Writing a� Formal Laboratory Report

Format includes size 12 font and Times New Roman, double space, and normal margins.� Each section should include a title.� Write the report in third person, with no references to you or any person that completed the laboratory.

Title (10 points)

Informative/descriptive but brief.�

Example:

�Transforming E. coli HB101 Bacteria with the pGLO Plasmid�

Abstract (15 points)

Abstract is a summary of the whole report.� It should be about 200-300 words in length.� It should include about a sentence or two from the following topics:

����������� Purpose

����������� Background information

����������� Methods

����������� Results

����������� Conclusion

Introduction (15 points)

The introduction gives the reader any and all the information that is relevant to the laboratory report.� It should include an explanation of the purpose, the reasoning for the purpose, and the necessary principles that explain the purpose.� It should be finished up with the hypothesis and an explanation of the hypothesis and prediction, if applicable.

Materials & Methods (10 points)

This should include all the steps that were takien in completing your experiment.� They can be in bulleted or paragraph format.� Be specific where applicable.� Do NOT list the materials but include them in your explanation of the methods.

Results (10 points)

This is where any tables or figures are placed.� All tables and figures are to be properly titled.� Anything that is NOT a table (graphs, diagrams, etc�) is named/labeled as a figure.� All axes are to be correctly labeled and all data MUST have units.� Any calculations or statistics are to be placed in the results section.� If using statistical equations, be sure to include their H_O: & H_A:.� Failure to label axes or numbers (data) will result in no credit for the results section.�

Conclusion/Discussion (15 points)

Start this section by restating the hypothesis or purpose.� Then give the conclusion of the experiment.� Finally, use/cite the RELEVANT data that supports the conclusion.� The conclusion should support or not support the hypothesis, NEVER prove.

Bibliography (10 points)

Include all references used, either by MLA or APA style/format.

Participation Points (15 points)

These are lost if a student chooses not to participate in the laboratory or if the student violates any of the classroom/laboratory safety guidelines during the laboratory.