How to write a laboratory report

How to write a laboratory report

Background:

good writing is an essential skill
what do we write:
- teachers: lectures, letters of recommendation, grant proposals, research papers, critiques of research papers and grant proposals written by other researchers, progress reports, committee reports, and letters and memos.
- students: essays, literature reviews, term papers, laboratory reports, senior thesis
essentially, we are preparing arguments
format of these types of write-ups is very similar

Structure:

Title

(Abstract)

Introduction

why has the study been undertaken?
summary of relevant background facts
statement of specific problem addressed in this report

Methods

describe what you did in the lab

Results

present data in tables and figures
reveal any trends you have found
do not interpret the data
do not interpret the data

Discussion

how do your results relate to the goals of the study?
formulate a hypothesis

References

(Appendix)

How to proceed:

Compile and plot data
Outline
‘Methods’
‘References’
‘Results’
‘Discussion’
‘Introduction’
‘Title’

General Tips:

Graphs and Tables

wrestle with your data
organize the data so that the underlying story is revealed
tables:
- include column headings (units!)
graphs:
- clearly label axis (units!)
- legend
- make optimal use of the plot area
- plot dependent parameter(s) on Y-axis
number graphs and tables
do not include graphs or tables that you do not discuss

References:

Hunt, S. (1966) Carbohydrate and amino acid composition of the egg capsules of the whelk. Nature, 210, 436-437.

Stute, M., J.F. Clark, P. Schlosser, W.S. Broecker, and G. Bonani (1995) A high altitude continental paleotemperature record derived from noble gases dissolved in groundwater from the San Juan Basin, New Mexico. Quat. Res., 43, 209-220.

Pitelka, D.R., and F.M. Child (1964) Review of ciliary structure and function. In: Biochemistry and Physiology of Protozoa, Vol. 3 (S.H. Hutner, editor), Academic Press, New York, 131-198.

Pechenik, J.A. (1987) A short guide to writing about biology. Harper Collins Publishers, New York, 194pp.

Sambrotto, R. (1997) lecture notes, Environmental Data Analysis, Barnard College, Oct 2, 1997.

NEARDAT (1997) http://capita.wustl.edu/neardat/, Oct 2, 1997.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (1997) Commonly asked questions about ozone. http://www.noaa.gov/public-affairs/grounders/ozo1.html, 9/27/97.

Results

express all results with their unit
if you perform calculations, provide the formula
estimate the errors of your measurement technique

Title

should be as specific and as informative as possible
should reflect the contents of the report

General
- Make sure that you really understand what you write about.
- Write to illuminate, not to confuse. Use simple words and simple phrases. Define all specialized terminology.
- Make a statement and back it up by a reference, figure, or explanation! You are making an argument, you want to convince.
- Always distinguish fact from possibility.
- Never make the reader back up. Your writing should flow smoothly and logically from point to point.
- Be concise. Read you text again and ask yourself, can I shorten the text while still making the argument?
- Think about which audience you want to address and choose your language accordingly.
- Don’t plagiarize. Express your own thoughts in your own words. If you are quoting from another writer, credit your source explicitly.
- The word ‘data’ is plural.
- Proofread. Check for grammar, spelling, and typographical errors. Use your spell checker.