LAB REPORT WRITING

TITLE

INSTITUTION

NAME REGISTRATION NUMBER SIGNATURE

COURSE

UNIT NAME

UNIT CODE

TITLE OF REPORT/TASK

LECTURER’S NAME

EXPERIMENT DATE

SUBMISSION DATE

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

The main body of the report will start with this section. State in few sentences what was
attempted in the experiment. After reading the objective, the reader should have a very clear idea
of what is being attempted
PURPOSE OF THE EXPERIMENT

THEORY

The introduction and theory can be two separate sections or combined in one section. The
introduction contains a review of the previous work on the same topic. The introduction should
also make a case for doing the work by answering the following questions. Why is this work
necessary? What knowledge can be gained from this work? Why is this knowledge necessary?
What is the justification for spending the time and money to conduct this work? You can do a
bit of Google search on the topic to find material for introduction. If you cite other’s work in
your report, you must include the source of the material in the reference list at the end of the
report.
Short explanation and background information

APPARATUS AND PROCEDURE

This section is important for the reader to understand how the work was done. It allows the
reader to duplicate the work if necessary. Under this section a list of equipment and a schematic
should be provided
APPARATUS

The equipment list should include every piece of equipment used. Major equipment, that is
crucial to the work, should be listed with the make and model number. The schematic is not
supposed to be a 3D multicolored work of art.
Should be written as they are given in the manual unless corrected by the Laboratory
instructor or person concerned

PROCEDURE

Detail the procedure used to carry out the experiment step-by-step. Sufficient information should
be provided to allow the reader to repeat the experiment in an identical manner. It is a simple line
drawing that shows the layout of the project with the major details included. From the equipment
list and schematic diagram the reader should be able to duplicate the project. As with all sections
of the report, the procedure describes what was done in the lab and should therefore be written in
the past tense. Copying the procedure from a lab manual would be an inaccurate reflection of the
work completed in the lab and is not acceptable. Should be written as they are given in the
manual but in the reported speech (past tense)

DATA PRESENTATION
All the pertinent raw data obtained during the experiment are presented in this section. This
section should contain only raw information not results from manipulation of data. The type of
data will vary according to the individual experiment and can include numbers, sketches, images,
photographs, etc. All numerical data should be tabulated carefully Present the data and the results
in a neat tabular form and explain in the text what is being presented. All tables should be
numbered sequentially and have their own titles explaining what they are presenting complete
with units of measures used for each measurement. The graphs and tables should be able to stand
alone, separate from the report and still be understandable.

Should be presented in GOOD and NEAT Tables

DATA ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION

This is the section where the results of the work are analyzed compared to theory or expected
results and interpreted. The information from the data analysis is examined and explained. You
should describe, analyze and explain (not just restate) all your results. Graphs can be used to
compare the results of various settings or to present the trend that is important. In this section
you get to explain what the results all mean. How does the results compare to the expected or
theoretical values? Have any trends being stablished and if so, what is their significance? Did the
experiment stay within the theoretical limitations? Try to perceive any question that the reader
might have about the results and then answer it. What if the experimental results appear to be
incorrect? Point out where the results are incorrect and give probable reasons for such errors. Are
there obviously bad data points?
Does the result look better after eliminating the bad points? What are your suggestions for
correcting the experiment? Get as much out of a failed project as possible. Almost as much can
be learned from a failed project as from a successful project if the discussion is presented
correctly. The next time the experiment is run the reader will have learned from your mistakes.
This section must include statements about the accuracy of the data, supported where
necessary by an error analysis. Sample calculations, details of calculations and error analyses
should also be included.

Includes all calculations

SOURCES OF ERRORS
Stating where they emanated from if any errors are observed
CONCLUSION

In this section summarize what has been learned from this project. Present briefly the highlight
of the results. Indicate if there is any future scope of study.
Base all conclusions on your actual results. Explain the meaning of the experiment and the
implications of your results. Examine the outcome in the light of the stated objectives.

Relevant and always be INLINE with AIMS of the EXPERIMENT

RECOMMENDATIONS

Future Development and what you expect to be done in FUTURE so as to improve future
Results

REFERENCES

Using standard bibliographic format, cite all the published sources you consulted during the

conduct of the experiment and the preparation of your laboratory report. List the author(s), title

of paper or book, name of journal, or publisher as appropriate, page number(s) if appropriate and

the date.

Author - title format

Title – author format

Be in alphabetical order

Include page number

PROFESSIONALISM: FORMATTING AND LANGUAGE

As with all other modes of communication, laboratory reports are most effective if the language
and style are selected to suit the background of the principal readers. Reports are judged not only
on technical content but on clarity, ease of understanding, word usage, and grammatical
correctness. Following are several trouble spots for report writers.

1. Tables, Graphs and Equations

All tables, graphs and equations should be introduced by a sentence of explanation. They should
also have an explanatory label. The labels should be executed using the same formatting and
numbered sequentially throughout the report. Units and variables must always be identified.
Don't expect figures or equations to serve where sentences and paragraphs are needed.

Visual and verbal descriptions must always go together. There are two reasons for this coupling:
first, it assures that the information contained in the report is clear; second, it allows the author of
the report to take credit for interpreting the significance of the data.

Good reports will demonstrate to readers that the author is more than just a person
plugging numbers.

2. Verb Tense

Reports should be written in the past tense in an impersonal style.

NO: The demonstrator set up the equipment before we began the experiment.

YES: The equipment was set up before the experiment was begun.

NO: We calculated distance using the data from table 2.

YES: Distance was calculated using the data from table 2.

3. Objective

The “objective” of the lab is RARELY, IF EVER, to learn how to use a piece of equipment (the
exception is the oscilloscope experiment for Physics). Use action verbs such as “investigate”,
“determine”, “measure”, or “plot” in stating your objective.

4. Equations

Equations should be embedded in the text of report. The equations should be numbered
sequentially throughout the report.
5. Section Headings

Use separate headings for each section. The headings should be in bold type. The format used for
the headings should be consistent throughout the report. Allow space between sections.

6. Language

As you edit your report delete unnecessary words, rewrite unclear phrases and clean up
grammatical errors.

7. Note on Plagiarism

Experiments are usually carried out by groups of students. It is therefore expected that each
member of a group has followed an identical procedure in the laboratory and has the same set of
data. Members of a group are also encouraged to discuss the analysis of data with one another.
However, preparation of the report and the discussion and interpretation of the results
contained therein must be the sole effort of the individual student submitting the report.
Department policy on plagiarism will be strictly enforced in all laboratory courses.