1. Laboratory Notebook and Reports
Lab Notebook Type
Standard size (9 3/4" x 7 1/2") Quadrille graph paper composition book.
You can buy these at Staples, Office Depot and possibly other stores. These are very popular
notebooks with science teachers so I would call the store before you drive all that way to get one!
Lab Notebook Guidelines
 Use only your official science lab notebook to record your work. Laboratory reports not
completed in your lab notebook will NOT be graded.
 The first 2 pages are for the table of contents which should include the Date,
Laboratory Title and Page numbers
 All pages after the table of contents should be numbered in the upper right hand corner
before entering any information. Do not number the backs of pages.
 Make all entries legible in permanent dark blue or black ink only, NO PENCIL!
 Write impersonally and scientifically. Use passive voice [ex. 10 mL of water was (will
be) added to the beaker.]. Do not use pronouns (I, me, we, he/she, they, it, etc.) or
possessives (my, your/yours, his/her, our/ours, theirs, etc.)
 Do NOT write on the back of the pages in your lab notebook.
 Do NOT use White out or ink-overs to correct mistakes. If you make a mistake, simply
draw one line through it and continue.
 Do NOT have loose papers in your notebook. Credit will NOT be given for loose papers
in your notebook.
 Do NOT attach anything to pages in your notebook unless I have instructed you to.
 Do NOT copy information from the lab sheet, resources (books, internet, etc.) and lab
partners because that is plagiarism. Each section of your lab report should be your own
unique work. If you plagiarize, you will not receive credit!
Laboratory Report Components
Pre Lab (due the day before lab day)
 Title, date and lab partners: The 1st line on the 1st page of each new Lab activity
should have the title of the lab and the date below it and the name of your LAB
PARTNER(s) below that.
 Background: Provide 1 thorough paragraph (4 or more complete sentences) of
information on the topic of investigation. What knowledge already exists about this
subject that could be useful to the reader of your report?
 Purpose: Clearly state the overall purpose(s) of the lab. Example: To observe….
 Materials and Hypothesis:
 Materials: In column format, list all materials to be used in the lab; give specific
amounts when possible.
 Hypothesis (when applicable): This needs to be in “If…then…because…” format and
should address an educated guess as to the outcome of the experiment. If there is a
CONTROL in the lab, the hypothesis should address this. Example: If crickets are
placed in a temperature of 10°C then the length that they jump will be less than that
of the control by 5 cm because…
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2.  Methods (Procedure): In your own words, paraphrase the laboratory procedure in at
least 1 paragraph of 4 or more complete sentences. It is not necessary to give specific
amounts or intricate details, just give a summary of what will be done, or was done*,
during experimentation. Maximum credit for this section will be given to students who
are thorough and explanative, not to students who are vague and “rambly”.
 Results (Data): All experimental results should be placed in data tables. For pre lab,
you should set up data tables so that data can be put directly in the tables during lab.
Data Tables: The data tables should be a square or rectangular box and should have
straight lines; therefore, you should use a ruler to draw them. Tables must include the
following: a title, column headings and the units for physical measurements (kg, m, s,
etc.) clearly indicated in the appropriate columns. The columns and rows should line-up
so that it is easy to read.
Post Lab
 Graphs: You should complete your graphs directly into your lab notebook; no
computer-generated graphs or pasted in graph paper will be accepted. Also, make sure
that you are choosing the correct type of graph to represent your data. All graphs
should have the following: Title, X-axis label, Y-axis label and a key. Using different
colors or highlighting for data lines is acceptable.
 Conclusion: This is the section where you should thoroughly discuss the results of
experimentation, make a conclusion and demonstrate what was accomplished in the
laboratory activity. The conclusion should be 2 separate paragraphs of 4 or more
complete sentences in the following format:
 Paragraph 1: Make conclusions about the experiment by explaining the meaning
of the data. Basically, answer the question “what does the data mean and what
can I conclude from it?” Include a brief summary of average(s), range(s),
highest, lowest, and largest, etc; however, do not regurgitate the data here
because it is already in the data section of your report. When applicable, discuss
this question: “Was the hypothesis supported by the data? If so, how? If not,
why not?
 Paragraph 2: Explain how the data and your conclusions relate to the “real
world”.
 Analysis Questions: All questions must be written and answered thoroughly or
answered in complete sentences with the question paraphrased in the answer. If you
choose to paraphrase the question, I must be able to tell what the question is in order
to receive credit.
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