HIGH SCHOOL LAB FORMAT

1. NAME, DATE, TITLE (#).
2. DISCUSSION ITEMS.   (complete sentences, answerable in the Discussion)
3. HYPOTHESIS.   (written before you go in to do the lab, so you know what is expected)
4. DATA.   (recorded observations during the lab)
5. RESULTS.   (sum what happened, not what you did)
6. DISCUSSION.  (5 complete sentences minimum, answer Discussion Items)
7. CONCLUSION. (3 sentences summary + 3 sentences opinion, minimum)

Discussion Items: are a complete sentence(s) that ask for more than a yes/no or a 1/few word answer.  They are about the lab topic and are answered in the Discussion.  These are either given to you by the teacher and/or you write them your self.

Hypothesis: are educated guesses or trial solutions made before your lab experiment and for each experiment done during the lab.  [i. e. what do you think will happen in each experiment or part of the lab?]   Often written as "if...then."

Data: are recorded observations. Remember that all experiments in science must be repeatable and verifiable therefore, any one should be able to read your data, understand what you were doing and repeat your experiment.  Data charts and tables really help!!

Results: are a short (1-3 sentence) summary of what happened in the experiment(s).  Look for the major point of the lab, sum your data.   This shows the teacher that you really understood what happened during the lab and did not become lost in the details of the lab.  Do not describe the procudure.

Discussion: is where you answer the discussion items in 5 or more complete sentences.  Be thorough and concise.  This is where most of the points of the lab homework score occur.

Conclusion: is where you sum up and give your opinion.  Minimum of 3 sentences of summary and 3 sentences of opinion.

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