The document outlines the sections and content required for a 100 point lab report, including: the purpose, hypothesis, background research, materials and procedures, data and results, and conclusion. Data and results must include labeled diagrams, tables, graphs and calculations. The conclusion must restate the purpose and hypothesis, summarize procedures, explain trends in results, and state whether the hypothesis was correct or possible reasons it was incorrect. The significance of the findings must also be discussed. Proper formatting and citations are required.

1. 100 Point Lab Report/Write-Up Guides Lines<br />2 pts Title:<br />3 pts Purpose: Explains why the research/experiment is conducted/ what you are analyzing<br />5 pts Hypothesis: If/then format…one for each experiment you did<br />20 pts Background Research: IN YOUR OWN WORDS…summarize your notes on the topic…inform the reader about the subject your are testing…use citations if needed (to make sure you are not accused of plagiarism)<br />5 pts Materials and Procedures: Detailed list of material; Step-by-step list of how experiment was conducted….be VERY specific so I can replicate your experiment if I wanted to<br />20 pts Data and Results: Diagrams, tables, pictures, graphs, charts, calculations; State independent, dependent and constant variables; also state control/control group if necessary; EVERYTHING must be labeled with a caption…do NOT explain results yet, that will be in the conclusion…Use Microsoft EXCEL…make SCATTER PLOTS and include the “best fit line” or “trend line”…Do NOT connect the dots! Label the axes….y-axis should be dependent variable of experiment and the x-axis should be the independent variable of the experiment; Calculations: show all work and units! Include PERCENT ERROR calculations whenever possible<br />40 pts Conclusion: MOST important part!!! Worth the MOST points!!!<br />Paragraph 1: Restate purpose, hypothesis, SUMMARIZE your procedures, briefly state whether your hypothesis was right or wrong (you will explain this later)<br />Paragraph 2: DETAILED explanation of your results and data…refer to the charts, tables, graphs, pictures in the Data and Results section of your report. Explain the trends on your graphs, what those trends tell you about your experiment, about any unusual results. This is where you put words to your tables and charts. It might be more than just one paragraph. BE THOROUGH!!!<br />Paragraph 3: State whether or not your hypothesis was correct. It is OK to have an incorrect hypothesis! Do NOT change it!!! If it is correct, explain why (how your data showed your hypothesis was correct). If it was incorrect (AGAIN…it is OK!!!) make sure and EXPLAIN why it was wrong…basically why the data did not support your hypothesis. Then explain possible reasons for the data being incorrect, maybe wrong calculations, procedures were not followed correctly (explain how), incorrect materials, etc…list ALL possible reasons! Explain how the experiment could be improved or the mistakes could have been avoided. State what you should have or have not done and how that might impact the results/experiment.<br />Paragraph 4: Summarize your results. Explain the significance of your findings….why your data was important (both correctly and incorrect hypotheses tell us valuable information!) Explain how your results can be applied to society/medicine/forensics, etc….think outside the box…EVERYTHING has an application. Also state ways you can extend your research or the next type of experiment you could do on the topic.<br />References Cited: If you used any outside resources, you must write a references cited page and cite those sources throughout your report. Use MLA style citations (Google it, there are plenty of websites that will do it for you www.citationcenter.net is a good one) Points will be added to background section<br />5 pts Format You will be graded on format as well…labels, units included in ALL measurements and calculations, NO first person usage (no “I, we, me, our, us, you, etc etc)…if a typed lab report: 12 point font, 1 inch margins, double spaced, Times New Roman font, nothing Fancy, Each section is titled, in bold and underlined (like this guide)<br />