Barbara P
Barbara P

Lab Report - A Complete Writing Guide With Examples

8 min read

Published on: Jul 28, 2019

Last updated on: Jan 26, 2023

Lab Report Writing

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A lab report is a kind of document that is frequently written for engineering and science fields. The purpose of writing a lab report is to document the findings of the experiment and present their significance.

A well-written lab report requires more than just a representation of results. To make the writing process easier, MyPerfectWords.com has compiled this guide for you!

Continue reading to learn how a lab report is written.

What is a Lab Report?

Laboratory reports are a necessary part of the courses that require essential lab tests and experiments. They are objective and are a complete record of an experiment. The information provided in a lab report is specific enough that the reader gets a clear picture of the experiment carried out by the researcher.

It contributes a lot to achieve better grades in a student’s academic life. Just like every other academic assignment, lab reports are to be developed with a proper structure.

A credible lab report addresses the findings and demonstrates the writer’s concepts and understanding of the experiment. Reporting only the results and the raw data is not enough. It is important to present why and how the results occurred.

Lab Report Format

The lab report format is an essential component of the writing process. All lab reports need a format to be presented in a structured manner. Moreover, this format shapes the writing procedure of the lab report as well.

A proper lab report format consists of the following elements:

  • A title page
  • Abstract
  • Introduction
  • Required materials
  • Methods
  • Results
  • Discussion
  • Conclusion
  • Figure and graphs
  • Reference list

To ensure that your lab report is authentic and reliable, following the lab report format is essential. Creating this format comes under the planning or pre-writing section.

After having the outline or format in hand, a writer can report the experiment in a more comprehensive and detailed manner.

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How to Write a Lab Report?

Writing a lab report is a tricky job as it requires several important steps to take. No matter which type of lab report you are writing and for which level, there is a basic writing structure that works for all.

When a student writes a report for the first time, it is essential to learn the basics. Without knowing the basics, the writing process can be challenging.

The lab report writing consists of the following information:

  • The context of the study.
  • Contains pertinent background and information about the experiment.
  • It is written in the passive past tense.
  • Contain the methods applied.

If you are writing a lab report for your academics and instructor, make sure you are taking the right writing steps. The following are the steps in which a lab report is written.

1. Identify the Primary Goal

When writing a lab report, the primary goal is to ensure that it is readable and understandable by the reader. Even if you are writing a lab report for your instructor, make sure it can be evaluated. Keeping the primary goal in mind will help the writer in writing every section of the lab report.

2. Identify the Audience

For every writing type, it is essential to identify who you are writing it for. Similarly, when writing a lab report, determine the targeted audience first. For example, if you are writing a report for academics, your audience will be your instructor.

If the audience is of another discipline, make sure to explain the jargon and technical terms used. It is to make your report understandable for everyone.

3. Write the Title and Abstract

The title and the abstract are the two most visible and striking parts of a lab report. These two elements will help the writer get more attention from the readers, so they should be written perfectly.

To make your title interesting, make sure that it reflects what you have done in the experiment and some interesting findings. For your abstract, keep it concise. It should be based on just one paragraph of 200 words.

The abstract of a lab report contains the following information:

      • The primary motivation or purpose of the experiment
      • How does your experiment differ from the previous one?
      • The methodology used to obtain experimental results.
      • Noteworthy findings, if any.

4. Carefully Craft Introduction

All reports start with an introduction. The introduction section is written to give the audience a better understanding of what is going to happen. This chapter answers the following questions for the readers:

      • What is the setting of the issue or problem?
      • What is the issue you are trying to solve?
      • Why is the problem important to discuss?
      • Is the problem solved, or is it still unsolved?

Along with the background, the introduction contains crucial information about the experiment or the report. This includes:

      • Why was the problem so difficult to solve?
      • How did the writer solve the problem?
      • The circumstances in which the findings and results are applicable
      • Major results
      • How have you organized your report?

Keep in mind to provide all the information clearly in the introduction section so that readers can understand and feel motivated to know what is there in your lab report.

5. Write the Body of the Report

The body section contains all the information about the materials used for the experiment and the methods. Writing this section aims to inform the readers about the equipment and theories, which helps obtain the desired results.

