During the science courses that you will take in our high school, you will do laboratory experiments that will help you to develop scientific skills.  You will be asked to present good quality reports on these experiments.  To learn how to write a laboratory report adequately is important for your future, since you will acquire the ability needed to write scientific articles, research papers, monographs, and also for your IB extended essays.

To learn the correct way for presenting a report is also important because this is the style used by scientists to communicate their findings to the scientific community; standard formats to write these documents are used so other persons can understand their work clearly.

In an effort to simplify things for you as much as possible, the teachers in the
Science Department have decided to use exactly the same format for all laboratory work done in our high school.  Students will have a portfolio for each of their science courses.  All laboratory reports should be placed in order, in a separate section (Section 5) that will be named "Laboratory Reports".  The lab guides and instructions given must be placed in section 4 of the portfolio under "Laboratory Guidelines and Instructions".  Please refer to the science portfolio guidelines given to you in class for more details.

The first two pages of the Laboratory Reports Section of the portfolio will be used to make a "Table of Contents" that must contain:

            - the title of each experiment

            - the date in which the experiment was performed

            - the number of the page in which each laboratory report begins.

Each experiment must start on a new page.  The reports should be written so that another person, not familiar with the experiment, could easily be able to reproduce it.  Reports may be typed using a computer, or they may be hand written using black or blue ink.  Pencil can only be used to draw diagrams, illustrations, or graphs, if it is absolutely necessary.

 For a report to be considered complete, the following sections must be included:

            1.- Heading

            2.- Introduction

            3.- Experimental Method

            4.- Data Collection

            5.- Data Processing and  Presentation

            6.- Discussion and Evaluation

            7.- Conclusion

            8.- References/Bibliography

 All reports must contain at least these parts.  In some cases you may consider adding one or more sections, depending on the particular characteristics of the experiment.  In any case, the sections outlined above are only the minimum acceptable.  The contents of each one of them are described in the following lines.

 1.- Heading:  This  is  the  first  part of the report.  It must contain at least the following                                  information:

                        - the number of the experiment

                        - the title of the experiment

                        - the names of  the students working with you

                        - the date in which the experiment was performed

2.- Introduction:  This is the first section of the body of the report.  It needs to be clearly and precisely written, and must contain the following information:

- the purpose of the experiment; this must be a clear statement containing the aim of the experiment and its importance

                        - a clear statement of the problem(s)/research question being addressed

                        - a brief explanation of the main concepts involved (background information)

                        - if applicable, any equations that are relevant to the experiment

                        - a  sound  hypothesis  based  on your background information, adequately

   justified.

All these must be written in paragraph form.

3.- Experimental Method: This section should include:

- a brief statement on how the experiment will achieve its purpose

- a diagram or illustration of the apparatus/setup used

- the procedure, which should be a clear, brief explanation  of how the experiment will be performed, containing only the most relevant details needed to accurately repeat the experiment, emphasizing any special procedures or precautions that must be necessary.  This explanation must include the variables that you will use in your experiment, and the methods for both the control of variables and the collection of data, and the materials and reactants used.  This section must be written in paragraph form.  The materials should not be listed, but included as part of the explanation.

4.- Data Collection: This part should include:

- the raw data obtained (qualitative and/or quantitative) properly organized (tables are recommended), clearly labeled, allowing for easy interpretation, written with the correct amount of significant figures, and with units included

5.- Data Processing and Presentation: This section must contain:

- data correctly processed and appropriately presented, helping interpretation and,

  where relevant, taking into account errors and uncertainties including:

§         the graphical representation of the data (if applicable)

§         all the calculations performed with their corresponding

                                   explanation, including error computations.  

The correct number of significant figures must be used for all calculations.  Graphs should be plotted as neatly as possible, labeling axes correctly and including units.  An example of a graph is given at the end of this document.  If possible, error bars should be included in the graphs.

6.- Discussion and Evaluation: In this section the significance of the experimental results should be explained and analyzed.  The following guidelines will be of help.

- Explain what happened, why, how, and the meaning of what happened for each of the results obtained.

- Discuss if the results obtained are as expected, why or why not.

- Possible sources of error should be evaluated here with a brief description of how the experiment could be improved.

- A comparison between your results and the accepted values (if applicable), and/or between your results and the results obtained by some of your classmates should also be given.  Discuss any similarities or differences found.

- Evaluate the procedure (Was it good for the purpose?  Was the equipment used appropriate?)

