-- ORGANIZING AND WRITING A LAB REPORT

                     

 

 PARTS OF A LAB

**ABSTRACT --8 pts

  • PURPOSE, DEFINED PROBLEM, or RESEARCH QUESTION
  • HYPOTHESIS
  • SELECT RELEVANT VARIABLES

    **DATA COLLECTION -- 9 pts

  • LIST MATERIALS & DESCRIBE PROCEDURE

  • OBSERVE AND RECORD DATA
  • ORGANIZE CAREFULLY

    **DATA  ANALYSIS ---17 PTS

  • TRANSFORM, MANIPULATE & GRAPH (when appropriate)
  • COMMUNICATE RESULTS in concise and effective manner. Include your summary questions** here.

    **EVALUATION --9 pts

  • EVALUATE RESULTS
  • EVALUATE PROCEDURE
  • SUGGEST MODIFICATIONS TO PROCEDURE

  • **PERSONAL SKILLS--  4 pts

  • INTERPERSONAL
  • INTERPERSONAL

    SUMMARY QUESTIONS-- 6 pts

  • POSE 2 SUMMARY QUESTIONS & PROVIDE THE ANSWERS

    **HINTS:

  •  IDENTIFY & LIST CONTROLS-- THEY MATTER!
  • IDENTIFY & LIST VARIABLES
  • INVESTIGATE ONE VARIABLE AT A TIME!

                   

  

 

Free Hit Counters

 

PLEASE REMEMBER:

  • Include basic information at the top of your paper. Your name, period, and date should appear at the top right of your paper.. Either type your report or write in black ink.
  • The title of your lab report appears at the top line of the report  justified left or centered.
     Focus on exactly what role each part of the lab process plays. The Scientific Process involves the following:

1. ABSTRACT-- 8 pts

  • Identify the problem.
  • Make a guess BEFORE YOU COLLECT DATA about some outcome(s) relating to the problem.
  • Identify what you want to investigate-- what changes and what is affected by this change?!

2. DATA COLLECTION --9 pts

  • Pose a method to investigate the problem using existing materials. Collect data.
  • Organize the data
  • Display data in tables in a legible manner.
  • Include appropriate units.

3. DATA ANALYSIS --17 pts

  • Show calculations with equations and/or graphs when appropriate.
  • If a correct value is known then calculate the percent error
  • Use a range of techniques and follow a variety of instructions.
  • Make sure each group member has a clearly defined and active role in the lab process. Please identify your role at the end of the report.

4. EVALUATION-- 9 pts

  • Reach a conclusion. 
  • In most of the labs that we do, you are designing the process and mistakes are inevitable. It is then extremely important in the light of undesirable results that suggestions for improvement of the process are mentioned!
  • A conclusion details the status of the experiment after all investigations and analyses are completed. It has a summarizing effect.
  • Include 2 relevant questions which you should answer in your own handwriting.
  • Calculate percent error whenever you can.

5. PERSONAL SKILLS-- 4 pts

  • Interpersonal-- works well within a team-- allows others to contribute. Insists on being part of the process. Meets DEADLINES!
  • Intrapersonal-- Has internal motivation and perseverance. Ethical and responsible. Hardworking!

IB/AP LAB GRADING RUBRIC
ABSTRACT-- 8 pts
DATA COLLECTION-- 9 pts
DATA ANALYSIS & MANIPULATIVE SKILLS-- 17 pts
EVALUATION -- 9 pts
PERSONAL SKILLS-- 5 pts
(SUMMARY SKILLS-- 6 pts --included in 17 pts above)

TOTAL = 48 pts

      PLEASE DO NOT EVER, EVER, EVER, EVER --NOT EVER EVER -- MENTION"HUMAN ERROR"! Instead, you should describe the exact problem with taking measurements.

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FREE GRAPH PAPER THAT YOU CAN PRINT!

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 EFFECTIVE GRAPHS

  • Descriptive Title
  • Labeled Axes
  • Units on Axes
  • Well Chosen Scale
  • Best Fit Line Drawn !
  • Statistics (slope, C.O.R., M.S.E., etc.) SHOULD be Calculated!
  • No "dot-to dot" graphs-- please show a best fit curve! This is VERY ,VERY important!