A Guide to Writing an Engineering Laboratory Report

In
Materials Technology

University of Duhok
College of Engineering
Civil Department
2019-2020

This document describes a general format for Lab Reports that you
can adapt as needed. however, the goal of lab reports remains the
same: document your findings and communicate their
significance.

 “Why?” – Why did I do this particular experiment?

 “How?” – How did I actually carry it out?
 “What?” – What did I find? What were my results?
 “So What?” – What does my result mean? What is the
significance of the result? What are my conclusions?
Any Materials Technology report must contain the
following pages:
UNIVERSITY OF DUHOK
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
CIVIL DEOARTMENT- MATERIALS
TECHNOLOGY

(REPORT NAME)

BY

STUDENT NAME:
GROUP NO.:

SUPERVISOR
“YOUKHANNA”

EXPERIMNET NO.:
EXPERIMENT DATE:
1-Introduction:

The Introduction: is more narrowly focused than the abstract. It

states a) the objective of the experiment and b) provides the reader
with background to the experiment.
In addition, a good introduction also provides the reader with
justification for why the work was carried out. And some further
information of the theoretical principle involved in the experiments.

*Note on Verb Tense: Introductions often create difficulties for

students who struggle with keeping verb tenses straight. These two
points should help you navigate the introduction: The experiment is
already finished. Use the past tense when talking about the
experiment.
• “The objective of the experiment was...”
The report, the theory and permanent equipment still exist;
therefore, these get the present tense:
• “The purpose of this report is...”
• “The scanning electron microscope produces micrographs ...”
2- Methods and Materials (or Equipment)
usually be a simple list, but make sure it is accurate and complete.
2-1Materials:

2-2-Equipment:
2.3-Sketches:
3- Experimental Procedure:
Describes the process in chronological order. Using clear paragraph
structure, explain all steps in the order they actually happened, not
as they were supposed to happen. If you've done it right, another
researcher should be able to duplicate your experiment.
4- Calculation and Results:

The results section consists of calculations, graphs and

tables. But student must use the calculations, graphs and tables to
explain the results from their experiment. On a further note, the
graphical representation (graphs and tables) must be clearly
labeled.
5-Discussion:
This is usually considered the most important part of the lab
report. In this section, students are required to show an
understanding of the experiment.
This part of the lab focuses on a question of understanding "What is
the significance or meaning of the results?" To answer this question,
use both aspects of discussion,
a) Analysis: What do the results indicate clearly? What have
you found? Explain what you know with certainty based on
your results and draw conclusions:

b) Interpretation: What is the significance of the results?

What ambiguities exist? What questions might we raise? Find
logical explanations for problems in the data:

Strategies you can use in your discussion are:

 Compare expected results with those obtained.
 Analyze experimental error.
 Explain your results in terms of theoretical issues.
 Relate results to your experimental objectives.
 Compare your results to similar investigations or Standards.

Conclusions
In most undergraduate laboratory report, the conclusion can
be very short. Additionally, the conclusion can also be used to
express your views on the weakness of the experimental design (if
there is any!), or what is the implication of your conclusion.
6- References
The reference section shows where you got information that was not
your own.
 DATA SHEET

 (Should be Stamped or Signed).

Compulsory Format of the written text:

This section guides the student to prepare his/her final report with organized
paper format including the margins, font types and sizes and other necessary
requirements. The significant point is that the font type of the project writing
should be “Verdana” except if it is stated to use another font.

Project Title:

The title should be bold, CAPITAL and centered with a font size of 18. The
names of the students and the supervisor are written with a font size of 14.

Chapters Chapter names should be bold with a font size of 14.

Headings
•Level 1 heading is bold with a font size of 13 and justify left.

•Level 2 heading is bold with a font size of 12.

•Level 3 heading (and others if available) is bold with a font size of 11.

•The body (text) is in 12 font size.

•Line spacing should be 1.5.

•Side margins should be 2.54 cm (1 inch).

•Formulas have to be written by equation (Alt +=).