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BIOL 101: The Cell: Writing Lab Reports

The Cell

Writing Lab Reports

Here are some tips for writing lab reports! While lab reports are similar in structure and content to research articles published in scientific journals, they have a different purpose and audience, which will shape how you write them. The purpose of your lab report is to share the importance, analysis, and scope of your research. Your audience is your professor, instructor, or peers. While you probably won't be submitting your report to a journal for peer-review, it is still a good idea to adhere to the conventions and guidelines specified by your instructor, because writing these reports is really good practice for any science writing you may go on to do in your career!

Argumentation in Science

"The research report is more than a narrative; it is a careful argument. The authors of a research report find themselves in the position of building a case for their research, not simply recounting actions and observation" 

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Penrose, A. M., & Katz, S. B. (2001). Writing in the sciences : exploring conventions of scientific discourse / Ann M. Penrose, Steven B. Katz. Pearson Custom Pub. Pp. 33

 

Writing Style

Avoid first person - It is best to use a passive, third person voice when describing your experiment and results.

  • For example - "The sample was analyzed. The results were positive."

 

Tenses - 

  • Present tense: Use to describe accepted scientific information.
  • Past tense: Use when discussing your research and findings.
  • Future: Use when discussing how your research applies to future scientific endeavors.

 

Species - All species should be referred to in their full Latin name, in italics

  • For example - Escerichia coli  or shortened to E. coli

Abstract

  • Engage readers with the major concepts and ideas from your work in the order they are presented in the paper. Avoid analysis or lengthy descriptions.
  • Write this section last, after you have already written the other sections. This will make it easier to summarize your findings.
  • Keep it concise relatively brief. 

Introduction

  •  Describe the scientific context and importance of the research area. How does this context connect to the purpose of your research?
  • Then illuminate relevant primary literature and key concepts integral to understanding the research. Make sure to cite every piece of information and idea you include, following this libguide.
  • Explain the significance of your research, what are you hoping to add to the scholarly conversation?
  • Introduce your hypothesis.

 

Methods

  • In a logical order, present the materials and procedures used in the experiment.
  • Someone with sufficient background knowledge should know how to reproduce the experiment by reading this section.
  • In this class, your lab manual provides sufficient information for this section, but be aware that in other courses, you may need to take extra time to clearly and efficiently describe your methods.

Results

  • Considered the "heart" of the report!
  • Stay away from more nuanced interpretation, instead sticking to statistical trends and summaries.
  • You should connect observations about your results to the central argument of the report, without interpreting.
  • All figures should be clearly labeled (Figure # or Table #).
  • Refer reader to a specific figure or table as you explain your results. 
  • Remember to stick to the past tense.

 

Discussion

  • What do your results mean? Interpret your results in the context of the concepts, literature, and purpose discussed in the introduction.
  • Each conclusion you draw in this section should be backed up by evidence from your experiment.
  • End with a summary of your findings and the bigger picture. Why does this research matter? What are the limitations of this study, and what would future follow-up studies look like to further add to this research?
  • You can use the present tense in this section.

 

References

  • List your references in alphabetical order using APA formatting.

Writing Resources