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Guide to Writing a Scientific Report

Scientific papers are used to communicate scientific knowledge. They are available to read, test, build on, and refute. Your job is to explain your investigation and its significance, and to convince your audience that your conclusions are scientifically valid. Writing a good paper depends on how well you designed the experiment and can present and explain your results. You can still write a good lab report even if you did not get the results you expected.

Before you write the report:

1. Participate fully and take careful notes throughout the experiment

2. Be responsible for understanding the guidelines and expectations of the assignment

3. Complete the background library research and read and understand all of your references;

4. Have complete copies of references

A scientific report has the sections noted in the outline that follows.

Title

This is a synopsis of the experimental question and results. It should not exceed the length of a sentence. The title should be placed on a cover page that also includes (1) your name, (2) your instructor’s name, (3) lab day and time, and (4) the date, all centered on the page.

Abstract

This is a short paragraph that summarizes: (1) objectives and scope of the research (2-3 sentences summarizing introduction, include hypothesis), (2) experimental design (2-3 sentences summarizing materials and methods), (3) crucial results (1-2 sentences summarizing results), and (4) conclusions (1-2 sentences summarizing conclusion, was your hypothesis supported or rejected and why?). Write this section after completing the report. There are no references in this section.

Introduction

Tell the reader what the experiment was about. Provide background information that leads to the research question being asked. Cite references which support the biological basis of the investigation. State the objectives of the study. State the hypothesis being tested. For this experiment:

(1) Explain what photosynthesis is.

(a) Explain BOTH reactions (light and dark).

(b) What affects the rate of photosynthesis?

(c) A minimum of 1 citation is required (background information on photosynthesis and/or the two types of reactions).

(2) Explain your independent variable.

(a) Predict how your dependent variable relates to your independent variable.

(b) A minimum of 1 citation required (background info on variable being tested).

Materials and Methods

Explain the experiment procedures in detail. Use past tense and paragraph form. DO NOT list materials (as in a recipe)! Write this section so ANYONE could pick up your paper and recreate this experiment EXACTLY. Do not leave ANYTHING out! Be specific and detailed!

Results

State only the facts (your results) and let the facts speak for themselves. Save the explanation of why your results are significant for the Discussion section.

(1) Describe the results in the text of this section.

(2) Present the data in an organized, readable form.

(a) Typically, numerical data are given in tables and relationships between variables are shown in figures.

(b) All tables and figures must numbered separately and be referred to in the text.

(d) Figures must have axes labeled, including units. (See pages 10-12 of your lab manual to review summarizing and illustrating scientific data.)

Discussion

This section is the most difficult to write. Complete the Introduction and Results sections before you write the Discussion.

(1) Interpret and analyze your results and explain their significance by relating your results to existing knowledge (e.g., referring to other published studies/papers).

(a) Include relevant background research that supports or rejects your findings.

(b) A minimum of 1 citation required.

(2) Restate the hypothesis and whether it was supported or rejected.

(3) Discuss any problems that arose during the experiment.

(a) How could you have prevented these problems?

(b) What would you do differently next time?

(4) Discuss additional questions the research poses, what you would do in the future, and applications of this research.

(a) What you would do in the future?

(b) How would this research help the scientific world?

References

Any paper cited in your References must be read and understood by you. For this report, you will need a minimum of two references. The sources should be listed alphabetically by author. When listing references, follow the format of these examples:

· Alder, J. 1973. A method for measuring chemotaxis and use of the method to determine optimum conditions for chemotaxis in Escherichia coli. Journal of General Microbiology 74:77-91. (The volume number is 74 and the page numbers are 77-91.)

· Fisher, P.R., Smith, E. and Williams, K.L. 1981. An extracellular chemical signal controlling phototactic behaviour by D. discoideum slugs. Cell 23:799-807.

Any source that appears in this section must also be cited in the text of the report. ABSOLUTELY NO DIRECT QUOTES! Restate the information IN YOUR OWN WORDS and cite accordingly. In the text of the report, cite the source as (author, date) or author (date). For example:

· Jones (2002) examined the mode of cellular motility . . . .

· In a study of peptic ulcers, (Green and Alvarez, 2000). . . .

· Davidson, McMillan, and Wood (2005) observed the mitotic rate . . . .

· The mitotic rate decreased considerably (Davidson et al., 2005).

Format

Your report should be typed, double spaced, in 12 point New Times Roman font, with one inch margins. Subheadings should be in bold and at the left margin.

Additional Guidelines

1. Write clearly and simply. For example, instead of “The sample size was not quite sufficiently large enough.” use “The sample size was too small.”

2. Use an active voice. For example, instead of “Reaction rate was found to vary with enzyme concentration.” use “Reaction rate varied with enzyme concentration.”

3. Use metric measurements.

4. Be sure that each paragraph has a topic sentence and conveys one major idea. Remember that most paragraphs contain at least three sentences.

5. Have someone else read a draft of your report and suggest improvements.

6. Plagiarism will not be tolerated. Learn to summarize in your own words. Give the reference each time. Consult your syllabus and the Student Handbook for more information on plagiarism.

7. Consult with your instructor if you have any questions about writing your lab report.