WRITING REPORTS

WRITING REPORTS
Scientists carry out their investigations in the laboratory and in the
field to answer questions they have. Scientists plan their
investigations carefully and make careful and detailed
observations. An observation is something you find out with your
senses. Scientists also make measurements during investigations
and record the results in a data table.
As well and planning and conducting investigations, scientists
write a report about how they conducted the investigation, their
observations, their findings and their conclusions.
A report is important because other people can find out what was
done and what was discovered.

A REPORT HAS 7 HEADINGS

A report is organised into 7 headings:
1. TITLE
2. AIM
3. MATERIALS
4. METHOD and LABELLED DIAGRAM
5. RESULTS
6. DISCUSSION
7. CONCLUSION

THE 7 HEADINGS IN A REPORT

TITLE

At the top of the

report you need to
write down:
The name of the
investigation
Your name
The date

AIM

Next you need to say

why you did this
investigation.
Sometimes this is a
question called a
hypothesis.

MATERIALS

Next you need to list

all the materials you
used. This includes
the equipment and
the chemicals.

THE 7 HEADINGS IN A REPORT

METHOD

RESULTS
Here you write down In your results you
record data. Data
what you did in the
includes qualitative
investigation in
observations (words)
numbered steps.
and measurements
When ever possible
(numbers).
include a large neat
Usually these are
and labelled
recorded in a data
diagram of the
table. This makes
apparatus (set up).
the data easier to
read.

DISCUSSION

In your discussion
you try to explain
your results, and list
any problems that
you experienced.
You might also
explain how you
could improve the
investigation.

THE 7 HEADINGS IN A REPORT

CONCLUSION
Finally, you must include
a conclusion in which you
answer the question
posed in the aim.
Sometimes in your
conclusion you can write
a generalisation (a
general statement) one
that seems true in most
cases. I.E. The heavier
the truck the longer it
takes to stop.