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BIOLOGY DEPARTMENT FORMAL LAB REPORT FORMAT AND
RUBRIC
Introduction
The introduction gives the background of the experiment. It should include an explanation of the background of the scientific concept you are studying in the experiment. It should also explain the purpose of the lab with a short explanation of what you intend to do in the experiment. Finally, the introduction should present the question you are trying to answer or the hypothesis you are testing. You should include the outcome you expect, and how it would help support or refute your hypothesis.
This section should include a concise description of the materials, procedures, and equipment used. It should clearly describe the experimental situation and the control situation. There should be enough detail so that someone else could repeat your work.
The results section of your lab report should begin with a description, in general terms, of the overall results of your experiment. It should not explain the results, however. It should then show the data you collected from the experiment in a logical order, using tables, diagrams, and graphs. Graphs of quantitative data are important in scientific communications and should be used whenever you can. Give the results you found, not what you think you should have found. When graphing results, be sure to plot points accurately and to connect them with smooth lines. A written description should summarize the results illustrated in each graph, diagram, or table. This should only be a description, and should not include explanations or opinions.
In this section, you should discuss your results. Here you should give your interpretations of the data and relate them to the questions posed in the introduction. Did the results answer your question? Did you support or disprove your hypothesis? Your discussion should provide a sufficient and logical explanation for the relationship between the results and the hypothesis. What are the main principles demonstrated by your results? It should focus on the scientific concept the lab is about, and be well supported by your results. This is also the place to discuss possible sources of error in your experiment. You may address problems you had with the lab and suggests ways to improve the lab if it were repeated. Finally, you should discuss other interesting questions raised by the lab procedure that remain unanswered and describe any new experiment you could design to answer the unanswered questions.
Conclusion
The conclusion directly states what you have learned about the scientific concept of the experiment from doing the experiment.It gives enough details to convince the reader that you learned what you claim to have learned.
5 points—Writing is clear, focused, and interesting. Main ideas stand out and are supported by details suitable to the audience and purpose. Contains relevant, carefully selected details. Has thorough, in-depth explanations of the topic that make connections and share insights. Organization enhances the central idea. Strong control of standard writing conventions.
4 points—Writing is clear, focused, and easily understood. Support is present, although it may be limited or rather general. There is a clear main idea with details that are relevant, but may be overly general or limited in places. Details may occasionally be out of balance with the main idea. Content is not consistently well chosen for the audience or purpose. Organization is clear and coherent. Minor errors in conventions that do not impede readability.
3 points—Reader can understand the main ideas, although they may be overly broad or simplistic. Supporting detail is often limited, overly general, or occasionally slightly off topic. Shows difficulties when moving from general observations to specifics. An attempt has been made at organization, but overall structure is inconsistent. Writing demonstrates limited control of standard writing conventions so they distract the reader.
2 points—Main ideas and purpose are somewhat unclear or development is attempted but minimal. There are insufficient details or repetition of details. Minimal development of information about lab. Writing lacks a clear organizational structure. Writing demonstrates little control of standard writing conventions so they interfere with reading ability.
1 point—The writing lacks a central idea or purpose. Details are minimal or nonexistent. The information is extremely limited of simply unclear. The paper is too short to demonstrate development of the ideas. Writing lacks organization. Numerous errors in conventions that make reading difficult.
Evaluation Guide
Points
Title Page
-Describes content and author’s information
______(/5)
Abstract
-Summarizes the gist of each part in proper
order
______(/5)
Introduction
-States the scientific concept about which you
are
learning
______(/5)
-States the purpose of the lab
______(/5)
-States the problem and hypothesis
______(/5)
Materials and Methods
-Lists all materials
______(/5)
-Presents a clear and concise description
______(/5)
-Gives enough details
______(/5)
Results
-Opens with a statement of the overall findings
______(/5)
-Presents visuals clearly and accurately
______(/5)
-Presents verbal findings clearly and with
sufficient
support
______(/5)
-Successfully combines verbal and visual results
______(/5)
Discussion
-Provides sufficient and logical explanation
for the
comparison
______(/5)
-Sufficiently addresses other issues pertinent
to the lab
______(/5)
Conclusion
-Directly addresses what has been learned in
the lab
______(/5)
-Provides enough details to be convincing
______(/5)
Presentation
-Includes a works cited page
______(/5)
-Is presented in proper scientific style
______(/5)
Lab Safety
-No group members were sited for safety
violations
______(/5)
Total Points
______(/100)