Years 7-10 - 1. Researching, Writing and Presenting Information - A How To Guide

General Information about Writing Practical Reports - Years 7 -10

When you carry out an experiment you write a practical report to describe what you did and what you found out.
Your report needs to be written so that other people can repeat the experiment for themselves or can adapt the experiment to test other ideas.
Practical reports are not to be written in the first person, that is, you should not use I, we, the group etc. throughout the entire report. Instead it is better to write in the third person eg. “this was done”.
Reports should always start on a new page and be clearly set out.

This is written at the top of the page and is a descriptive title of the experiment.
Include the date on which the experiment was performed on the top right hand corner of your page.

The background information of an experiment tells the reader the theory behind the experiment. It may explain how and why something occurs.
It should be written in paragraph form and answer any questions given to you by your teacher based on previous research or study.
It is important that the information you present is in your own words and is not copied directly out of a text book, encyclopedia or from the Internet. Reference your sources correctly using the St Clare's College Referencing Guide.
Sometimes a diagram or figure can help you explain the theory behind the practical, or formulae. If you put a figure in it needs a title and source.

The aim of the experiment describes what is going to be investigated. It is usually only about one to two sentences and outlines the purpose of the experiment giving specific details.

The hypothesis is a statement that expresses what the scientist thinks will happen. It is a short statement that does not include the first person (not I, we). For example “The water will boil at 100oC.”

Gives a list of the items, which you have used or will use to complete the experiment. It is written in point form. It does not include things such as your notebook or pens/pencils.
Must include quantities and concentrations used.

List the potential hazards and how they are going to be minimised with reference to safety equipment where necessary.
This can include safe behaviours specific to the practical task.

This section should include how the experiment is set up and run.
It should be written as a stepwise and sequential procedure.
It should be written in past tense and passive voice.
It should include when to record your results.
Wherever appropriate the method should include a scientific diagram of how the equipment was set up and should be referred to in the method.
If hand drawn, the diagram must always be in pencil and two dimensional.
All straight lines must be ruled and all apparatus must be labeled.

A careful analysis and interpretation of results which may include and demonstrate:

Good understanding of the scientific principles on which the investigation was based;
Consideration of relevance, improvements, applications and further experiments which could be undertaken; originality and/or creativity;
Errors and ways to improve the investigation.

Your conclusion should be a summary statement of one to three sentences in length.
It should refer to whether the aim was met and whether the results support the hypothesis.
Your conclusion does not have to be scientifically correct, but it must reflect what was found out by doing the experiment.