Biology Lab Manual
Guidelines for writing laboratory reports
Laboratory reports should be written according to the format below (failure to do so will result in marks being deducted):
Formatting
Font Type: Times Roman
Font size: 12
Spacing: 1.5, justified
Pages : 5 (minimum) - 10 (maximum) [pages must be numbered]
Title page
You are required to use the lab report submission page available on the LMS and are to include these details: lab no., title of experiment, students’ names and ID, date of experiment as well as your group number.
Introduction
This section serves to acquaint the reader with the subject and justify the objective(s) of the experiment. There should be two parts to the introduction: first, a clear description of the principle(s) underlying the experiment; and second, a statement of how you will conduct the experiment to study the underlying principle(s). You must include the source of references/adaptations for the points made (in-text references). Approximately ONE page is recommended.
Objective(s) The objective(s) addressed in the experiment must be clearly stated and numbered.
Chemical / apparatus
List only the important materials used. Commonly used apparatus or glassware (e.g. clamp, forcep, beaker, measuring cylinder) need not be mentioned. Do measure magnitude/volume of apparatus used, when applicable.
Procedures
The description of experimental methods must contain sufficient information to allow another person to duplicate the experiment. All methods should be written in past tense, passive voice and should be written in your own words (paraphrase). Some lab sessions may have several parts and as such, you may use subheadings for these parts (i.e. Practical 2 which has 2 parts – A. Kidney model examination and B. Nephron kidney slide observation).
Results
Results may be combined with discussion in order to provide a more coherent flow (can also be separated from discussion). This section must contain sufficient information
Laboratory reports should be written according to the format below (failure to do so will result in marks being deducted):
Formatting
Font Type: Times Roman
Font size: 12
Spacing: 1.5, justified
Pages : 5 (minimum) - 10 (maximum) [pages must be numbered]
Title page
You are required to use the lab report submission page available on the LMS and are to include these details: lab no., title of experiment, students’ names and ID, date of experiment as well as your group number.
Introduction
This section serves to acquaint the reader with the subject and justify the objective(s) of the experiment. There should be two parts to the introduction: first, a clear description of the principle(s) underlying the experiment; and second, a statement of how you will conduct the experiment to study the underlying principle(s). You must include the source of references/adaptations for the points made (in-text references). Approximately ONE page is recommended.
Objective(s) The objective(s) addressed in the experiment must be clearly stated and numbered.
Chemical / apparatus
List only the important materials used. Commonly used apparatus or glassware (e.g. clamp, forcep, beaker, measuring cylinder) need not be mentioned. Do measure magnitude/volume of apparatus used, when applicable.
Procedures
The description of experimental methods must contain sufficient information to allow another person to duplicate the experiment. All methods should be written in past tense, passive voice and should be written in your own words (paraphrase). Some lab sessions may have several parts and as such, you may use subheadings for these parts (i.e. Practical 2 which has 2 parts – A. Kidney model examination and B. Nephron kidney slide observation).
Results
Results may be combined with discussion in order to provide a more coherent flow (can also be separated from discussion). This section must contain sufficient information