Writing Lab Reports Writing Consultant Presentation EG 1003

Writing Lab Reports Writing Consultant Presentation EG 1003: Intro to Engineering and Design Polytechnic Institute of NYU

Writing Lab Reports Purpose of a lab report Format Available resources

Consider the writing situation Audience: Other engineers Purpose: Discuss significance of experimental results

Engineering needs reliable knowledge 1. Use what you can support with evidence. 2. Report only the results of your specific trial, not general ideas 3. Avoid claims that are beyond your evidence.

Analyze experiment, not yourself Do not report what you “learned”: your data is not the results of a quiz! Report whether you reached your experimental objective

Practice writing like a professional 1. Write complete sentences in passive voice 2. When using graphics, label and describe 3. Do not “cut and paste” from another source, even the Lab Manual 4. Print and proofread before you upload 5. Hand in report on time

Writing Lab Reports Purpose of a lab report Format Available resources

Standard format conserves effort 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Title page Abstract Introduction Procedure Data/observations Discussion/conclusions

Logic, not time, organizes the report Abstract Brief trajectory of the report Introduction Background information to understand the hypothesis you test in the experiment Procedure The steps you took to test the hypothesis Data/Observations What you saw when you used the procedure Discussion/Conclusions Based on the information in the Introduction, did the Procedure produce the expected results in the Data/Observations?

Logic, not time, organizes the report Abstract Brief trajectory of the report Introduction Summarizes the experimental Background information to understand the hypothesis you test inobjective the experiment (“what you did”) – tells Procedure The steps you took to test the hypothesis result and its significance Data/Observations What you saw when you used the procedure Discussion/Conclusions Based on the information in the Introduction, did the Procedure produce the expected results in the Data/Observations?

Logic, not time, organizes the report Abstract Brief trajectory of the report Introduction Background information to understand the hypothesis you test in the experiment Procedure Presents concepts The steps you took to test thethat hypothesis and equations Data/Observations What you saw when you used the procedure come up later Discussion/Conclusions Based on the information in the Introduction, did the Procedure produce the expected results in the Data/Observations?

Logic, not time, organizes the report Abstract Brief trajectory of the report Objective, without evaluation or Allows an outsider to Introduction Background information to understand the calculations verify results hypothesis you test in the experiment Procedure The steps you took to test the hypothesis Data/Observations What you saw when you used the procedure Discussion/Conclusions Based on the information in the Introduction, did the Procedure produce the expected results in the Data/Observations?

Logic, not time, organizes the report Abstract Brief trajectory of the report Introduction Background information to understand the hypothesis you test in the experiment Procedure The steps you took to test the hypothesis Analyze and interpret Data/Observations how hypothesis What youwell sawthe when you used the procedure was supported Discussion/Conclusions Based on the information in the Introduction, did the Procedure produce the expected results in the Data/Observations?

Learn to excel within this format 1. Abstract: State experiment clearly, avoiding educational goals 2. Introduction: provide important knowledge needed to understand what should happen 3. Data/Observations: Explain what happened so well that the report is like a movie 4. Conclusion: Analyze your data to explain close your test came to the ideal case in the Introduction

Writing Lab Reports Purpose of a lab report Format Available resources

Where to find help 1. Lab Manual (http: //manual. eg. poly. edu) • “Specifications for Writing Your Lab Reports” • “Annotated Lab Report” 2. The Writing Center (JAB 373) • (718) 260 -3425 • tutoring@poly. edu 3. Your friendly neighborhood writing consultant

Writing Lab Reports Purpose of a lab report Style and format Available resources