Here are examples of questions some students have about completing the Lab Reports.

“I was wondering about the format of the Lab Reports. Would it be possible to merge the Results and Method together, putting the measurements after the diagram and description of [the] procedure?”

No, keep them separate. One of the purposes of the outline is to keep everyone’s report organized the same so that I can grade the lab reports equally.

If your report is missing a section, then you’ll lose credit for that section. Just follow the outline and you'll be fine.

"The lab itself was done in tables, so what do I put for the results? Do I redo all the tables?"

You need to have tables in your document in the results section. You can either:

a) Make tables in your document that are the same as the tables that I created for the lab.

Or

b) Create new tables that you like better, that have the same information.

Remember, you can not just staple your data sheets to the back and write "see attached". Tables and graphs must be ‘embedded’ into your document.


"Do I have to make a graph for these?"

Graphs show a mathematical relationship between dependent and independent variables. This week’s lab report does not contain that type of data, so no. The Lab Report Instructions are a general outline for all of the lab reports. Some reports will require tables (i.e. this week’s Simple Circuits lab), other lab reports will require graphs (i.e. next week’s Ohm’s Law lab).


"Also, in the methods section for this lab do we have to sketch anything since there are six different circuit setup pictures?"

You should sketch out each of the six circuits. You can:

a) Leave enough space and sketch them free-hand after you print your report.

b) Use the cut and paste functions in your software to paste in the drawings from the lab instructions.

c) Use a drawing program to draw your own drawings.