LABORATORY REPORT GUIDELINES

GENERAL GUIDELINES (20pts)

 Arial, Font Size 10

 Single Spaced
 A4 Size Paper, narrow margins (0.5” for all corners)
 Page number to be included at the top right corner of the page (Arial Font Size 8)
 Page footer (Arial Font Size 8) must include:
o Left Corner: Course Title, Section, Group Number and Group Member Surnames
o Right Corner: Instructor’s Surname and Initials
 Paragraph Spacing:
o Before: 0pt
o After:10pts
 SINGLE column for lab report title
 TWO columns for contents
 Major Sections (Intro, Materials and Methods, Results and Discussion, Guide Questions
and References) should be capitalized and in bold letters
 Minor sections should be italicized, only first letter to be capitalized.
 All figures (charts, diagrams, pictures) must be properly labeled AFTER (BELOW) the
figure.
 All tables must be properly labeled BEFORE (ABOVE) the tables.
 All equations must be properly labeled AFTER (BELOW) the equations.
 Must have correct grammar all throughout the paper (minus 2pts for each instance of
error)
 Include in-text citations every time you get something from other
journals/books/references. Follow APA style for in-text citations and references.
 LIMIT YOUR REPORTS FROM 1-4 PAGES ONLY. Excess pages will not be corrected.

INTRODUCTION (15pts)

Maximum of 2 paragraphs

 1st paragraph should include definitions of key terms to be used in the laboratory
exercise and a few background/significance of the laboratory exercise.
 2nd paragraph should include the objectives of the laboratory exercise.

MATERIALS AND METHODS (10pts)

 Discuss the materials and methods in your own words and how it actually went in the
actual experiment. Incorporate the materials/equipment as you narrate the step-by-step
procedures in paragraph form.
 No need to include the pictures of the instruments used or how you conducted the
experiment.
 Include minor sections if necessary for your procedures.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION (30pts)

 Round off your values up to 2 decimal places only. You can use up to 4 decimal places
(or more) if rounding off to 2 decimal places will ruin your explanation or trend that you
are about to discuss.
 Present your data either in table or charts to summarize your PROCESSED data.
NEVER INCLUDE RAW DATA IN YOUR DISCUSSION. If you have 3 replications, just
report the average. If precision is relevant to the data, also report the standard deviation
and coefficient of variance (CV). As a general rule: a CV greater than 1 is considered
high, so make sure to discuss why you have this kind of data. Pinpoint possible sources
of errors.
 Instead of using colors to differentiate various data sets in scatter plots, line graphs and
bar graphs, use fill patterns, markers and different line styles. Black and white printing is
cheaper this way.
 Do not just repeat individually the data that you can already read in your tables and
charts in your discussion. THAT IS JUST PLAIN NARRATION, NOT A DISCUSSION.
 If there is a trend that can be reported (increasing or decreasing value as 1 factor is
varied), please do report it.
 Try to find published data from reputable sources (journals, books, etc) for you to
compare the data.
 If your data varies from published data, explain the possible reasons behind it.
 Make sure your charts are readable, with proper labeling of axis titles and units.
 Do not attempt to include sections that must be included in the MATERIALS AND
METHODS section here in the RESULTS AND DISCUSSION to make it appear longer.
 Be brief in your discussion. Be straightforward and use common scientific vocabulary.
 Your discussion must indirectly/directly answer your objectives you have set in the
INTRODUCTION section.

GUIDE QUESTIONS (15pts)

Include the original questions given to you before you answer it.

REFERENCES (10pts)

Must follow APA style references

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

 Printed copy must be submitted. If submission is to be done at the DAFE faculty room, a
representative faculty must sign your report with their initials and the date and time of
submission.
 10pts is deducted for every 1-7 days of late submission from the intended deadline
(10weeks late = 0pts)