DATE:

NAME:

Science 9
Lab Reports

CLASS:

How To Write Up Lab Reports

General
Handout

How to write up a formal lab report

The purpose of experiments is to better understand a concept or for the discovery of a new one. Presenting the findings
of the experiment is done through a lab report that outlines how the experiment worked and what the results were.
Rules for Writing a Lab Report:

Should be done in blue or black ink. The lab report can be typed up in black ink.
All lines made in the report (for underlining, for charts or certain graphs) must be made with a ruler or
straightedge
Each student will write up their own lab report and turned in individually
The lab report should be done neatly and easy to read

1) COVER PAGE
Use blank paper (not lined)
Put the Lab or Investigation Number in the center of the page and underline it
Put the Title of the Lab underneath it with CAPITALIZED LETTERS and underline it
Put your Name, Teachers Name, Your Class, and Due Date on the bottom right corner of the cover page
Put a list of your Group Members (not including yourself) on the bottom left corner of the cover page
No pictures or drawings should be on the cover page (front or back)
2) LAB WRITE-UP
If typed, use blank paper (not lined); if written, use lined paper
Put the Lab or Investigation Number on the top left of the first page and underline it
Put the Title of the Lab on the top middle of the first page, CAPITALIZED, and underline it
The lab write-up should be printed, handwritten or typed neatly
Must include ALL of the following headings (which are underlined)
Problem: (Purpose / Question)
Write down the purpose of the lab; what you are trying to determine
This should be done in one sentence
Can be written as a question
Sometimes this is given to you (from teacher or textbook)
Hypothesis:
This is an Educated Guess as to what you think is the possible reason or relationship
This is NOT a question, but a statement that includes what your prediction is based on what is happening
This can be true or not. You do NOT have to be correct, but it should be your best guess as to what you
feel is correct
Eg. If I mix blue paint with red paint, I will get white paint
Eg. I think that my marks will increase if I study more than 10 minutes for a test
Variables:
List your Manipulated, Responding and Controlled Variable for the experiment
Underline the variable sub headings:
Manipulated the one factor that you are changing (to see if this is cause)
Responding the one factor that you are measuring or recording
Controlled a list of factors that you are keeping the same throughout the experiment
Materials:
List ALL the materials that will be used in the experiment
If it is in your textbook, you may refer to it as See page ### in ScienceFocus 9

Procedure:
Write down step by step instructions in order to perform the experiment
Number each step separately (like a recipe)
If it is in your textbook, you may refer to it as See page ### in ScienceFocus 9

All of the above sections should be done BEFORE the experiment is started
This is important so that you understand what will happen in the experiment and possibly help you to
understand what the results will be

Observations:
This is the recording of data or information gathered while doing the experiment
It can be done as notes, charts, graphs, sketches or recordings of the experiment
Analysis: (Discussion / Questions)
After gathering the data, this is the section for finding out what happened and making some correlations as
to what happened and possibly why
This will include answering questions about the experiment or interpreting the results

Up to this point, the information in the lab report can be similar with your group members, but NOT copied or
printed out for one another
Each student is responsible for understanding the experiment and the results, so make sure you know what was
going on

Conclusion:
This is written as a small paragraph that will answer the Purpose of the experiment
First state whether or not your hypothesis was correct
Secondly, prove or disprove your first sentence with the results or actual data
Eg. Our hypothesis was incorrect. Red and blue paint did make white paint. Our results showed that red
and blue paint made purple paint.
Errors:
List any possible inconsistencies that may have affected the experiment
List at least two possible reasons
There is no such thing as No Errors
COPY OF THE FORMAL LAB MARKSHEET
Self-Checks
Points to Consider
Cover Page

Blank, Title, Info, Group Members

General
Sections

Lab/Title, Problem, Materials,

Procedure
Related to Problem, Complete
Sentence, I Think
Manipulated, Responding,
Controlled (2)
Diagram, Correct Chart, Proper
Data, Complete
Write Out Questions and
Answer All
Correct/Incorrect, Hypothesis,
State Results/Data
List 2 Reasons for Inconsistencies,
Explain How/Why

Hypothesis
Variables
Observations
Analysis
Conclusion
Errors
Ink
Underline

Blue/Black Ink
Straight Lines for Underlining,
All Sections, Titles
Sub Total:

Rubric
Lab Report is complete with
all parts AND Write Up is
well done.

10

Lab Report is missing a few

parts OR Write Up lacks some
understanding

Lab Report is missing a few

parts AND Write Up lacks
some understanding

Lab Report is missing lots of

parts OR Write Up lacks lots
of understanding

Lab Report is missing lots of

parts AND Write Up lacks lots
of understanding
Total:

3
2
1