Lab Report Template

————————————————- [Overtype title of experiment here] ————————————————- Experiment conducted on [overtype date of experiment here] ————————————————- ————————————————- ————————————————- Module title: EUC_4_005 Design and Practice ————————————————- Occurrence Number: [Overtype your occurrence Number here] ————————————————-

Lab Group Number: [Overtype your lab group number here] ————————————————- Course: [Overtype name of course here] ————————————————- ————————————————- Student Name: [Overtype your name here] ————————————————- Student Number: [Overtype student number here] [overtype month and year here] London South Bank University Department of Urban Engineering Faculty of Engineering, Science and the Built Environment 103 Borough Road, London, SE1 0AA www. lsbu. ac. uk Contents

The tables of contents for main text, tables and figures below are created by field codes. Do not edit them, but press F9 to update them. This red text is non-printing text Contents2 List of Tables2 List of Figures2 List of Appendices2 Summary3 Chapter 1Introduction4 Notes on writing the report4 Notes on using the template4 Chapter 2Apparatus and experimental procedure6 ApParatus6 Experimental Procedure6 Chapter 3Calculations and results7 Chapter 4Analysis and Discussion8 Chapter 5Conclusion9 References10 List of Tables Table 1. 1 This is table title style5 List of Figures Figure 1. This is figure title style5 List of Appendices Type below the Appendix letter and title of appendix for any appendices you have created in the manner as per the example below. If you have not used any Appendices, delete this part of the contents. This red text is non-printing text Appendix ATitle of Appendix A Summary You need to provide a structured summary of no more than 200 words. Write up to two sentences against each of the parts of the abstract as indicated below. Aim of the experiment: summarise the aim of the experiment Methodology: the equipment and methodology employed

Results: key results obtained Conclusion: your thoughts on what you achieved Introduction This chapter should explain the aims and objectives of the laboratory experiment and then briefly highlight the theory and background of the subject, and the relevancy and possible applications of the experiment. Refer to and cite relevant references. You should provide an overview of what is to come in the rest of the report in the final paragraph. You should save a copy of this template for reference purposes as it provides instructions on how to use the template.

You should then use the template by overtyping. The rest of this chapter provides instruction on the use of the template. You should print a copy of the template as it now stands and this will from your ‘instruction manual’ for using the template. The you can overtype into the template. Notes on writing the report The laboratory report must use this template, be readable, informative and supported by high quality diagrams, graphs, tables as required. Write the report in the passive voice (as you have been taught in communications classes. Pay close attention to grammar and spelling.

Use the past tense for describing the test that was undertaken, and the present tense for the outcomes and conclusions, again, as you have been taught in the communications classes. Always complete your report in good time and give it a very good proof read before submission. Although the laboratory data, and maybe some laboratory observations, are the same for all members of your laboratory group, make sure that the report represents your own thoughts, and in particular, the calculations and results, discussion and analysis, and conclusions should be your very own.

Do not copy anything from either the laboratory sheets, other people or other sources. This is theft (also called plagiarism) and will not be tolerated. You should never need to include quotes from other sources. We do not usually do this in technical writing. If, however, you think you have to copy a sentence from somewhere else, then you should make clear that it is copied by putting it in speech marks and quoting the reference source and include it in the list of references in the references section. Notes on using the template Styles

This template uses styles The template uses styles and the following list summarises the names and specification of each style: Chapter heading (Style: Heading 1): verdana 12pt bold block capitals, keep with next line. Subheading (Style: Heading 2): verdana 10pt bold block capitals, keep with next line. Subheading (Style: Heading 3): verdana 10pt bold, keep with next line. Abstract text (Style: normal): verdana 10pt single line spacing. Main body text (Style: numbered para): verdana 10pt 1. 5 line spacing, paragraph numbers, one line spacing at end of paragraph. Bullet points (Style: bullet points: verdana 10pt 1. line spacing. Table text (Style: Table): verdana 9pt single line spacing. Figure title (Style: Figure Title): verdana 10pt bold, keep with next line. Table title (Style: table Title): verdana 10pt bold, keep with next line. Margins 2. 5cm all round. Page number at the bottom centre of each page. Styles are selected from the boxes in the home tab. Chapter numbers are generated automatically. Table and figure numbers need to be typed in manually. It is usual to number them with the chapter number followed by a full stop followed by a consecutive number within each chapter.

To work with styles, you should work in WORD with the paragraph mark (¶) showing. Losing the paragraph number may occur if you hit the carriage return twice. Simply select the text where the paragraph number has been last and reselect the style “numbered para”. Tables and Figures To insert a table use the usual ‘Table’ option from the ‘insert’ menu, then select the table and convert it to the ‘Table’ style. To look neat, ensure the margins of the table are within the margins of the text and carefully choose which borders to mark with lines. Use ‘Table Title’ style for table titles. Table 1. 1 This is table title style | Description| Description| Row title| Data| Data| Row title| Data| Data| Total| total| Total| Figure titles use the Figure title style. The paragraph the figure is inserted against should be in ‘Normal’ style. Figure 1. 1 This is figure title style It is best to centre the figure, and to size it so that it is within the margins of the text. Note that every table and figure should be introduced in the text before it occurs. It should then be commented on and evaluated in the text after it has occurred.

You are the writer, you cannot expect the reader to interpret the tables and figures: that is your job as the writer. Apparatus and experimental procedure ApParatus List and describe the apparatus and other relevant background equipment used to perform the experiment. A diagram or photograph with superimposed names of parts may help. Experimental Procedure You should describe the procedure that you followed to perform the laboratory experiment. In particular, mention differences from the anticipated procedure as described on the handout.

For example, you may need to explain in finer detail than is described on the laboratory briefing sheet the complexity of operation of the laboratory experiment. You should detail the assessments of risk that may have been undertaken before undertaking the laboratory, together with the approach taken to minimise the probability of those risks occurring and the magnitude of any consequences of them occurring. You may also need to illustrate the experimental procedure. Calculations and results This section should report all essential calculations using the appropriate formulae and units.

If there are repeated calculations, then show only one typical calculation on the data obtained from the experiment and present this result with the other results obtained from, for example, your use of a spreadsheet. Any detailed and lengthy calculations should be attached as an appendix. In this section, you are expected to present the data and results in tables, graphs, and the results from spreadsheets as appropriate indicating the major results obtained from such experiment. Analysis and Discussion

In this section, which is the most important part of your report, you should present a thorough examination of your results and the behaviour of the test as well as tested materials, and you should compare that with the theoretical and ‘standard’ values and behaviour stated in related sources such as textbooks and manuals. You should also state the main outcomes in terms of your learning from the experiment and any reflections on your knowledge. Conclusion and Recommendations The conclusions should be brief and stated in concise statements based on your analysis and discussion.

It is important to refer to the major findings and results by values. It may be suitable to mention here any possible improvements to the experiment and its outcome and any possible further work or investigations. References The reference list should contain an alphabetical listing of reference sources according to References should be in accordance with help sheet 30, available from the following url: http://www. lisa. lsbu. ac. uk/helpsheets/hs30. pdf. * * Appendix A Title of the appendix (For raw data, laboratory observations and detailed calculations). *