LAB REPORT WRITING WORKSHOP - University of RochesterLAB REPORT WRITING WORKSHOP University of Rochester, ECE 111 LAB Presenter: Ben Duncan, Ph.D. COLLEGE WRITING PROGRAM 10/29/09

10/29/09 prepared by B. Duncan/U of R 1

LAB REPORT WRITINGWORKSHOP

University of Rochester,ECE 111 LAB

Presenter: Ben Duncan, Ph.D.COLLEGE WRITING PROGRAM


1.1 The Functions of the LabReport

• To shed light on previously unexplainedphenomena

• To prove or disprove others' work on a subject• To improve on the efficiency or precision of

others' work• To show others how to duplicate your work for

verifying results• To ponder the meaning of your results within

the context of others' work


1.2 Structure of the Lab Report

Abstract An abbreviated form of the most important parts of the report. Usually the abstract addresses: purpose of theexperiment, given facts and data, assumptions, measured data, and results or conclusions. Details are notincluded.

Objective, Purpose, orIntroduction

Discusses what the experiment hoped to accomplish. Typical aims include: (1) To shed light on previously unexplainedphenomena, (2) To prove or disprove others' work on a subject, (3) To improve on the efficiency or precision of others'work, (4) To show others how to duplicate your work for verifying results, (5) To ponder the meaning of your resultswithin the context of others' work.

Equipment andApparatus

A list of Apparatus used in the experiments is frequently included in student laboratory reports. However, descriptionsare usually not included. Common lab equipment, like stopwatches and scales, are typically excluded from the list.

Sample Calculations Calculations clearly present the equations used with the data. Each section is labeled for easy identification. Results areunderlined and indicated with an arrow drawn from the right margin. Explanations are not included in these calculationssince the steps are self-explanatory. References are included for uncommon equations.

Laboratory Procedure This section discusses the operation that is performed rather than listing the steps for performing the operation.

Data and Calculations Data often includes sketches to identify the symbols that are used. The tables include column headings with units. Thedata is presented in the same sequence that it was collected and each section is clearly identified. An original data sheetmay be included in the Appendix.

Discussion of Results The discussion often begins with a brief summary of the results. All results are clearly identified. The discussion thencompares the results from the different methods of determination. It also discusses the possible causes of irregularitieswith the anticipated results.

Conclusions This section discusses the results with respect to the objectives stated at the beginning of the report. Sometimes,suggestions for further study or improvements may be suggested.

References Lists sources of material for further research by the reader. The citations are alphanumeric and may include pagenumbers after the name of the publisher.


Science/Technical Writing - Logic

Readers will often read non-linearlyRead the abstract, scan the referencesRead the introduction and conclusionScan tables and/or figuresRead the discussion, methods and results

last

Separable, specialized sections areessential!


Remember:

• Few people will closely read the entirelab report, but many will read theabstract.


Objective/Purpose

• statement about the importance orpurpose of the study

• (perhaps brief comment on previous workin the field)

• the hypothesis• benefits of the study should also be

described


Establishing Your NicheEnter into theconversation!!!

What’s been writtenbefore about yourtopic? With what doyou agree/disagree?

What’s new aboutyour own research andwhat does it add to theconversation?


2. LAB OBJECTIVE/

PURPOSE


BREAK IT DOWN!


2.1 Lab Objective Outline

Move 1 Establishing a TerritoryStep 1 Claiming Centrality and/orStep 2 Making Topic Generalization(s) and/orStep 3 Reviewing Items of Previous Research

Move 2 Establishing a NicheStep 1A Counter-claiming

Step 1B Indicating a GapStep 1C Question-raising Step 1D Continuing a Tradition

Move 3 Occupying the Niche Step 1A Outlining Purposes and/orStep 1B Announcing Present ResearchStep 2 Announcing Principal Findings


2.2 Task #2

Read the following introduction to achemical engineering lab report. Try tolabel the three moves and then the varioussteps within each move. Remember not allsteps may be used!


