Lab Report Assistant Dear Science Student, .docx
- 1. Lab Report Assistant Dear Science Student, As you will learn from reading your manual, a formal Lab Report represents the culmination of your experimental activities. It summarizes your actions, observations, and conclusions, as well as demonstrates to your instructor that you have performed the experiment and what you have learned from doing so. In addition, the Lab Report usually forms the basis for your laboratory grade. To facilitate your report writing and to take some of the formatting drudgery out of preparing the formal report, a Lab Report Assistant section has been added to this DVD. When you open one of these files you will see the Experiment Name at the top of the page. For each lab experiment, relevant procedural sections including necessary questions to be addressed and tables that should be integrated into the report are included. An MS-Word document is provided so that you can copy and paste questions and tables into your lab report document. This will save you time and trouble plus allow
- 2. you to input data directly into the pre-formatted tables. Before writing a lab report, it is helpful to understand what instructors usually believe constitutes a good lab report and to know the criteria they often use to evaluate students’ reports. On the following page is a copy of a standard lab report grading rubric that is used by many science instructors. Invest a little time to study it and understand how instructors usually allocate points when grading reports. Familiarize yourself with the six standard sections of a lab report and the criteria on which they are evaluated. This will not only help you write the A+ reports you deserve, it will also help you focus your attention on the more relevant aspects of your experimentation activities so that you can better learn and address them in your report. Understanding science is foundational to understanding ourselves and the world we live in plus essential to making the informed decisions that will preserve our planet for future generations. Apart from such lofty goals, it is fun and exciting to study science, perform hands-on labs, and experience first-hand how nature and the universe work. All the staff at Hands-On Labs wishes you a wonderful science learning experience as you work with the LabPaqs we have designed to enrich your course.
- 3. Science Laboratory Report Grading Rubric Developed by Peter Jeschofnig, Ph.D. TOTAL OUT OF 100 POSSIBLE POINTS ________ Unsatisfactory Borderline Satisfactory Excellent Score Title Page Total = 5 pts. Missing more than two items, title, or names 0–2 points Contains title and all names; but missing two items 3 point Contains title and names; but missing one item 4 points
- 4. Contains title, author’s and partner’s names, course name, experiment number, and report dates 5 points Abstract Total = 10 pts. No abstract; incomplete purpose and/or incomplete results 0–3 points Includes adequate purpose or results, but not both 5 points Contains purpose and results, but incomplete 8 points Contains clear purpose statement and complete results 10 points
- 5. Purpose/ Hypothesis Total = 10 pts. Incomplete purpose or hypothesis statement; incomplete or missing scientific principles or variables 0–4 points Adequately states the correct purpose/ hypothesis, but missing scientific principles/variables 6 points Adequately states correct purpose/hypothesis, but either missing scientific principles or variables 8 points Clearly states the correct purpose/hypothesis and states scientific principles to be tested and the variables involved
- 6. 10 points Procedures Total = 10 pts. Unclear or missing instructions; most steps are missing, incomplete, or disorganized 0–4 points Vague instructions; some steps missing, not well‐ organized 6 points Includes a clear set of instructions; a few steps are missing; reasonably well‐ organized 8 points Clear, concise with step‐by‐ step explanations; experiment can be replicated; includes materials in methods
- 7. 10 points Data/ Observations Total = 25 pts. Data is missing, incomplete, inaccurate, or has material defects; no data tables when required; missing graphs; most or all observations missing; incomplete or no calculations; few questions answered 0–12 points Data presented, but poorly organized, inaccurate, or missing; graphs display inaccurate data or are not labeled; poor or incomplete observations; poor or incomplete calculations; some questions answered 16 points Data presented clearly and neatly; most charts, tables, diagrams, and graphs are
- 8. labeled and accurate; observations are detailed and reasonably accurate; most calculations are shown and correct; most questions are answered 20 points Data is presented clearly and legibly; all charts, tables, diagrams, and graphs are labeled and accurate; appropriate graph type is used; observations are detailed and accurate; calculations are shown and correct; all questions are correctly answered 25 points Results/Analysis Total = 20 pts. Explanation of data is missing or inaccurate; error analysis incomplete, missing, or wrong 0–8 points
- 9. Incomplete description of data; three or more important observations are missing; error analysis incomplete or partially correct 12 points Results stated correctly in complete sentences; no more than one or two important observations are missing; error analysis present and correct 15 points Complete descriptions of what occurred; data is used accurately in reporting/ analyzing the results; error analysis present and correct 20 points Conclusions Total = 20 pts. Conclusion is missing or does not fully explain the objectives of the lab; relevant terminology
- 10. missing; no practical application given; missing discussion of scientific principle; too short (only one to two sentences) 0–8 points Conclusion explains the objective, but data is not used accurately to support it; limited terminology use; too short ( two to three sentences) 12 points Adequate explanation paragraph that includes supporting evidence and data, but missing the “big picture;” little scientific error; good usage of terminology; four to five sentences 15 points Well‐written and logical explanation paragraph supported by data that addresses the objectives,
- 11. scientific principles, and the “big picture;” includes scientific error reasoning for unanswered questions; six or more sentences 20 points Basic Chemistry for Investigating Living Systems Margaret Vorndam, M.S. Version 42-0030-00-01 Lab Report Assistant This document is not meant to be a substitute for a formal laboratory report. The Lab Report Assistant is simply a summary of the experiment’s questions, diagrams if needed, and data tables that should be addressed in a formal lab report. The intent is to facilitate students’ writing of lab reports by providing this information in an editable file which can be sent to an instructor. Observations Data Table 1: Biuret Reagent Test for (Student to fill in) Test Tube Contains
- 12. Hypothesis: Contains Protein Yes or No? Final Color Is test substance present/ absent? 1 Water 2 Albumen 3 Amylase 4 Potato Starch 5 Onion Juice 6 Potato Juice
- 13. Data Table 2: Iodine Solution Test for (Student to fill in) Test Tube Contains Hypothesis Contains Starch Yes or No? Final Color Is test substance present/ absent? 1 Water
- 18. ) Data Table 3: Benedict’s Reagent Test for (Student to fill in) Test Tube Contains Hypothesis Contains Sugar Yes or No? Final Color Is test substance present/ absent? 1 Water 2
- 20. Data Table 4: Lipid Test Results Macromolecule Being Tested Hypothesis: Contains lipids, or not? Results from Test Potato Starch Onion Juice Vegetable Oil Distilled Water Albumen Potato Juice
- 21. Data Table 5: Testing the Chemical Composition of Cells Indicate a + mark if the reagent reacts with test substance. Indicate a - mark if the reagent does NOT react with test substance. Test Substance Biuret