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http://www.uvm.edu/~dmatthew/chem201/lab_report_writing.PDF
GUIDELINES FOR CHEMISTRY LAB REPORTS
The following sections are found in a standard Lab Report at Senior level.
ABSTRACT
This is a paragraph placed at the BEGINNING of the Report, which sums up all of the other sections of your report. One technique is to write the Abstract section LAST, and include one sentence summarising each of the other sections. Many professional and scientific Journals publish the Abstracts of their articles, so readers can quickly decide whether a particular paper is relevant to their needs.
Abstracts should briefly give an overview of the background theory, the aim, techniques used, results and conclusions reached. Note that specific results are included e.g. " The concentration of Fe2+ in the solution was found to be 2.5 x 10-3 M."
INTRODUCTION
This sets the context and explains the background theory (briefly). It refers to what is already known, and may include a prediction of likely outcomes (or Hypothesis). The Aim or purpose of the Experiment should be clearly stated.
METHOD
A summary of the procedure followed should be given, using the "past tense, third person, passive voice".
E.g - The tube of solution was placed in the instrument, and the needle was zeroed.
A graph of Absorbance v. Concentration was plotted, and the line of best fit drawn.
Sometimes, a list of apparutus and chemicals used is given first.
Any safety considerations or other things to be careful about should be included here.
RESULTS
His section should only contain the results of your investigation, without any attempt to interpret or analyse them. Graphs, for example are usually found in the Analysis section
All observations, data and measurements should be given, and presented appropriately. Tables, where used, should have titles, and rows and columns must have names (and units, if suitable) marked. You will usually be given help to design tables. Questions in the text will help you make appropriate observations.
Record honestly what you see and measure AS YOU DO THE EXPERIMENT - you can comment on unexpected results in a later section.
Use a suitable number of significant digits when giving numerical data.
ANALYSIS OF RESULTS / DISCUSSION
Here, the results are interpreted, manipulated, and calculations may be done. If repetitive calculations are needed, you may simply give one set as an example, and tabulate the results of the others. If there are any questions in the Text, apart from those involving simple observation, the answers should be included here. Include answers to all questions in the Text, unless you are specifically instructed to omit them. Note that as long as you include the relevant answers, you need not rewrite the questions, or even number them - they can form part of your Analysis paragraphs.
Graphs must have a title, and axes are labelled with quantity and units. Choose the largest convenient scale: avoid a scale where you need a calculator to find where each point is.
Not everything in an experiment always goes to plan - as Einstein is reputed to have said, "Experiments never fail, but they may not turn out as you expected!" Included in your discussion, you should have one or two sentences on each of the following:
How do your results compare with the text or the teacher's statements about what is to happen?
Do your results differ from those of other groups?
Reasons why your results may differ from what was expected - errors, difficulties in making observations or changes to the procedure. Refine your talents at creative excuse formulation!
Suggestions for improvements to the Method, or ideas for further investigation could be made.
CONCLUSION
A Conclusion is a statement about how the observations you made, fit together, and should summarise the Analysis section. Conclusions are not always correct - there may be more than one possible interpretation of a set of data. Your Conclusion should be legitimately derived from your
Observations. Make sure that all important conclusions have been stated.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
List the names of all sources you referred to in writing your Report. This will usually include your Text. For books, the following format should be used:
Author Date Name of Book Publisher
Stannard P., Williamson K (1980) Exploring Science Ecos Publications
Be wary of using information from the Internet: remember that anyone can set up their own site, and some information is unreliable. Try to use information from "reputable" organisations, such as Universities, major companies or Government Departments, if you want reliable data. For Internet sites, give the title of the page and the URL address. You should also give the date on which you conmsulted the site, as information can be updated, and data may change.
Keyboard shortcuts can save time and the effort of switching from the keyboard to the mouse to execute simple commands. Print this list of Word keyboard shortcuts and keep it by your computer for a quick reference.
Note: A plus sign indicates that the keys need to be pressed at the same time.