A detail about the methods and theories include the following information:

      • The material and theory are described precisely in a paragraph.
      • A diagram of the apparatus is presented.
      • Natural and derived theoretical elements are provided
      • The methodologies and strategies used for the experiment.

Moreover, the report’s body section includes other information like the interpretation of the work and a differentiation between the past and the present works. If the experiment you are conducting has been performed before, interpret how it directed you to identify the differences simply.

This information can be presented right after the introduction and at the end of the body section, depending on the writer’s preference.

The differences can be presented in the form of charts or graphs to make them understandable. While giving a reference to the other’s work, make sure to cite it properly. It is to avoid plagiarism and ensure the authenticity of your work.

After providing the information in context to the previous work, state your results clearly. Your experiment results will be based on the lab you have worked in, how it performed, its implementations, and the objective of the experiment. Present all the data from your experiment in this data without providing personal opinions and subjective comments.

The result section always remains objective, even if your data confirms the hypothesis.

6. Conclude the Lab Report

The conclusion or discussion section is where the interpretation of the numerical data and results are made. In addition to this, predictions are given in this part of the report as well. To make your report believable and credible, state the weakness of your experiment, if any.

It is believed that readers tend to pay more attention to the title, abstract, introduction, and conclusion of the report. For this purpose, make sure that they are interesting and informative.

If the prompt requires, create a separate section for discussion and a whole new section for your conclusion.

7. Provide References

If there have been many sources reviewed and taken information from, the works of other writers need to be cited within the text. Consult the lab manual to determine the referencing style.

The most popular format for references among the thesis is the APA Style. Have a look at these APA formats to help you with your references.

      • Books - Author, A. A. (year). Title of work. Location: Publisher
      • Journal Articles - Author, A. A., Author, B. B., & Author, C. C. (year). Article title. Journal Title, volume number(issue number), page numbers

8. Revise and Proofread

The last and most important step is to revise everything that is written in the report. It ensures your lab report’s quality and accuracy, which makes you and your work credible. Re-check every detail in your report and make sure that it is free from all errors and mistakes.

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Lab Report Writing Tips

If you are writing a lab report for the first time, it is essential to know how important it is to write it professionally. When writing a report for academics, students need to realize the worth of perfectly written reports.

To make the students’ lab reports winning and impressive, professionals at MyPerfectWords.com have provided some easy tips to follow.

  • Precise - You should be very clear and concise when it comes to the content of the report. Avoid including irrelevant data and information.
  • No Personal Opinions - Support statements with data from your experiment. Do not state anything that is purely opinion or make any statement without evidence.
  • Use Passive Voice/Third Person Perspective - Past tense should be used while writing a lab report. Avoid using active voice or words like “I” or “we” when referring to the experimental process within a study.

Lab Report Examples

To give you a better understanding of the lab reports’ writing process and structure, we have gathered some helpful examples. Go through these examples and write your lab report accordingly.

Lab reports can be challenging if you are writing them for the first time. If you want your report to be impressive, make sure it includes an overview of the complete experiment and an objective interpretation of the results.

Following this guide will let you plan your experiment and write its report in the most professional and accurate manner. If you still find it difficult to write your lab report, get assistance from the expert online writing service.

MyPerfectWords.com is committed to providing the best writing services in all fields and types of assignments, from lab reports or essays, we have writers who can help you!

So hire our paper writer now to buy reports at the most reasonable prices.

Frequently Asked Question

How many pages is a lab report?

A typical lab report should not have more than 10 pages. It needs to be single-spaced, and the font needs to be 12 points.

What is the main use of lab reports?

A laboratory report is a formal record of an experiment. It should discuss the objectives, procedures, and results. If you want to do the same experiment as someone else, they will know what to do because of your report.

 
Barbara P

WRITTEN BY

Barbara P (Literature, Marketing)

Dr. Barbara is a highly experienced writer and author who holds a Ph.D. degree in public health from an Ivy League school. She has worked in the medical field for many years, conducting extensive research on various health topics. Her writing has been featured in several top-tier publications.

Dr. Barbara is a highly experienced writer and author who holds a Ph.D. degree in public health from an Ivy League school. She has worked in the medical field for many years, conducting extensive research on various health topics. Her writing has been featured in several top-tier publications.

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