Laboratory Report Rules
				Dr. Christine P. Wiamer 
				MCMSNJ
				All Science Lab Classes

1. All lab reports must be typed and handed in one week after the conclusion of the lab.  Hand written labs WILL NOT be accepted.  Late lab reports will receive a 20% grade deduction for each day that the lab is late unless there is an adequate reason for the lateness (sickness, etc.) as determined by the teacher.
2. The lab report is divided into the following sections:
	a. Introduction - 2 to 3 paragraphs on the theory and purpose behind the lab. You may also explain any formulas used in the lab report here, defining all new terms.  Theory may be found in your chemistry/physics textbook.
	b. Procedure - The materials and method for completing the experiment. Please DO NOT COPY directly from the handouts/lab book. Use your own words.  For this section, pretend that someone will use your directions, instead of the lab book to do the experiment.  What will you need to tell them so that they can accurately and successfully carry out the experiment?
	c. Observations - Sight, smell, color changes in reaction, any diagrams of reaction setups.
	d. Data/Sample calculations - Please collate and express your data in a logical format. Many times you will be given data sheets to include in your lab reports.  DO NOT USE THESE DATA SHEETS DURING CLASS SINCE CLEAN COPIES WILL BE NEEDED FOR YOUR LAB REPORT.  You may also include one or two representative calculations here if there are many repetitive calculations. 
	e.  Results - What does your data tell you? In one or two sentences, what is the reason why you collected all this data (bottom line answer, most important value in lab)? Example: I calculated the gas constant “R” to be 0.08206 atm mol -1 K-1.
	f.  Discussion - The longest part of the lab report.  You need to integrate the theory (introduction), data and results.  How accurate/precise is your data?  Why? How well does your results match what you expected and/or what is given in the literature?  Why? How much error is there in your data? Why? How did you use the theory to obtain your results? What did you learn in the lab?  Any other questions about the theory left unanswered in the lab? Other experiments that you could conceive as a follow-up to the lab?
	g. Conclusion/Lab questions - 1 or 2 sentences summing up the main point of the lab. Try to include the most important results. Write complete questions and answers to any lab questions given in class or on worksheets.
Introduction 	10%			Data 		15%	
Procedure 	10%			Results 	15%
Observations 	10%			Discussion 	20%     
Lab Questions 10%_____________   Conclusion	10%
Entire lab report = 100%