North Carolina State University

©2005 Labwrite Project

LabWrite main homepage
User Tabs

How to use
Special
LabWrite Resources
Features

Labwrite
Stage
 PreLAB: Getting started

Questions to answer before doing the lab:

1. What scientific concept(s) is this lab about?

2. What are the objectives for this lab?
3. What is the overall purpose of the lab?
4. What is your hypothesis for the lab experiment?
5. What reasoning did you use to arrive at your hypothesis?
 InLab: Doing the lab

A guide to completing the lab and managing

lab data:

1. Setting up the lab

2. Getting ready to collect data
3. Preparing a table or spreadsheet for recording your data
4. Conducting the experiment
5. Visualizing the data
6. Making sense of your data
PostLAB: Writing your lab report

A step-by-step guide to
help you write each
section of your lab
report:
LabCheck: Making sure it’s right
LabCheck is made up of the LabChecklist &
the Evaluation Guide:

• Use the labChecklist to check off all the items that

need to be in your lab report.
• Use the Evaluation Guide to view the criteria your
instructor will use to grade your lab report.
LabChecklist

Lists all the items

that need to be in
your lab report
LabCheck Evaluation Guide

Lists the criteria your

instructor will use to
grade your lab report.

You can also click

on the links to get
help for improving
your lab report.
Start with a LabWrite stage

From the main homepage, click

on a stage. This will take you to a
stage homepage where you can
select what you need.
What you’ll see when you click a
stage, for example PreLAB :
First, choose the type of
lab you are doing
Second, choose
the format of
LabWrite you
want to work in
 Using the Self-Guide Mode
• Structured so that you can use PreLab, InLab, or
PostLab with any word processing program
• Has pop-up windows with definitions of important
terms
• Has “more help” links that give you more
information
• Takes you to resources you may need
• Has “printable” versions of all materials
Self-guide: Step-by-step instruction

One question or step at a

time guides you through
your work.

Additional information
provides support when
you need it.
Self-guide: Pop-up definitions

Click on highlighted
words to bring up a
pop-up window with
a definition
Self-guide: More help

When you click on “MORE HELP”

links, you’ll find additional
information as shown below:
 Self-guide: Resources

Resource links will

take you to a specific
resource you may need
to accomplish a task.

You may also go to any

resource from the main
homepage menu by clicking on
Resources.
 Self-guide:
Printable versions
Click on “Printable Version” on a Self-guide
Page to view and print a hardcopy of any materials
you may need. More Help and Pop-ups are included.
 Using handouts

• Handouts give you the opportunity to fill in

your answers to the PreLab and InLab by
hand or by copying into a word processing
program.
• Handouts are located on the home pages for
each stage.
 Using the Tutor
• The Tutor offers an
interactive interface
that prompts you step
by step through all the
stages of labwrite.
• This is what the
interface looks like
 Clicking on “Tutor”
When you click
on Tutor from
any homepage,
you’ll see this
Tutor window
with instructions
for starting a new
lab report or
uploading an
existing one.
 Navigating the Tutor
Stage
Tab

Step
Prompt Window Buttons

More
To learn
Info
more, Click here and type your text...
click
“Help”
when you
access the List of
Tutor. Steps or
Sections
 Working with Tutor
• Once you have created or retrieved a file, you are
ready to use the Tutor.
• Tutor will show a question or a phrase in the “prompt
window” to let you know what you have to do.
• You can click “More Info” for additional information.
• You’ll be able to type in your answers in the “text
box” and save your work.
• Tutor will keep track of your progress.
• You’ll have to save your work periodically. Tutor will
remind you sometimes. Click “Save.”
 Working with Tutor
• You can view your work by clicking “View.”
• You can print your work by clicking “Print.”
• You can export your work by clicking “Export.”
You’ll get instructions on how to bring your saved
work into a word processing program.
• Clicking “EXIT” will quit the Tutor.
• Use the “step arrow button” to go from one prompt to
the next.
• In PostLab, you’ll have several
prompts for each section of the lab report.
• The “list of steps” will highlight the steps or sections
you have completed.