LAB REPORTS

PREPARED BY THE STUDENT SUCCESS AND TUTORING CENTER

WHAT IS A LAB REPORT?

https://academichelp.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/lab-repo
 What is a lab report?
 a complete and detailed record of
an experiment.
 The information provided in a lab
report should be specific enough
that the reader would be able to
replicate the experiment.
STRUCTURE: PARTS OF THE LAB REPORT

 Cover Page: Title and Author(s)

 Introduction
 Statement of Objective
 Materials and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 Appendices (not always needed)
COVER PAGE: TITLE AND AUTHOR(S)

 Center the title on the page about

2 inches from the top of the page.
 Center the student’s name, class,
and date completed below the
title.
 Type the student’s last name and
page number in header, flush with
right margin.
INTRODUCTION

What it contains: What it does not contain:

 Context of study
 Pertinent background
information
 Written in Past Passive tense
 Results
 Conclusions about the study
 Non-relevant information

 Should be one to two

paragraphs long depending
upon the experiment
conducted
STATEMENT OF OBJECTIVE
 Hypothesis
 Objective of the experiment
 The student’s educated prediction
 Answers two questions:
about the outcome of the
 Why is this experiment being performed? experiment
 What information can I learn?
 Must be clearly stated and specific
 It’s okay for your hypothesis to be
wrong!
MATERIALS AND METHODS

 Contains materials and equipment used along with any explanation(s) of

equipment, if necessary.
 Contains the step-by-step process followed to conduct the experiment.
 Written in paragraph form, NOT a bulleted list.
 Always written in third person (do not use “I”).
 Be as detailed as possible.
 The purpose of this section is to allow another person to follow the instructions
and replicate the experiment.
RESULTS
Sales

 Summarize the results in paragraph

form.
 Create tables or charts of the data
collected, if applicable. 1st Qtr 2nd Qtr 3rd Qtr 4th Qtr
Chart Title
 If using tables or charts be sure to 6

5
label them clearly. 4

 DO NOT interpret the data. This 3

section should only contain the raw 2

1
facts. 0
Category 1 Category 2 Category 3 Category 4

Series 1 Series 2 Series 3

DISCUSSION

 Interpretation of data collected

 Did the experiment prove or disprove the hypothesis?
 If hypothesis was wrong, why and how was it wrong?
 Did any errors occur during the procedure?
 How might these errors be avoided in the future?
 Discussion of the implication of results
 REFERENCES

 See your professor to determine if outside sources are necessary and what
format to cite them in.
 Your lab manual counts as a source.
 All sources used should be recorded on a separate page at the end of the
report.
 This page is titled either References (APA) or Works Cited (MLA).
 References should be organized alphabetically by authors’ last names.

Need citation help? See a Writing Center Coach or check out the SSTC’s Online Resource Cente
THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND!
 Remember to keep your writing in Past Passive tense.
 Everything is presented as if by a passive-third party observer.
 Ex. You would not say “Timmy ate the bagel.” Rather, you would say “The bagel was
eaten.”

 There is an example of a lab report in your lab manual. You can always
refer to that if necessary.

 Have a question? Remember you can always check with your

professor!
 Do you need to have an Abstract?
 Do you need to have Appendices?
PLEASE CONTACT US!

Conway 349-7872
Grand Strand 477-2113
Georgetown 520-1455

Email: sstc@hgtc.edu
Website: http://www.hgtc.edu/sstc
RESOURCES

 Successful Lab Reports

 Purdue OWL https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/726/06/
 Hamilton College http://www.hamilton.edu/writing/writing-resources/lab-reports-for-biology
 Duke University http://twp.duke.edu/uploads/assets/lab_reports.pdf