Lab Report Checklist for Grading

Section
 Description of lab report items and resulting points.
Points Possible
Points received
I. Title
Title conveys nature of the investigation and has both the IV and the DV
2

II. Introduction A

One or two complete sentences briefly describe what is going to be done in the experiment.
2
*B. Problem
-Stated with both an IV and DV
-Stated as a question with a question mark for punctuation
1
1
C
 -A paragraph is written that tells why the knowledge gained by this experiment is of interest or value .
-Paragraph is written with proper grammar and sentence structure.
2

1
*D. Hypothesis
 -Hypothesis is stated by predicting what the effects of changing the IV will be on the DV
2
E. Background
-Background information about the IV is given
-Background seems adequate in depth to help the experimenter to hypothesize
-Background is written with at least 2 paragraphs that have proper sentence structure.

2
2
2

III. Methods
**A. Materials
-Materials for the experiment are listed (not in paragraph form)
-Adequate details are given so the experiment could be replicated
1
1
**B. Procedure
-Procedure is numbered in steps with the numbers on the left
-Procedure is written in 3rd person passive
-Procedure is written with enough detail that the experiment could be replicated

1
2
3
IV. Results
**A. Data Table
 -A data table is setup that has the raw data with at least 5 trials
-Data table has the units communicated for the numbers in it (sec, ml, mm, etc)
-Care was taken to neatly construct data table and clearly write in data figures
2
1
1
**B. Graph

-A graph is constructed with a title containing both the IV and DV
-IV labels and units are on the X-axis
-DV labels and units are on the Y-axis
-The graph is the proper type (bar if the the X is in categories, line if X is ordinal numbers
-Graph neatly and cleary constructed with care

1
1
1
1
1

**C. Statistics
-means (average), modes, or medians are included in data table
-differences in group averages is given
-appropriate inferential statistics is given (ttest, chitest, etc)

2
1
2

V. Discussion
Paragraph A
-The H1 is briefly restated
-Writer states whether the H1 was supported by the data
-Writer includes data summarizing figures (averages of groups)
-proper units are tagged to data figures
-differences between groups and ttest results are discussed
1
2
4
1
2
Paragraph B
-at least 2 things that went well with the experiment are given
-at least 2 things that did not go so well with the procedure of the experiment are given

2

2

Paragraph C
-a description is given as to how the 2 things that did not go so well may have affected the outcome of the experiment
-a suggestion is made as to how to eliminate the 2 things that did not go so well when the experiment is done again

2

2
Paragraph D
-two related problems are stated for further research
2
Paragraph E
-the latest understanding of the relationship of the IV to the DV is given
-at least 2 things are stated that the writer has learned from this lab experience
-results of this lab are related to what we are studying in class

2
2
1

Grammar
Grammar usage was a problem throughout
1
Some grammar usage was a problem
2
Very few grammar errors
3
No apparent grammar errors
4
1-4
Mechanics
Spelling and punctuation was a problem throughout
1
Some spelling and punctuation was a problem
2
Very few spelling and punctuation errors
3

No apparent spelling and punctuation errors
4

1-4
Organization
Sentence structure was choppy and hard to read
1
Some sentence structure was a problem
2
Very few problems with sentence structure and smoothness of reading
3
This writeup read very smoothly because of proper sentence structure and flow of thoughts
4
1-4
Formatting
Lab looks like it must have been for another teacher on another planet
1
Some of the lab was formatted as requested
2
Most of the lab was formatted as requested
3
Lab was formatted as requested
4
1-4
 
Totals=
 out of 80

* - indicates this section should be written in your lab notebook and in your formal writeup.
** - indicates this section should only be in your lab notebook (submit these sections as
duplicates from the originals in your lab notebook). They do not need to be rewritten on computer.
- no asterix indicates this section is only found in the formal writeup.