Getting Start with Lab Reports

Filling in your title, objective, hypothesis and variables correctly!

Biology Lab Reports

We'll be using the lab on the right as an example. The materials and procedure sections will give you a clear understanding of what you will be testing and how you will test it.

The first step is to familiarize yourself with the lab by reading through the materials and procedure.

Independent Variable: which side of the penny is being tested (heads or tails) Dependent Variable: the number of water drops the penny holds Controlled Variables: the penny, dropper, water, how the dropper is held (straight up and down), the surface (flat paper towel)

The Second step is to fill in the variables.

The hypothesis should always be written as a complete sentence.

You can use the variables to help you with your hypothesis. An if-then hypothesis is a statement that uses the words "if" and "then" to describe a cause-and-effect relationship between two variables:If: The independent variable, or the variable being manipulatedThen: The dependent variable, or the variable being measured Hypothesis: If I drop water on the heads and tails sides of the penny, then the heads side will hold more water because it may have a smoother surface.

The Third step is to fill in the hypothesis.

The objective should always be written as a complete sentence.

The objective should be written as a question, which the hypothesis attempts to answer..Objective: Which side of a penny holds more water, heads or tails?

The Fourth step is to fill in the Objective.

The title should summarize the experiment.Title: Comparing the Water-Holding Capacity of the Heads and Tails Sides of a Penny.

Next fill in the Title.

Now you would be ready to begin the lab! :)

Title: Comparing the Water-Holding Capacity of the Heads and Tails Sides of a Penny Objective: Which side of a penny holds more water, heads or tails?Independent Variable: which side of the penny is being tested (heads or tails)Dependent Variable: the number of water drops the penny holdsControlled Variables: the penny, dropper, water, how the dropper is held (straight up and down), the surface (flat paper towel)Hypothesis: If I drop water on the heads and tails sides of the penny, then the heads side will hold more water because it may have a smoother surface.