The following “Lab Report Format” is designed to be a concise yet informative learning and evaluative tool.
1. Title: All labs will begin with a title. This component should be centered at the top of the page.
2. “Statement of Purpose:” This section should define the major concept being addressed by the lab activity. The statement of purpose should consist of no more than two lines.
3. “Data:” This section should consist only of the data obtained through the lab activity. Data should be factual in nature without editorial. This section will frequently contain tables and/or graphs and sometimes drawings. Data and observations should always be reported in tabular form.
4. “Discussion:” This section of the lab report will be used to evaluate your understanding of the lab and the concepts addressed. The discussion portion is the most meaningful portion of the lab report and should include two very important components.
a.) A brief yet thorough discussion of the concepts addressed by the lab. Consider this section an essay on the concept/concepts on which the lab is based. This section addresses the concepts and does not address the results.
b.) A discussion of how the results of the lab, as found in the data section, relate to the concepts addressed by the lab. This section of the lab report should contain a well thought-out critique of your results or errors that affect you results.
5. “Conclusion:” The final section of the lab report should include a numerical listing of any pertinent conclusions that you have reached as a result of the lab activity. These conclusions should be brief, simple statements written in complete sentences (one or two lines each).
· Do not include procedure unless requested by your instructor.
· Avoid the use of personal pronouns in your lab report.
· The boldface section headings 2-5 found on this document should also be included in your lab report.
Please note - all reports should be typed and proofed.