Action Keystroke
Document actions
Open a file CTRL+O
New file CTRL+N
Close a file CTRL+W
Save As F12
Save CTRL+S or SHIFT+F12
Print Preview CTRL+F2
Print CTRL+P
Show/Hide paragraph symbols CTRL+*
Spelling and grammar F7
Help F1
Find CTRL+F
Replace CTRL+H
Go To CTRL+G
Cursor movement
Select all - entire document CTRL+A
Select from cursor to beginning of line SHIFT+Home
Select from cursor to end of line SHIFT+END
Go to beginning of line HOME
Go to end of line END
Go to beginning of document CTRL+Home
Go to end of document CTRL+End
Formatting
Cut CTRL+X
Copy CTRL+C
Paste CTRL+V
Undo CTRL+Z
Redo CTRL+Y
Format painter CTRL+SHIFT+C
Left alignment CTRL+L
Center alignment CTRL+E
Right alignment CTRL+R
Justified CTRL+J
Delete previous word CTRL+Backspace
Apply bulleted list CTRL+SHIFT+L
Indent CTRL+M
Page break CTRL+Enter
Action Keystroke
Text Style
Font face CTRL+SHIFT+F
Font size CTRL+SHIFT+P
Bold CTRL+B
Italics CTRL+I
Underline CTRL+U
Double underline CTRL+SHIFT+D
Word underline CTRL+SHIFT+W
All caps CTRL+SHIFT+A
Change case SHIFT+F3
Subscript CTRL+=
Superscript CTRL+SHIFT+=
Make web hyperlink CTRL+K
Tables
Go to next cell Tab
Go to previous cell SHIFT+Tab
Go to beginning of column ALT+PageUp
Highlight to beginning of column ALT+SHIFT+PageUp
Go to end of column ALT+PageDown
Highlight to end of column ALT+SHIFT+PageDown
Go to beginning of row ALT+Home
Highlight to beginning of row ALT+SHIFT+Home
Go to end of row ALT+End
Highlight to end of row ALT+SHIFT+End
Column break CTRL+SHIFT+Enter
Miscellaneous
Copyright symbol - © ALT+CTRL+C
Date field ALT+SHIFT+D
Go to footnotes ALT+CTRL+F
Show/Hide ¶ CTRL+SHIFT+8
Thesaurus SHIFT+F7
All Shortcuts
This list shows only the most common keyboard shortcuts. To print a list of all the shortcuts in Word, follow these steps:
Select Tools|Macro|Macros from the menu bar.
From the Macros In drop-down menu, select Word Commands.
Select ListCommands from the macro listing.
Click the Run button.
Choose Current Menu and Keyboard Settings from the popup window and click OK.
Word will automatically open a new document containing a table of keystrokes. Print the document.
www.webelements.com/webelements/elements
GUIDELINES FOR CHEMISTRY LAB REPORTS
The following sections are found in a standard Lab Report at Senior level.
ABSTRACT
This is a paragraph placed at the BEGINNING of the Report, which sums up all of the other sections of your report. One technique is to write the Abstract section LAST, and include one sentence summarising each of the other sections. Many professional and scientific Journals publish the Abstracts of their articles, so readers can quickly decide whether a particular paper is relevant to their needs.
Abstracts should briefly give an overview of the background theory, the aim, techniques used, results and conclusions reached. Note that specific results are included e.g. " The concentration of Fe2+ in the solution was found to be 2.5 x 10-3 M."
INTRODUCTION
This sets the context and explains the background theory (briefly). It refers to what is already known, and may include a prediction of likely outcomes (or Hypothesis). The Aim or purpose of the Experiment should be clearly stated.
METHOD
A summary of the procedure followed should be given, using the "past tense, third person, passive voice".
E.g - The tube of solution was placed in the instrument, and the needle was zeroed.
A graph of Absorbance v. Concentration was plotted, and the line of best fit drawn.
Sometimes, a list of apparutus and chemicals used is given first.
Any safety considerations or other things to be careful about should be included here.
RESULTS
His section should only contain the results of your investigation, without any attempt to interpret or analyse them. Graphs, for example are usually found in the Analysis section
All observations, data and measurements should be given, and presented appropriately. Tables, where used, should have titles, and rows and columns must have names (and units, if suitable) marked. You will usually be given help to design tables. Questions in the text will help you make appropriate observations.
Record honestly what you see and measure AS YOU DO THE EXPERIMENT - you can comment on unexpected results in a later section.
Use a suitable number of significant digits when giving numerical data.
ANALYSIS OF RESULTS / DISCUSSION
Here, the results are interpreted, manipulated, and calculations may be done. If repetitive calculations are needed, you may simply give one set as an example, and tabulate the results of the others. If there are any questions in the Text, apart from those involving simple observation, the answers should be included here. Include answers to all questions in the Text, unless you are specifically instructed to omit them. Note that as long as you include the relevant answers, you need not rewrite the questions, or even number them - they can form part of your Analysis paragraphs.
