The Importance of Lab Report Writing
The potential significance of lab reports to improving the characteristics and problem solutions of the final product in the engineering industry is largely ignored. Once the model within this analysis was applied in the first year practical sessions at the Waterford Institute of Technology, great excitement was generated within the student group. Even those who couldn’t follow the detail of the lab were making efforts to understand what the software model was telling us. This further stimulated the understanding environment. However, it was when the practical write up was returned, along with what is now a good collection of responses from the industrial panel, that my own enthusiasm for lab report improvements was tempered with a practical and applicable value for such investigations. The parallel between the laboratory requirements of attention to detail, providing a readable reasonable analysis and targeted re-presentation set within a simulation model that demands close attention to material properties and the effective solution of real life analysis and design tasks. It was appreciated, has focused the industrial contingent on the significance of passive interactive processes at the higher resolution levels and has identified what we need to do to sustain such investigation over a 10 week module. This speaks volumes for the value of lab reports in identifying both the development and industrial acceptance and suggests that here is a novel investigation which has practical value. Therefore this role has become an element of research in the form of proposals which is invited to seek out the most effective method in the teaching process of engineering students in an environment which is not purely lecture content based. Such proposals may now gain register of copyright against that held in the project in the students name and students who can provide knowledge in the compilation of lab report standards. The generation of such studies and their passage through the review process illustrates what was described earlier, that is to say that good work begets good work.
Along with these capabilities, we could use disk and access monitoring. This is an easy approach which is often used in large office networks where the security of data transfers is of the utmost importance. By using continuous monitoring of when and who a disk either particularly leaves a computer or a specific piece of data is modified, we can ensure to keep a secure working environment that minimizes the risk of data mishandling and potential violations of the Data Protection Acts.
Secondly, we could use error-detection software in which, during a data transfer, if an error occurs which is not password-oriented, the transfer will stop and the error type and location will be reported. This will allow the user to understand the contents and the reason why it has stopped.
The assessment type refers to the method used to check that our data has been transferred and stored correctly. For example, we could use a combination of data inquiry skills, such as opening files or disks in a hex editor or running hash totals and data transfer logs. Also, we could use access controls, such as read or write verifications, ensuring that the data written is the data read.
– The source of the data. – The destination of the data. – The date and time of the transfer. – The method of transfer (was it a network, an overwriting of existing data, etc.). – The type of data. – The information supplied on the data’s integrity and security. – The person transferring the data. – The person receiving the data.
By now, the submission will have been tested for viruses and tampering. However, we also need to make sure that the data has been transferred and stored correctly. For this reason, whenever data is transferred between any two points (whether it is a disk, USB key, email, etc.), the following information should be recorded:
One noticeable aspect of the lab reports is that each of them has a specific structure that must be followed. It goes without saying then, that an effective lab report abstract will follow this particular sequence of steps. First, the lab report abstract will explain the importance of the objective – what you have done. Next, the abstract will indicate the methods and procedures that you have used in your work. Then, the results of the experiment are provided. These are then followed by the discussion and conclusion. The lab report abstract will be placed right at the beginning of the report, just after the title. This is the first, and sometimes only, part of the abstract that people will read and, as such, must be a clear, concise summary of the contents of the abstract. The lab report structures present in all of the reports are: title, abstract, introduction, method, results, discussion, and references. This is the definitive lab report and is used in a lot of areas like chemistry, computer science, and sometimes the biological and environmental science. This type introduces the scientific objective, method, and the materials. However, in the English and other humanities subjects, the structure of the lab report may differ. The hourglass narrative structure combined with judicious use of white space, headings, figures, and bulleted lists and its brevity makes the IMRaD abstract structure a particularly good one for use in the sitting LionSH. The white space can help to overcome the feeling of anxiety that many students report when having to synthesize their work, possibly for the first time, and present this synthesis to others. As a practicing scientist, with experience of many forms of scientific writing, I am not solely an anonymous author of a model lab report. I am a co-writer with the students of this report. My job is to produce a mediation between the genre of scientific report writing and the pedagogical goals of the course. For this course, students receive credit for taking part in the investigation and in completing the writing exercise. The interface between introductory materials and the start of collaborative activities also marks significant pedagogical intention. Of the many hundreds of different kinds of abstract structures, this is the only one that keeps appearing and reproducing itself over the years and generations in new scientific communities.
