writing lab reports & science writing - tuc 2013 - trent university

Take the University Challenge:

Writing in the Sciences

The Academic Skills Centre

So you want to be a scientist?

• Be curious

• Think critically

• Follow convention

• Present your findings

Scientific Writing

• Answer the question(s)

• Be clear and concise

– Creativity in thought rather than writing style

• Follow conventions of discipline

– Read the instructions!

• Demonstrate your understanding of the topic

Assignments

• Problem sets

• Lab reports

• Essays and research papers

Lab Reports

Why?

• Prepare to become a scientist

– Report findings to the scientific community

– Contribute to body of research

– Follow style of journal articles

• Demonstrate understanding

– How does the practical relate to the theory?

www.icts.uiowa.edu

How?

Scientific MethodQUESTION

What is the problem or observation?

HYPOTHESISWhat do you think will happen?

EXPERIMENT or STUDYCollect data to test your hypothesis

ANALYSISSummarize the results of your experiment or study

INTERPRETDo your results support the hypothesis?

COMPAREHow do your results compare to those of other studies?

WHAT’S NEXT?What’s the next question to be answered?

RESEARCHLearn about the topic – what have others found out?

Sections of Lab Reports

Introduction

Methods

Results

Discussion

Title

Abstract

Conclusions

Appendices

References

Basic sections

“IMRAD”

Additional and

optional sections

Sections of a Lab Report

REASEARCHLearn about the topic – what have others found out?

QUESTIONWhat is the problem or observation?







Introduction

Methods

Results

Discussion


• Frame research within

broad context

• Present relevant

background information

• State hypotheses,

predictions, and

rationale

Introduction

Methods

Results

Discussion


• Describe how you

conducted the experiment

or study

– Materials, procedure,

subjects, location, analysis

and statistics, etc.

• Provide enough detail to

allow a reader to repeat

what you did

• Use full sentences!

Introduction

Methods

Results

Discussion


• Summarize data

collected

– Report, don’t interpret!

– Raw data in appendix

only

• Present data in tables

and/or figures

– Refer to in text

Introduction

Methods

Results

Discussion


• Interpret results

– Did the data support your hypothesis and predictions?

– Remember – you cannot prove, only support or reject

• Compare to other studies

– Are your results in line with previous findings? If not, why?

• Implications of your research

• How could you improve your study and/or what would you study next?

Introduction

Methods

Results

Discussion

Writing Style

Writing Style

• Always use full sentences

• Sentences should be

– Concise

– Direct

– Active

• Therefore

– Avoid unnecessary words, phrases, and jargon

– Put the main verb early in the sentence

– Use the active voice whenever possible

Writing Style

Voice

Passive voice

• Objective– Obscures who/what is

doing the action

• Was the norm in scientific writing– Indirect and

cumbersome

• Object – Verb –Subject

• E.g., “The plants were measured…”

Active voice

• Subjective– Highlights who/want is

doing the action

• Becoming much more common and encouraged– Direct and clear

• Subject – Verb –Object

• E.g., “I measured the plants…”

Writing Style

Tense

• Past or present?

• Use past tense when

– Referring to your study

(you completed it in the

past)

– Another study done in

the past

• Use present tense the

rest of the time

Tips For Better Reports


Plan Ahead - Lab

• Read the lab manual BEFORE the lab

– Make sure you fully understand what you’re doing and why – if you don’t, ask!

• Prepare tables for recording data

• Write out hypothesis and predictions BEFORE beginning the experiment/study

• Take notes during your lab

– Note any changes in the methods and any new details

• Plan time to write your report as soon as possible after your lab


Plan Ahead - Writing

• Begin with an outline

• Suggested order of writing:

– Methods

– Results

– Discussion

– Introduction

– References

– Abstract (if required)

– Title


Remember! Scientific Method

REASEARCHLearn about the topic – what have others found out?

QUESTIONWhat is the problem or observation?








The Hourglass Analogy

• Structure your report like

an hourglass

• Begin with the big

picture, narrow to your

hypothesis, experiment,

and results, then expand

throughout your

discussion


Follow Instructions

• This is REALLY IMPORTANT!

• Formatting

– Spacing, fonts, margins, pages

• Sections

– Title page, abstract, conclusions, appendix required?

• Tables and figures

– Embedded or separate?

• Referencing style

– Often follows a peer-reviewed journal


Tables and Figures

• Must stand alone – titles must be fully descriptive

• Tables

– Title above

– Don’t use vertical lines

– Display units

– Define abbreviations

• Figures

– Title below

– Ensure details visible in black and white

– Label axes


Referencing

• When should you reference?

– Whenever you write something that is not your original thought or general knowledge

• It may be difficult to know if something is considered general knowledge – if in doubt, reference!

• This includes the methods from your lab manual

– Most sentences should therefore be referenced

• What sources should you use?

– Lab manual, textbook, peer-reviewed literature

– NEVER cite Wikipedia or other questionable sources


Referencing

• How should you reference?

– Paraphrase almost always; avoid direct quotations

• The purpose is to include what was said, not howsomething was said

– In-text citations and reference list

• Abbreviated in-text citation directly follows each paraphrase

• Reference list provides full reference information and follows report

– Follow instructions in lab manual – very carefully!!

– Try referencing software

• E.g., RefWorks – free from library


REVISION

Come Talk to Us!

• Do you want to ask

questions about

something you heard

today?

• Come see us at the

Academic Skills Centre

during special 10 minute

drop-in sessions!

Special Drop-in Appointments

Wednesday, Sept. 4, Thursday, Sept. 5, and

Friday, Sept. 6

10-minute drop-in appointments

(first come-first served)

Academic Skills Centre

Champlain College 206

9am-4pm

writing lab reports & science writing - tuc 2013 - trent university

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