Faculty of Applied Engineering and
Urban Planning
English I
(Technical Writing)
Lecture 1: Lab Reports
2016
Definition
A laboratory report provides a formal
record of an experiment. The discussion of
objectives, procedures, and results should
be specific enough that interested readers
could replicate the experiment.
Lab experiment
Lab Reports
Lab reports are the most frequent kind of
document written in engineering
Lab tests
Research Field Investigation
Format
1. Title Page
2. Abstract
3. Methods and Materials
4. Procedure
This format has evolved to answer
5. Results the general questions:
6. Discussion What did you do?
7. Conclusion Why did you do it?
8. References How did you do it?
9. Appendices What happened?
1. Title Page
Needs to contain:
◦ The name of the experiment
◦ The names of lab partners
◦ Date.
Titles should be straightforward, informative, and less
than ten words
For Example:
Not “Lab No. 4”
but “Lab No. 4: The speed of sound”.
2. Abstract
The Abstract: summarizes four essential aspects of the
report:
1. the purpose of the experiment (sometimes expressed as
the purpose of the report)
2. key findings,
3. significance and
4. major conclusions.
The abstract often also includes a brief reference to theory
or methodology. The information should clearly enable
readers to decide whether they need to read your whole
report.
Abstract – Example
Abstract:
In this lab we determined the speed of sound by
timing the interval that it took for a loud bang to
echo off a surface a known distance away. Our
average time interval was 1.28 s, and the distance
was 440 m, so our calculated value for the speed of
sound was 343.8 m/s. These results were used to
calibrate the equipment of other relevant
experiments. The results are consistent within our
experimental uncertainty with the accepted value at
30°C, which is 349.7 m/s.
Introduction
The Introduction: is more narrowly focused than the
abstract. It states:
a) the objective of the experiment and
b) provides the reader with background to the
experiment.
State the topic of your report clearly and concisely, in
one or two sentences. When determining the objective,
be sure to identify the end goal of the experiment itself,
not the pedagogical goal of the experiment:
Introduction
The objective of this experiment was to learn
how to use the SEM.
(Your Supervisor’s reason for having you do the lab,
but not the objective of the lab itself).
The objective of the experiment was to
determine the composition of an unknown
sample using Scanning Electron Microscopy.
(This is your key result)
Introduction
Usually, an instructor does not want you to repeat the lab
manual, but to show your own comprehension of the
problem.
For example, the introduction that followed the example
above might describe the XRD method, and explain that
from the diffraction angles the crystal structure can be
found by applying Bragg's law.
If the amount of introductory material seems to be a lot,
consider adding subheadings such as: Theoretical
Principles or Background.
Introduction
Note on Verb Tense: Introductions often create difficulties for
students who struggle with keeping verb tenses straight.
These two points should help you navigate the introduction:
1. The experiment is already finished. Use the past tense when
talking about the experiment.
“The objective of the experiment was...”
2. The report, the theory and permanent equipment still exist;
therefore, these get the present tense:
“The purpose of this report is...”
“Bragg's Law for diffraction is ...”
“The scanning electron microscope produces
micrographs ...”
Methods and Materials (or
Equipment):
usually be a simple list, but make sure it
is accurate and complete.
In some cases, you can simply direct the
reader to a lab manual or standard
procedure: “Equipment was set up as in
CHE 276 manual.”
Experimental Procedure:
Describes the process in chronological order.
Using clear paragraph structure, explain all steps in the
order they actually happened, not as they were
supposed to happen.
If your professor says you can simply state that you
followed the procedure in the manual, be sure you still
document occasions when you did not follow that
exactly (e.g. “At step 4 we performed four repetitions
instead of three, and ignored the data from the second
repetition”).
If you've done it right, another researcher should
be able to duplicate your experiment.
Results
Usually dominated by calculations, tables and figures; however,
you still need to state
all significant results explicitly in verbal form. For example:
Using the calculated lattice parameter gives, then, R = 0.1244nm.
Graphics need to be clear, easily read, and well labeled (e.g. Figure
1: Input Frequency and Capacitor Value)
An important strategy for making your results effective is to draw
the reader's attention to them with a sentence or two, so the reader
has a focus when reading the graph.
In most cases, providing a sample calculation is sufficient in the
report. Leave the remainder in an appendix. Likewise, your raw
data can be placed in an appendix.
Refer to appendices as necessary, pointing out trends and
identifying special features.
Discussion
Discussion is the most important part of your report.
You show that you understand the experiment
beyond the simple level of completing it.
Explain. Analyze. Interpret.
This part of the lab report focuses on a question of
understanding "What is the significance or
meaning of the results?"
To answer this question, use both aspects of
discussion:
a) Analysis
b) Interpretation.
Discussion: Analysis
What do the results indicate clearly? What have you
found? Explain what you know with certainty based on
your results and draw conclusions:
Example:
Since none of the samples reacted to the Silver foil test,
sulfide, if present at all, does not exceed a
concentration of approximately 0.025 g/l. It is therefore
unlikely that the water main pipe break was the result
of sulfide-induced corrosion.
Discussion: Interpretation
What is the significance of the results? What ambiguities
exist? What questions might we raise? Find logical
explanations for problems in the data:
Example:
Although the water samples were received on 14
August 2000, testing could not be started until 10
September 2000. It is normally desirably to test as
quickly as possible after sampling in order to
avoid potential sample contamination. The effect
of the delay is unknown.
Discussion
More particularly, focus your discussion with strategies
like these:
Compare expected results with those obtained.
Analyse experimental error
Explain your results in terms of theoretical issues
Relate results to your experimental objective(s)
Compare your results to similar investigations
Analyze the strengths and limitations of your
experimental design
Conclusion
Can be very short in most undergraduate laboratories.
Simply state what you know now for sure, as a result of
the lab.
Example: The Debye-Sherrer method identified the
sample material as nickel due to the measured crystal
structure (fcc) and atomic radius (approximately
0.124nm).
Example
Lab Report
