A2Z Laboratory Report What is it?

The laboratory report is a formal piece of writing, on one of the experiments carried out this semester.

Why do we do this?
Research scientists carry out their work at the bench or the computer and produce records like the ones you have written BUT When we disseminate our work to our peers, we dont just show them the record. We write the work up formally, for a journal, in a way that brings across the main result of the experiment, without too much unnecessary detail. In principle, you now have some time to think more carefully about your results and what you learned (including the comments from the demonstrators/markers). This can all go in the report.

The lab report should be -! more extensive than a lab record in terms of introduction (contextsetting), reflection on your results, and conclusions. -! less extensive than a lab record, in the sense that you do not have to include every single piece of data. Use your judgement to decide what are the critical data, and reformat data tables or graphs if necessary. - written in a way that makes the overall aim of the experiment most clear, e.g. it need not follow the order in your lab record, and it need not describe all the false starts! - well-structured, i.e. a logical flow, clear sections, clear numbering and referencing of figures and tables. -! well-presented, with title & abstract (summary paragraph), clear tidy graphs and tables (e.g. no spreadsheets with columns spread across 2 pages, or graphs with all the points clustered in the top right corner), good illustrations (e.g. equipment, astronomical context) -! maximum 15 pages long (additional material can go in appendices)

The lab report should not be -! a rewrite of your lab record

-! a rewrite of the lab script! (though you may use illustrations from the script, and you may paraphrase or quote helpful text.) -! a stream of consciousness -! an uncritical repeat of mistakes you made in the analysis first time round; take the opportunity to try again if the marker pointed out an error! NOTE HOWEVER, that if your experiment went wrong, you will NOT be penalised for this again in the report, AS LONG AS you put some effort into describing why it went wrong, what the effect was on the overall result, and - if appropriate - how it could be improved.

Overall Marking Scheme

The lab report is marked by the class head, and is out of 20. The marks are split as follows: Structure - 5 marks Can I navigate my way easily round your report? Is it ordered in a logical and straightforward way? Presentation - 5 marks Has care been taken with graphs, tables, text, so that the report overall looks good and is clear? Is the style of the language appropriate? Clarity and insight - 5 marks Have you clearly and carefully described the experiment and its outcome, and demonstrated an understanding of the experiment? Breadth and depth of analysis - 5 marks Have you thought and written carefully about the process and outcomes, and given due attention to uncertainties and error analysis?