- The answers to any questions in the laboratory guide must be included in this section, but in paragraph form, as part of your discussion.

7.- Conclusion:  This must be a brief summary of your findings, in which you state (1) if the results obtained were as expected, (2) if the hypothesis was right or wrong and why , and (3) a brief statement on what was proven in the experiment.

8.- Bibliography:  This part is important because it will be a source of information for anyone interested in the problem on which you have performed the experiment.  The guidelines used, and at least one more source (like your textbook or any other book you have used for reference) must be included.  The format that will be adopted for our science courses is the following:

If you are listing a book:

Author’s Last Name, First Name Initials (If there are more than one author, write the initial of the first name of each, followed by their respective last names.  For references having more than two authors, write et al. after the name of the first author).  Title of the book, edition, publisher, place, year of publication.

 If you are listing an article:

Author’s Last Name, First Name Initials (If there are more than one author, write the initial of the first name of each, followed by their respective last names.  For references having more than two authors, write et al. after the name of the first author).  Title of the article.  Name of the journal or magazine in which the article appears, volume, page number(s), year of publication.

You will find next an example on how to present a graph properly.  This is by no means the only way of doing it, but it contains all the elements needed.  Notice that a title, a scale, and labels on each axis are included.  Also remember to indent the axes. This is the form in which your graphs are expected to be presented. 

 Evaluation

Laboratory guides will be given in advance, so the first three parts of your report must be done by the day in which the data will be taken in the laboratory.  This will ensure that when you come to the laboratory you will know something about the work to be performed.  You are expected to be ready to ask any clarifying questions about the laboratory procedures.

 All students are expected to hand in their laboratory reports on the date specified by your instructor.  The instructor may deduct 10 points (out of 100) for every day past the due date.  The reports will be marked individually.  Points will be distributed as follows:

FORM           

10 points  -  Completeness (all  relevant  sections  presented,  including  references),

                   presentation and neatness.

CONTENT    

10 points  - Introduction (correctly written, including purpose, background and hypothesis; must

                   be done in advance)

10 points  - Experimental Method (correctly written, paragraph form; must be done in advance)

15 points  - Data Collection (data adequately written, including labels, correct use of significant

                   figures, etc.)

15 points - Data Processing and Presentation (graphs correctly drawn, calculations with their appropriate explanations, unit, significant figures, etc.)

20 points  - Discussion and Evaluation ( adequate and complete analysis of the results and

                   observations, possible sources of error, error comparison, relevant personal

                   commentaries about the experiment, etc.)

10 points  -  Conclusion (written following all guidelines given)

10 points  - Performance during the experiment (individual work, self-motivation, group work acknowledging the views of others and exchanging ideas, manipulation of materials and equipment, safety rules consideration, considerable attention to authenticity of data and to the environmental impact of the investigation and general behavior during the laboratory session)

                    The total number of points obtained will be transformed to a percent.  After this, points for handing in late will be deducted (if applicable).

The practical work done in all IB courses will be assessed following the International Baccalaureate criteria for internal assessment, which follows:

Planning (a): Defined problem(s)/research question(s); formulated hypothesis related to the  research question; selected any relevant variables.

 Planning (b): Designed realistic procedures including appropriate apparatus, materials and methods allowing for control of the variables and collection of sufficient and relevant data.

Data Collection: Observed and recorded raw data (qualitative and/or quantitative) with precision, including units and uncertainties where necessary and presented them in an organized way, allowing for easy interpretation.

Data Processing and Presentation: Transformed, manipulated and presented raw data in a variety

                                                            of appropriate ways, to provide effective communication,   taking

                                                            into account errors and uncertainties.

 Conclusion and Evaluation:  Gave valid conclusions based on correct interpretation of results,

                                            with and explanation and compared results with literature values. and

                                           evaluated the procedure(s) and results including limitations, 

                                           weaknesses or errors; suggested realistic modifications to the 

                                           procedure(s), where appropriate.

 Manipulative Skills:  Carried out a range of techniques proficiently with due attention to safety; followed                instructions.

 Personal Skills (a):  Worked within a team; recognized the contributions of others and exchanged ideas with others integrating them in the task.

Personal Skills (b): Approached experiments/investigations with self-motivation and perseverance, and in                                  ethical manner; paid due attention to the authenticity of data and to environmental                                     impact and showed respect and appreciation of living forms.

 Neatness and Presentation:  The written laboratory report is clearly and neatly presented.

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