Graphs must have a title, and axes are labelled with quantity and units. Choose the largest convenient scale: avoid a scale where you need a calculator to find where each point is.
Not everything in an experiment always goes to plan - as Einstein is reputed to have said, "Experiments never fail, but they may not turn out as you expected!" Included in your discussion, you should have one or two sentences on each of the following:
How do your results compare with the text or the teacher's statements about what is to happen?
Do your results differ from those of other groups?
Reasons why your results may differ from what was expected - errors, difficulties in making observations or changes to the procedure. Refine your talents at creative excuse formulation!
Suggestions for improvements to the Method, or ideas for further investigation could be made.
CONCLUSION
A Conclusion is a statement about how the observations you made, fit together, and should summarise the Analysis section. Conclusions are not always correct - there may be more than one possible interpretation of a set of data. Your Conclusion should be legitimately derived from your
Observations. Make sure that all important conclusions have been stated.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
List the names of all sources you referred to in writing your Report. This will usually include your Text. For books, the following format should be used:
Author Date Name of Book Publisher
Stannard P., Williamson K (1980) Exploring Science Ecos Publications
Be wary of using information from the Internet: remember that anyone can set up their own site, and some information is unreliable. Try to use information from "reputable" organisations, such as Universities, major companies or Government Departments, if you want reliable data. For Internet sites, give the title of the page and the URL address. You should also give the date on which you conmsulted the site, as information can be updated, and data may change.
Keyboard shortcuts can save time and the effort of switching from the keyboard to the mouse to execute simple commands. Print this list of Word keyboard shortcuts and keep it by your computer for a quick reference.
Note: A plus sign indicates that the keys need to be pressed at the same time.
Action Keystroke
Document actions
Open a file CTRL+O
New file CTRL+N
Close a file CTRL+W
Save As F12
Save CTRL+S or SHIFT+F12
Print Preview CTRL+F2
Print CTRL+P
Show/Hide paragraph symbols CTRL+*
Spelling and grammar F7
Help F1
Find CTRL+F
Replace CTRL+H
Go To CTRL+G
Cursor movement
Select all - entire document CTRL+A
Select from cursor to beginning of line SHIFT+Home
Select from cursor to end of line SHIFT+END
Go to beginning of line HOME
Go to end of line END
Go to beginning of document CTRL+Home
Go to end of document CTRL+End
Formatting
Cut CTRL+X
Copy CTRL+C
Paste CTRL+V
Undo CTRL+Z
Redo CTRL+Y
Format painter CTRL+SHIFT+C
Left alignment CTRL+L
Center alignment CTRL+E
Right alignment CTRL+R
Justified CTRL+J
Delete previous word CTRL+Backspace
Apply bulleted list CTRL+SHIFT+L
Indent CTRL+M
Page break CTRL+Enter
Action Keystroke
Text Style
Font face CTRL+SHIFT+F
Font size CTRL+SHIFT+P
Bold CTRL+B
Italics CTRL+I
Underline CTRL+U
Double underline CTRL+SHIFT+D
Word underline CTRL+SHIFT+W
All caps CTRL+SHIFT+A
Change case SHIFT+F3
Subscript CTRL+=
Superscript CTRL+SHIFT+=
Make web hyperlink CTRL+K
Tables
Go to next cell Tab
Go to previous cell SHIFT+Tab
Go to beginning of column ALT+PageUp
Highlight to beginning of column ALT+SHIFT+PageUp
Go to end of column ALT+PageDown
Highlight to end of column ALT+SHIFT+PageDown
Go to beginning of row ALT+Home
Highlight to beginning of row ALT+SHIFT+Home
Go to end of row ALT+End
Highlight to end of row ALT+SHIFT+End
Column break CTRL+SHIFT+Enter
Miscellaneous
Copyright symbol - © ALT+CTRL+C
Date field ALT+SHIFT+D
Go to footnotes ALT+CTRL+F
Show/Hide ¶ CTRL+SHIFT+8
Thesaurus SHIFT+F7
All Shortcuts
This list shows only the most common keyboard shortcuts. To print a list of all the shortcuts in Word, follow these steps:
Select Tools|Macro|Macros from the menu bar.
From the Macros In drop-down menu, select Word Commands.
Select ListCommands from the macro listing.
Click the Run button.
Choose Current Menu and Keyboard Settings from the popup window and click OK.
Word will automatically open a new document containing a table of keystrokes. Print the document.
www.webelements.com/webelements/elements
