The seventh grade scientists will be challenged over the next two weeks to create their first lab reports. This lab is called “Bubbleology”, and the report is due Sept. 22nd. (Eighth grade scientists will also be doing lab reports again this year!)
Lab reports are important pieces of technical writing used to communicate a scientist’s process and findings in a clear and effective way. Clarity in a lab report is very important because it allows the reader to understand:
- the purpose of the experimentation,
- the means of data collection and analysis, and
- a scientist's final conclusion.
A well-made lab report is highly detailed, allowing the reader to follow a scientist’s process from beginning to end.
An effective lab reports uses the following tools to clearly communicate its message:
- Clear headings, labels and titles
- Proper grammar
- Complete sentences
- Data tables
- Proper, consistent use of units of measurement
- Graphs
- Example calculations
- Conclusions supported by data
Creating a well-written lab report is a difficult task due to its intensive attention to detail. For this reason, some students struggle on their very first lab reports.
In order to help support all students, Mr. Yeazell provides a detailed checklist of items that are required in a well-made lab report. (He gives a specialized checklist for EVERY lab!) Each student should use the checklist as he/she writes the lab report and once again, as a double-check, before final submission.
We invite you to ask your student to see his or her draft of the lab report and checklist before turning it in. Go over the checklist with your student to ensure that all of the required components are present.
The skill of technical writing takes practice. It is possible, even likely, that your student will need to revise his/her first submission. Help us to keep spirits high; revisions are not failures but stepping stones to success.
Thank you for reading!
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