How to Write Practical Report
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- Date Submitted: 07/24/2014 06:07 AM
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A GUIDE TO WRITING PRACTICAL REPORTS
FORMAT
All reports of practical activities should be written under the following headings using word + excel for tables and graphs and submitted either electronically or on paper, as required by your teacher.
HYPOTHESIS
Your educated guess as to the possible answer to a question or problem that you are proposing to answer by doing the following experiment.
AIM
This will usually be a sentence stating what the experiment is designed to achieve, eg To discover whether …; To observe the effects of …; To determine the … It may contain a few points if the experiment is seeking to achieve several things.
METHOD
This section sets out the experimental procedure written in the past tense and third person,
eg 50ml of acid was measured into a flask and a piece of magnesium was added.
Labelled diagrams are useful here and can in many cases, replace detailed explanations of the experimental set-up.
RESULTS
These can be set out in a number of ways as appropriate to the experiment. Wherever possible measurements should be taken.
• Table of data should have headings at the top of each column indicating what data is there, eg temperature (oC); height (cm); weight (g), etc. {Units should always be included}
• Graphs that may help to make sense of the data collected and tabulated
• Written descriptions of observations.
• Diagrams, eg of how unusual equipment was set up.
DISCUSSION
This is the most important part of the report as it is where results are interpreted and inferences are made as to what the results might mean.
It should include:
• Graphs of results, eg line graphs where two variables are being compared — line graphs should be drawn using a ‘line of best fit’.
• Statements of observable trends with possible explanations.
• Any problems, errors and safety issues specific to this practical, with suggestions for...
FORMAT
All reports of practical activities should be written under the following headings using word + excel for tables and graphs and submitted either electronically or on paper, as required by your teacher.
HYPOTHESIS
Your educated guess as to the possible answer to a question or problem that you are proposing to answer by doing the following experiment.
AIM
This will usually be a sentence stating what the experiment is designed to achieve, eg To discover whether …; To observe the effects of …; To determine the … It may contain a few points if the experiment is seeking to achieve several things.
METHOD
This section sets out the experimental procedure written in the past tense and third person,
eg 50ml of acid was measured into a flask and a piece of magnesium was added.
Labelled diagrams are useful here and can in many cases, replace detailed explanations of the experimental set-up.
RESULTS
These can be set out in a number of ways as appropriate to the experiment. Wherever possible measurements should be taken.
• Table of data should have headings at the top of each column indicating what data is there, eg temperature (oC); height (cm); weight (g), etc. {Units should always be included}
• Graphs that may help to make sense of the data collected and tabulated
• Written descriptions of observations.
• Diagrams, eg of how unusual equipment was set up.
DISCUSSION
This is the most important part of the report as it is where results are interpreted and inferences are made as to what the results might mean.
It should include:
• Graphs of results, eg line graphs where two variables are being compared — line graphs should be drawn using a ‘line of best fit’.
• Statements of observable trends with possible explanations.
• Any problems, errors and safety issues specific to this practical, with suggestions for...