Laboratory report essay

An abstract should be written last (even though it appears as the first section in your report), as it summarises information from all the other sections of the report. clearly state the aim or research question that the experiment is designed to address.

These have their own purpose and conventions and are different from lab reports. Lab reports can vary in length and format. These range from a form to fill in and submit before leaving the lab, to a formal written report. However, they all usually follow a similar basic structure. presents results of the experiment graphically or by using tables.

Data are often presented in graphs, figures or tables. This section often also includes analysis of the raw data, such as calculations. In some disciplines the analysis is presented under its own heading, in others it is included in the results section.

Tip Always write the introduction in your own words; don’t just copy from the lab notes. Some brief lab reports do not require an introduction and will just begin with an aim/statement. Always check with your lecturer/demonstrator if you’re not sure what is expected.