Find the trends in the figures. Find the one thing that ties them together
Tell your readers how to read your figures and what the main point is
Then map out the story that tells what the main point is
Writing Process
Start with Methods and Results sections
Connect results with how you got them
Then connect your interpretation of results (Discussion) to scientific assumptions or principles (Theory)
Connect what you set out to do (Introduction) to what you found (Conclusion)
From Mya Poe, MIT, Technical Writing
INTRODUCTION SECTION
“The introduction states the objective or purpose of the experiment and provides the reader with important background and/or theory to the experiment.”
See http://www.ecf.utoronto.ca/~writing/handbook-lab.htmlhttp://www.ecf.utoronto.ca/ writing/handbook-lab.html
What should the reader know or understand when he/she is finished reading the report?
Student Sample
The purpose of this lab is to observe the conservation of momentum and energy in one dimension in a real life setting. We will study this concept through the motion of carts colliding on a track. The velocity for one or two carts will be determined before and after their collision.
Revised sample
The purpose of this lab was to observe the conservation of momentum and energy in one dimension in a real life setting. This concept was studied through the motion of carts colliding on a track. The velocity for one or two carts was determined before and after their collision.
Statement of purpose (in intro) should be reflected in conclusion
Overall this lab was a success. The purpose was to observe the conservation of momentum and energy in one dimension in a real life setting. The study of this concept was accomplished through the motion of carts colliding on a track. In addition, the experiment determined the velocity for one or two carts before and after the collision. During the course of the experiment the conservation of both momentum and energy was noted, and the final velocities of the carts was accurately determined.
Writing prompts for theory
Which research question did you set out to answer?
What was your expected answer or assumptions about the outcome of this investigation?
Is the data presented so results are clear, logical and self-explanatory?
What is the main point – what ties results together?
DISCUSSION SECTION
“You show that you understand the experiment beyond the simple level of completing it.”
From http://www.ecf.utoronto.ca/~writing/handbook-lab.html
Explain
Analyse
Interpret
Writing prompts for discussion section
Analysis
What do the results indicate clearly?
What are the sources of error?
How do the results compare to the theory/hypothesis?
Interpretation
What is the significance of the results?
How do you justify that interpretation?
Suggested improvements for future research?
Conclusion
Usually short in student lab reports
State what you know as result of lab
No new information
Example:
“The Debye-Sherrer method identified the sample material as nickel due to the measured crystal structure (fcc) and atomic radius (approximately 0.124nm).”
Writing Process – stages
Planning
Purpose of section
Brainstorm, mindmap, outline
Writing
Revising
Submit!
Exercise (from www.learnhigher.ac.uk website)
After adding the solution, the mixture in the test tube went a bright scarlet red, which we did not expect, as this was not the same as the washed out pink colour it was supposed to go according to the book. We shook the test tube up and left it for awhile in the test tube stand. When we came back, the mixture had settled to the bottom and dried out, which it was not supposed to have happened; this was a bit of a problem.