Task #2 - Answers

MOVE 1 1-7 STEP 1 1-2STEP 2 3STEP 3 4-7

MOVE 2 8-12 STEP 1B 8-12

MOVE 3 13-14 STEP 1B 13-14


3. RESULTS AND DATACOMMENTARIES


3.1 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

• Provide sufficient background• Introduce the table and locate it for the

reader.• Highlight the key results.• Explain the significance and/or implications of

those key results.


Look over Table 5, read the datacommentary that follows, and thenanswer the questions.


1. Where does the data commentary actually start?2. What are the purposes of sentences 1 and 2?3. Which sentence contains the author’s key point?4. The author has chosen to comment only on e-mail

attachments. Why? Do you think this is enough? If not,what else should be discussed?

5. E-mail attachments constitute 87% of the total. Insentence 4, this is expressed as “nearly 9 out of 10.”What do you think about this and about the followingalternatives?– about 90%– just under 90%– as much as 87% of all– nearly all


Structure of Data CommentaryLocation + indicative summary - Linking as-clause + highlight(3) Table 5, above, shows the most common sources of infection for U.S.

businesses. (4) As can be seen from the first row, in a great majority ofcases, the entry point of the virus infection can be detected, with e-mailattachments being responsible for nearly 9 out of 10 viruses. (5) This veryhigh percentage is increasingly alarming, especially since with a certainamount of caution such infections are largely preventable. (6) Inconsequence, e-mail users should be wary of all attachments, even thosefrom trusted colleagues or known senders. (7) In addition, all computersused for e-mail need to have a current version of a good antivirus programwhose virus definitions are updated regularly. (8) While it may be possibleto lessen the likelihood of downloading an infected file, businesses arestill vulnerable to computer virus problems because of human error andthe threat of new, quickly spreading viruses that cannot be identified byantivirus software.

• Implications


3.3 Location Elements andSummaries

Location Element Summarya. Table 5 shows the points of entry of

computer viruses for U.S. businesses.b. Table 2 provides details of the

fertilizer used.c. Figure 2 plots the two series for the

last five years.d. Figure 4.2 gives the results of the

second experiment.


The passive voice can also be used.

Summary Location Element

a. The most common modes of computer are shown in Table 5.

infection for U.S. businesses

b. The details of the fertilizer used are provided in Table 2.

c. The two series for the last five years are plotted in Figure 2.

d. The results of the second experiment are given in

Figure 4.2.


3.4 Data Commentary Task

Diagrams 6 and 7 provide some datarelated to electrical engineering.Individually, consider what data youmight highlight and what your discussionwill contain. Then, write one datacommentary and compare with the othermembers of your group. Don’t forget toinclude a short background then alocation + indicative summary at thebeginning.


Write your own!


Write your own!


Conclusion

A. Background InformationThis is a somewhat free-standing move that canoccur at any point in the cycle. As its nameimplies, this move is employed by authors whenthey wish to strengthen their conclusion byrecapitulating main points, by highlightingtheoretical information, or by reminding thereader of technical information.


B. Restatement of Results

If there is a quasi-obligatory move inDiscussion section, it is this one.Likewise, KEY results often at the start ofthe conclusion. Evidence suggests, as wemight expect, that it is the starting pointof a cycle – and is only likely to bepreceded by brief background. Readerstypically expect that the strongest resultswill be dealt with in the first paragraphand weaker results in later paragraphs.


C. (Un)expected Outcome

Here the writer comments on whetherthe result is unexpected or not.


D. Reference to PreviousResearch

After background and results, probablythe most common move. There are twomain sub-types or steps: reference forpurposes of comparison with presentresearch and references for purposes ofproviding support for present research.


E. Explanation

This move is particularly common whenthe writer suggests reasons for thesurprising result, or one at odds withthose reported in the literature.


F. Exemplification

Examples are most often used to supportan explanation (Hopkins and Dudley-Evans, 1988).


G. Deduction and Hypothesis

This move is used to make a claim(however qualified) about thegenerulizability of some or all of thereported results.


H. Recommendations

The writer advocates the need for furtherresearch or makes suggestions about possiblelines of future investigation.


