Expectations for Lab Write-Ups THIS OUTLINE WILL HELP YOU TO WRITE YOUR LABS. There may be changes or modifications but all elements must be included in your lab write-up. Each section on your lab paper must include the Roman numeral and heading (as in I. TITLE: )I. TITLE: As given in your text book, handout, or by the Instructor. II. PURPOSE: Referred to as the "PROBLEM" or "Question in the text, handout, or by the instructor. This will be a short description of the purpose of the lab or the question that the lab strives to answer. III. HYPOTHESIS: Your guess or prediction as to what will occur stated by using an "if - then" statement. For example: "If I hurl a proton at this unstable mass of uranium, then the mass will fission and massive energy will be released". A HYPOTHESIS MAY OR MAY NOT BE REQUIRED. CHECK WITH MR. SILLUZIO FIRST. IV. MATERIALS : This is a recipe list of the materials that must include size, shape, color, and quantities used in the lab. You may simply say "REFER TO TEXT BOOK OR HANDOUT" if appropriate. V. PROCEDURE: Written out step-by-step instructions referring to all materials, times, etc. to be used in this lab. You may simply say "REFER TO TEXT BOOK OR HANDOUT" if appropriate. VI. DATA COLLECTION: There is always some kind of data that needs to be taken down during an experiment. This section includes the notes you collect like the times, temperatures used, quantities, good things that happened and the bad. If possible, data should be in a graph or chart. Sometimes data tables will be provided for you. VII. ASSIGNED QUESTIONS: Answer all questions in the procedure of the book or any of the additional questions at the end of the lab that the instructor assigns. VIII. CONCLUSION: THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THE LAB!!! This is a paragraph or two that tells the instructor what you learned. Your grade will depend mostly on this section. Your conclusion should begin (first sentence) by telling the reader that your hypothesis was either supported or refuted. The breakdown of the grading in written portion is as follows: IX. Recommendations for further study. You will be going further than required if you can review your procedures and findings and use your experiences of doing the lab to advise others as to what they might do differently or what they might do to take the research to the next level. "A" SUPERIOR - Tell the instructor what you have learned in the lab, but do it by showing understanding of knowledge learned. You must go beyond the basic meaning of the lab and tell the instructor how the concepts relate to our planet. What additional knowledge can you learn by the concepts gained in this lab? "B" ABOVE AVERAGE - What knowledge did you gain? What did you learn that can apply to your life, your world. This will not contain all of the facts or how you did the lab and your conclusions. Show the instructor that you understand why this lab was important to learn and how it supported all of the reading and lecture in class. "C" AVERAGE - The basics of what you did. YOUR FEELINGS as to what you liked or disliked about the lab and why. "D" BELOW AVERAGE - A meager attempt. At least you wrote something down on the paper. |