Firstly, lab report writing is a complex activity that requires a lot of time and effort. You need to be able to explain your work in a methodical way, which not only helps other people to understand what you were doing, but it also helps you to understand your own work better. The key is to be clear. You should always use the information gathered in the laboratory to communicate what you know. A good way to get on top of the processes of writing you will need to use is to find and follow an example. This way, you will be able to concentrate on one thing at a time. It often helps to explain your methods and the reasons behind them; it makes your work more understandable. The methods section should clearly show the reader how you carried out your study. It should use different paragraphs for different processes and it should also use diagrams and tables where necessary. When writing about your results, it is common to compare them to other people’s findings. This makes it easier to refer to the evidence that you used to form your opinions. Your discussion of the results should lead the reader to the conclusions that you have drawn. For example, you might find that the results of the study justify the conclusions that are drawn; this would mean that you have provided solid evidence for your point of view. However, the importance of the research is stressed during the conclusion, showing that you appreciate the bigger picture. A good example of a title will be “Investigating the phototropism of a plant stem”. This title has a clearly shown main topic and it suggests that the writer will use the process of science to explore and explain the natural world.
In summary, writing lab reports is important, whether at university or college, as they help to prove or refute a concept. It allows for the analysis of knowledge critically and use your general understanding to influence a change in practice. When writing up the procedure, you must report what was done and what was found. In the field, that’s what you will test: a conclusion, based on “accurate observations.” However, scientists in the field may have failed to practice safety measures- it’s the perfect place to say, “Better pre-lab and lab equipment management and cleanliness would avoid this.” or “The procedure is repeated as indicated, but the drop of liquid may have been contaminated.” I hope this article helps to focus on the important areas and realise that there may not be a correct answer: it’s all relative. If it’s critical, say specifically how you will change the hypothesis to account for your new findings. My class uses a “stapleless” lab- that is, the experiment will yield results that everyone knows beforehand, with no mishaps. It is an exercise in futility; until your report is written you have complete freedom to say how the knowledge will fit in the future, which may lead to amendments and improve evolution of your lab. Critical writing is a skill that’s most central to the process of learning in the chemical sciences. It is often linked to the technical “standard methods”, but these forces you to adapt and use all your understanding and often whatever equipment or technique is available…. And remember- the people at Mark Place Street respect a good writer, even if you don’t! However, it is a skill vital to your progress through your studies and into your working life. And yet, what about materials? Would cobalt and iron still undergo the same reaction? What about sodium silicate? These questions can be developed and used to change hypothesis, with a view to eventually producing modification to complete the knowledge. It is this manipulation and analysis of knowledge in a safe environment that helps us to progress and whether we repeat the experiment in the future. Plagiarism, and how to avoid it. The important area of discussion in the lab report is the critical interpretation of the results. This is the building block of knowledge- it is the sort of practice we need in medication and we should strive to practice under deco, aseptic conditions in the lab, with due consideration to the variables. We must remember that science isn’t imperishable; it’s not guaranteeing the truth. It talks about most reliable knowledge at present. Science is a relay race for discovery. And where else can we spread new understanding and turn addiction into television and beauty into cash? That’s beauty of science – liberties, varieties, creativity, changing, sceptical query, critical knowledge, inexhaustible….. and remember Mr White’s favourite Chemistry prizes- a couple of well-built units and some new semi-mobiles! Thanks for putting up with the almost unendurable torment of my forays into these articles. Alun,P (2007). Guide for new staff-“Using writing, report writing and critical analysis” Unpublished document. Cardiff College University. Whall, K. (1993) Science and technology. Pergamon Press. Thanks to Alun, Mr Crebich, prof rubes and my father for help and critique with this article.
