LABORATORY ASSIGNMENT GUIDELINES

1. Title Page
 Include a title for the investigation.
 Bottom right corner: Name:
Group Members:
Teacher:
Date:
Period:
2. Abstract
 One paragraph written on its own page
 Similar to the synopsis on the back of a novel
 A summary of the purpose, procedure, findings, and relevance of the lab

3. Introduction
 Write 3-5 sentences about the topic of the lab including important background
information.

4. Purpose
 A brief statement (1 sentence) on the reason for doing the lab.
 What are we trying to find out?

5. Hypothesis
 A prediction of what you expect will happen in the experiment (an educated guess).

6. Materials
 I don’t expect you to rewrite what is included in the textbook.
 Make a note of where to the find the information ex. Refer to pg. 100
 In experiments you design, materials may be written as part of the procedure only.

7. Procedure
 Refer to page number in the text when a procedure is provided.
 Deviations from the text should be noted.
 If designed and written out, should be written in full sentences, in a step wise
fashion.
 Materials should be included as they arise in the experiment
 Should be detailed and precise including proper naming of lab equipment,
measurements, and units.

8. Results
 This section may include diagrams, graphs, charts that illustrate your observations.
 Ensure each item has a descriptive title.
 May require the inclusion of a sample calculation.
 Anything supportive should be included as an appendix in the back which is referred
to at the end of the results.
9. Discussion
 A one-paragraph summary of the lab’s relevance.
 Restate the results
 Your statements should reflect the purpose of your experiment.
 Comment on your hypothesis. Was it correct? Why?
 Discuss any sources of error that may have affected your findings and suggest
improvements.
 You may answer the analysis and evaluation questions in the textbook or assigned by the
teacher (they help you discuss what was important about the lab) in some cases.

IN GENERAL
 ALL SUBHEADINGS ARE UNDERLINED AND ALIGHNED LEFT
 ALL STATEMENT SHOULD BE STATED IN PAST TENSE AND PASSIVE VOICE (I.E.
NO I, ME, YOU, US, WE)
 THERE SHOULD BE NO COPYING FROM THE TEXTBOOK!
 EVALUATION SCHEME MUST BE HANDED IN WITH LABS.
 LABS ARE DUE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE CLASS!
 DO NOT COPY ANOTHER PERSON’S LAB…THIS IS PLAGIARISM…YOU WILL BOTH
RECEIVE A MARK OF ZERO!
 WHENEVER YOU USE WORDS THAT ARE NOT YOUR OWN YOU MUST GIVE CREDIT
TO THE PERSON WHO SAID THEM USING MLA REFERENCING STYLE (MLA
INSTRUCTION CAN BE FOUND IN THE LIBRARY SECTION OF YOUR AGENDA)