Task #4

Read the following Conclusion section ofan ECE lab report and attempt to labeleach movement and its correspondingpurpose. Pay close attention to thelanguage used, and think of two changesthat you would make to improve thewriting of this section.


(1) In general, the experimental results agree reasonably well with thesimulation predictions. (2) The gain of the hardware implementation was0.5 dB higher than the predicted value of 46 dB. (3) This 0.5 dB deviationcorresponds to a 6% error in the value of vout/vin. (4)The error could becaused by mis-matches between transistors Q1 and Q2 (changing the biascurrent), or by an imperfect SPICE model for transistor Q3. (5) The error islarger than would be expected from measurement error for the testequipment used. 6) While the lower 3-dB frequency of the implementationagreed closely with the simulation result, the upper cutoff frequency of1.2 MHz was significantly larger than the value predicted by thesimulation. (7)The upper cutoff frequency is determined by the parasiticcapacitance of transistor Q3. (8) Apparently the values incorporated inSPICE model were larger than those of the device that was used in theimplementation. (9) Since the amplifier input impedance Rin dependsupon the β of Q3, it is not surprising that the simulated and measuredresults differ from each other. (10) Both results (at 1 kHz) satisfy theprediction of (7), and are reasonable for the transistors used. (11) Somecare should be taken in interpreting Figure 7 at other frequencies. (12)Simulation results show that the impedance is resistive only forfrequencies in the range 300 Hz ≤ f ≤ 3 kHz. (13) At frequencies below orabove this band, the amplifier input impedance is primarily capacitive.(14) At high frequencies in particular, the impedance magnitude is muchsmaller than that predicted by (7).


(15) The design and implementation of a 46 dB, 1.2 MHz bandwidth amplifierhas been presented. (16) Hardware tests verified the performance of theamplifier. (17) While the amplifier performed largely as predicted, somecare is needed in interfacing to the amplifier. (18) The amplifierbandwidth is seen to be sensitive to small capacitive loads at the output(e.g., 13 pF scope probe). (19) Also, the amplifier input impedance variesover several orders of magnitude. (20) The measured 1.2 MHz bandwidthwas achieved only after buffering the output signal and creating a low-impedance input source.

Questions:• Do you think some of the first paragraph should actually appear in the

Discussion section? Which sentences and why?• Look at the average length of the sentences. Are they too long, too short,

or just right?• What two suggestions can you offer to improve this Conclusion?


4.3 Strength of Claim

Unsound policies of the International Monetary Fund (IMF)_____________ the financial crisis.

• _____________ a. contributed to• _____________ b. caused• _____________ c. may have contributed to• _____________ d. were probably a major cause• _____________ e. were one of the causes of• _____________ f. might have been a small factor in


4.3.1 Qualifications and Strength ofClaim

According to our results, impulsive buying is onthe rise. Further, our survey data suggest thatbuying goods to improve one’s self-image isprobably a motivation that plays some role inmost buying behavior, but it might beparticularly important when people makeunplanned, or “spur of the moment” purchases.These unplanned purchases may well beregretted later and can lead to financialdifficulty (Dittmar and Drury, 2000).


Currently, satellite launches cost approximately$10,000 for each pound lifted into space.However, this may soon change as a result ofmicroelectrochemical systems (MEMS) devices,which could greatly reduce the size, weight,power requirements, complexity, and,eventually, the costs of space systems. Forexample, because of MEMS miniaturization it maybe possible to construct a 1kg satellite that ishighly resistant to radiation and vibration andtherefore more reliable than a traditionalsatellite. Preliminary tests of MEMS subjected toaccelerations over 20,000 times gravitationalacceleration have shown promising results (Cass,2001).


4.3.2 Qualifiers

A. Probability

Sleeping 7-9 hours each day will result inbetter academic performance.

Sleeping 7-9 hours each day may result inbetter academic performance.

Sleeping 7-9 hours each day might/couldresult in better academic performance.


