Lab writeup guidelines.pdf - Google Drive

INQUIRY LAB WRITE-UPS

I. Introduction (Forming a Question or Hypothesis) A. Title: tells the reader what the lab is about. B. Question: What is the question you are asking? This can be a sentence or a few sentences C. Background: This will be at least a paragraph. It includes and explanation of why are you asking this question? What observations led you to form this question? Why is this question important? Include any information that is relevant to the experiment that the reader may need to know to understand your investigation. D. Hypothesis: A testable prediction related to you experiment. The reader should get a sense of what your experiment will look like after reading y our hypothesis. Often written as an “If ___, then____” statement. II. Methods (Designing an Investigation) A. List of Essential Materials B. Procedure: You may be designing your own procedure. Here are some helpful tips. -Examine the question and decide what it tells you to do. -Organize this into detailed steps to take. -Write the plan down. You should propose logical and detailed procedures that are practical and ethical. Procedures are often written as numbered, step-by-step directions. -The procedures need to be detailed enough so that the reader can repeat exactly what you did. -Your design may require a control group; your experiment must be controlled-meaning everything done in different experimental groups is exactly the same, except for the independent variable. -Make sure you will end up with enough data to make a conclusion -You will need my approval before you perform any lab on your own. III. Data: (Collecting and Presenting Data) You will design your own data tables- Here are some Helpful Hints -Collect data in a manner that is accurate and reliable (and metric). What type of data collection are you going to use? Qualitative? Quantitative? or both? -Data must be presented in an organized way. Design data tables or graphs. Data tables and graphs must be neat and organized. Each data table or graph must include: title, appropriate labels, appropriate units with numbers, and communicate all pertinent information. - Transform the data into visually powerful displays. In other words, if you have a lot of numbers, calculate the averages and put them in data tables or graphs instead of a long list.

IV. Analysis/Conclusions (Analyzing and Interpreting Results) This is an important part of the lab. Do not short-change this section! - Reflect back on the original question and hypothesis. Discuss whether or not the investigation answered the question, and whether or not the data supported or refuted the hypothesis. -Summarize the data and discuss what you think the data mean (this is probably the most important part!) -Analyze and critique the design and procedure in light of the results and suggest insightful revisions and/or extensions. This is necessary even if you think the experiment worked. -All experiments lead to new questions, so discuss what your next steps would be to either retest the hypothesis or test a new hypothesis.