEN EVERY SECTION! 
  

• TITLE and UNDERLINE each section & then begin writing on the NEXT LINE!

• If a mistake is made during the lab write up, draw a SINGLE LINE through the mistake.
• NO WHITE OUT OR ERASABLE PENS ALLOWED.

Sections to be Included for FULL Lab Write-up.

Title - points  (center on top line; on the right of line 2, put date & lab #)

• The title should indicate clearly & concisely the subject and scope of the report. 
• Example: - “The Effect of Temperature on Tropical Plant Growth”

Research Question - points (Problem)

• What question is your laboratory experience addressing?
• Must be an open-ended question.
• Example: - "How does the amount of sunlight reaching plant leaves affect plant growth?"

Pre-Lab Questions - points (If applicable/available)

• Place pre-lab questions from website AND lab packet (if applicable), and their answers, in this section.

Introduction - points  (PARAGRAPH FORM)

• The introduction should give background information about the experiment. 
• It should also state the PURPOSE of the investigation.
• This section should contain at least THREE intext citations.
• This section will be two or more paragraphs in length of 400 - 500 words.

Hypothesis - points  (SINGLE SENTENCE) (If applicable)

• The hypothesis should be a single if-then statement telling the exact thing you are trying to prove in your experiment.
• Identify the independent and dependent variables within the hypothesis.
• NEVER write this statement using "first person". 
  
• Write the hypothesis in past tense and in third person.

Thesis Statement - points (If there is a hypothesis)

• Write 1 – 2 sentences that provide a SCIENTIFIC reasoning for writing the hypothesis.

Materials - points  (SINGLE SENTENCE)

• This section should be written in sentence form and name all of the materials and equipment used.
•  Be sure to include specific amounts and concentrations of chemicals used.
• Start the statement, "The materials used include _____, _____, etc."

Methods (Procedure)- points  (ESSAY FORMAT)

• This section includes the step-by-step procedures used, in ESSAY format, written in past tense.
• The procedure should be SO THOROUGH that someone else could use your listed materials and procedures to conduct the same experiment and get the same results. 

Results - points {Data Tables; Charts; Graphs}

• Step 1: If you haven't already done so, create appropriate TABLES, GRAPHS, and other figures to enable you to visualize your lab data. Use a spreadsheet program or table function in a word processing program. If your lab data consists of only drawings, or observations, you may want to organize these in tabular format as well. If not, go to Step 2. Remember that representing your data in a visual format will allow you to identify trends, relationships, and other patterns in your data more easily. LABEL EACH VISUAL (Ex: -Table #1; Graph #3)
  
• Step 2: Once you have generated visual representations of your data, determine the best order for presenting the visuals. If the proper order for visuals is already determined by the lab manual, go to step three.
• Step 3: Review all the data from your experiment. In a sentence or two, summarize the main finding of this lab. This is the opening sentence(s) of the Results section that follows the data tables, charts and/or graphs.
• Step 4: In separate paragraphs, summarize the general finding in EACH of your visuals--tables, graphs, drawings, or other figures. First, describe any relationship or interaction which exists among variables for each visual. Then include any specific details from the visual(s) that are important for understanding the results. REFER to your tables, graphs, drawings, or other figures as figure or table 1, 2, 3, etc.
• Step 5: Complete the Results by placing all the elements you've written in the proper order: (1) the sentence summarizing the overall data for the lab; (2) the paragraphs of word descriptions for each visual arranged in the order the visuals are presented. Remember that the Results only reports and describes what you observed and collected during your lab. The Results does not explain, discuss, or draw conclusions.

Discussion - points {Data Analysis}

This section should contain at least THREE in-text citations.

• Step 1: For the opening paragraph of the Discussion, explain what the findings mean in terms of the scientific concept or laboratory procedure of the lab. In other words, discuss the connection between the evidence you collected and what you were supposed to be learning about by doing the lab. If necessary, refer to graphs, drawings, tables, lists, or other visuals from the Results to support your explanation.
• Step 2: Go back to the questions you may have raised in your Introduction, and in a paragraph or so, discuss any answers you arrived at as a result of doing the lab or as a result of additional research you may have done. Where appropriate, refer to specific data in your findings or to specific points in the protocol to support the answers to these questions. Finally, discuss the importance of these questions to the scientific concept or lab procedure you explored in this lab. Note any citations you use here for including in the References section of your report.
• Step 3: In the final part of your Discussion, write about other items as appropriate, such as (1) questions from the Introduction that remain unanswered; (2) sources of uncertainty in your lab methods that may have led you to unclear answers; (3) how your findings compare to the findings of other students in the lab and an explanation for any differences; (4) what further investigations you would do in order to gather more information; (5) suggestions for improving the lab.

Conclusion - points

This section should contain at least ONE in-text citation.

• Step 1: Write a paragraph summarizing what you have learned about the scientific concept or procedure of the lab. Back up your statement with details from your lab experience.
• Step 2: There may be more that you have learned about from the lab experience that is not directly related to the main focus of the lab, the scientific concept or lab procedure. If so, describe it in a paragraph or two.

Error Analysis -  points

• List any experimental errors. Errors may include problems with specimens, faulty equipment/apparatus, mistakes made during lab procedures, carelessness or even a problem with the design of the experiment. Students should also provide solutions to the experimental errors.

Appendix - points

• List, and provide answers for, any questions that may have been provided with lab packets
• Place any pictures taken during the lab exercise in the appendix. Each picture should have a label and description.

Bibliography - points

• Place resources used in completion of the lab notebook alphabetically in APA format.