StrongerIt is certain that …It is almost certain that …It very probable/highly likely that …It is probable/likely that …It is possible that …It is unlikely that …It is very/highly unlikely that …

Weaker


StrongerThere is a definite possibility that …There is a strong possibility that. …There is a good possibility that …There is a slight possibility that …There is little possibility that …

Weaker


Strong claimThe factory has benefited from the recenttechnology upgrade.The factory seems to have benefited from therecent technology upgrade.The factory appears to have benefited from therecent technology upgrade.It seems that the factory has benefited fromthe recent technology upgrade.It has been said that the factory seems to havebenefited from the recent technology upgrade.

Weak claim


C. Generalization

Children living in poverty have a history of healthproblems.

Children living in poverty tend to have a history ofhealth problems.

Many children living in poverty have a history ofhealth problems.

A majority of children living in poverty have a historyof health problems.

In most parts of the world children living in povertyhave a history of health problems.


D. Weaker Verbs

Finally, claims can be reduced in strengthby choosing a weaker verb. In thesentences below underline the verbmaking the weaker claim.


1. The results indicate/establish that there is a link between smokingand lung cancer.

2. Table 9 suggests/shows that the number of articles written andpublished by nonnative speakers will continue to increase.

3. The latest series of studies question/challenge the conclusions ofmuch previous research.

4. The results given in Figure 4 validate/support the secondhypothesis.

5. The quantities displayed in the table have been assumed/shown tobe about 98% accurate.

6. The test results create/suggest a basis for product modification.7. Changes in ambient temperature may have influenced/distorted

the test results.8. In their earlier work, they failed/neglected to take ambient

temperature into account.9. As shown in Table 3, the new tax laws have encouraged/stimulated

industrial investment.10. Figure 12 depicts/clarifies the relationship between these two

systems.


5. LANGUAGE FOCUS:CONCISENESS


5.1 Avoiding PoetryThese beautiful bonds enable us to increase the concentrations ofcertain chemicals from their raw solutions.These bonds increase the concentrations of certain chemicals fromtheir raw solutions.The results of the experiment demonstrated the soundness of histheory.The results validate his theory.The bad condition of the reactor is such that extensive repairs arerequired.The reactor required extensive repairs.The reason the missile was not launched was due to the fact thatmice had eaten the cables.The missile was not launched because mice had eaten the cables.Since the amplifier input impedance Rin depends upon the β of Q3,it is not surprising that the simulated and measured results differfrom each other.


5.2 Stringy Sentences

STRINGY SENTENCEMany students attend classes all morning, andthen they work all afternoon, and they alsohave to study at night, so they are usuallyexhausted by the weekend.

CORRECTEDMany students attend classes all morning andwork all afternoon. Since they also have tostudy at night, they are usually exhausted bythe weekend.


6. Summary

1. Break it Down! Analyze Writings within theGenre; What is the function of each sentence?

2. Locate the Lab Objective within the LargerIssue

3. Data Commentary includes background,location of data, highlight, and interpretation

4. Conclusion relates KEY data to objective andoffers some explanation or suggestions forimprovement

5. Be concise!


ResourcesBaugh, S.L. (1997). How to Write Term Papers and Reports, 2nd Edition.

Lincolnwood, IL: VGM Career Horizons.

Brazier H (1997) Writing a Research Abstract: Structure, Style and Content.Nursing Standard. 11, 48, 34-36.

Swales, John M. (1996) Genre Analysis: English in Academic and ResearchSettings. (Cambridge Applied Linguistics). Cambridge: CambridgeUniversity Press.

Swales, John and Christine B. Feak, (2004) Academic Writing for GraduateStudents: Essential Tasks and Skills (Second Edition). Ann Arbor:University of Michigan Press.

Swales, John M. and Christine B. Feak. (2000) English in Today’s ResearchWorld: A Writing Guide. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press.


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LAB REPORT WRITING WORKSHOP - University of RochesterLAB REPORT WRITING WORKSHOP University of Rochester, ECE 111 LAB Presenter: Ben Duncan, Ph.D. COLLEGE WRITING PROGRAM 10/29/09

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