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Science 9 General
Lab Reports How To Write Up Lab Reports Handout
The purpose of experiments is to better understand a concept or for the discovery of a new one. Presenting the
findings of the experiment is done through a lab report that outlines how the experiment worked and what the results
were.
Should be done in blue or black ink. The lab report can be typed up in black ink.
All lines made in the report (for underlining, for charts or certain graphs) must be made with a ruler
or straightedge
Each student will write up their own lab report and turned in individually
The lab report should be done neatly and easy to read
1) COVER
PAGE
Use blank paper (not lined)
Put the Title of the Lab in the center of the page in large font and all CAPITALIZED LETTERS and underline
it
Put your Name, Teachers Name, Your Class, and Due Date beneath the title in smaller font
Put a list of your Group Members (not including yourself) on the bottom left corner of the cover page
No pictures or drawings should be on the cover page (front or back)
2) LAB WRITE-
UP
If typed, use blank paper (not lined); if written, use lined paper
Put the Title of the Lab on the top middle of the first page, CAPITALIZED, and underline it
The lab write-up should be printed, handwritten or typed neatly
Must include ALL of the following headings (which are underlined)
Hypothesis:
This is an Educated Guess as to what you think is the possible reason or relationship
This is NOT a question, but a statement that includes what your prediction is based on what is happening
This can be true or not. You do NOT have to be correct, but it should be your best guess as to what
you feel is correct
Eg. If I mix blue paint with red paint, I will get white paint because we know that adding all colors of the
spectrum together causes white.
Eg. I think that my marks will increase if I study more than 10 minutes for a test because my frineds study
more than me and get better gradesw.
Variables:
List your Manipulated, Responding and Controlled Variable for the experiment
Underline the variable sub headings:
Manipulated the one factor that you are changing (to see if this is cause)
Responding the one factor that you are measuring or recording
Controlled a list of factors that you are keeping the same throughout the experiment
Materials:
List ALL the materials that will be used in the experiment
Procedure:
Write down step by step instructions in order to perform the experiment
Number each step separately (like a recipe)
All of the above sections should be done BEFORE the experiment is started
This is important so that you understand what will happen in the experiment and possibly help you to
understand what the results will be
Observations:
This is the recording of data or information gathered while doing the experiment
It can be done as notes, charts, graphs, sketches or recordings of the experiment
Up to this point, the information in the lab report can be similar with your group members, but NOT copied or
printed out for one another
Each student is responsible for understanding the experiment and the results, so make sure you know what was
going on
Conclusion:
This is written as a small paragraph that will answer the Purpose of the experiment
First state whether or not your hypothesis was supported.
Secondly, prove or disprove your first sentence with the results or actual data
Eg. Our hypothesis was not supported. Red and blue paint did not make white paint. Our results showed
that red and blue paint made purple paint.
Errors:
List any possible inconsistencies that may have affected the experiment
List at least two possible reasons