Science Lab Format and Rubric

Your lab report should follow this format and be written in INK. Your paper should have the same headings as below.
“Descriptive Lab Title”

Purpose/Objective:
This section should list the purpose(s) or objectives(s) of the lab. That is, it should say what you are trying to find
out or do in this experiment. It must be in complete sentences.

Hypothesis:
This section should state what you think you might find out in the experiment (based on what you already know).
It must be at least one complete sentence formatted as an if/then/because statement that is testable

Experimental Design (This section not always required, depending on the lab)
 Materials:
This should be a list of equipment needed in the experiment.

 Procedure:
This should NUMBERED list of steps explaining how to carry out the experiment (like
instructions in a recipe).

Observations/Data:
This shows the observations and/or measurements you made in the experiment and is often in the form of a data
table. This may be qualitative and/or quantitative observations.

Analysis: (This section not always required, depending on the lab)

This section includes answers to all questions included in the lab as well as any calculations/graphs related to your
data.

Conclusions:
Use complete sentences in paragraph form. The Conclusion should address CER (Claim, Evidence, Repsonse) all
points below. DO NOT talk about feelings or how much you liked/disliked the lab.
o Restate the PURPOSE of the lab, be clear and complete. (P)
o State your HYPOTHESIS (If there is one). (H)
o Make a CLAIM statement about how lab results do, or do not, support the hypothesis (If there is a
hypothesis).
OR
Write a CLAIM, a statement supported by lab evidence/data. (C)
o Back up the claim/hypothesis with EVIDENCE from your lab data.
This means: use data and explain how it supports your claim and explain what the data means. (E)
o REASONING: Uses evidence to highlight how the claim is supported or not supported. Draws
conclusions about interconnected evidence.
o Discuss any possible sources of LIMITATION/ERROR/UNCERTAINTY that may have caused
you to get inaccurate data. Explain how error AFFECTS the lab data. (L)
o CONCLUDING SENTENCE: Tell specifically what was learned from the lab and relate it to the
learning objective. (CS)
Extra for the conclusion:
Application & Interpretation gives ideas for new experiments to further test variables and connects the lab to
real world examples. Two important relevance questions for every lab: Why does it matter? What can we use
this information for in the real world? (A)
Science Lab Format and Rubric
Section Advanced
Title, Purpose, and -Descriptive title
-Clearly defined purpose
Hypothesis -If, then, because testable
hypothesis statement tests
the question set up in the
pre-planning sheet and is
detailed an well thought out
Experimental Design: Includes and identifies:
-Complete list of materials
Materials & Procedure -Detailed, step by step,
numbered procedure.
Observations/Data -Labeled and complete data
tables
Questions/ -Labeled and correctly
plotted graph(s) of data
Analysis -Correctly respond to
questions related to lab
results
Conclusion
Clear statement of the
purpose(s) that relates to the
Purpose (P) learning objective
Restates a clear, testable
Claim
Hypothesis (H) hypothesis
Makes a claim supported by
evidence from lab OR states
Claim (C) whether hypothesis is
supported.
Evidence (E) Correctly uses data and
explain how it supports your
claim and explain what the
data means
How does the Uses evidence to highlight
how the claim is supported
evidence or not supported. Draws
support the conclusions about
interconnected evidence.
claim?(R)
Reasoning
2+ sources of error and
Limitations specifically explains how
error affects lab data.
And Affects (L)
Specifically states what was
learned from the lab and
Concluding relates to the learning
Sentence (CS) objective
Includes detailed
explanation of BOTH of
the following:
-Extensions of the
Application & experiment to further test
Interpretation (A) variables.
-Connects to real world
example and answers the
relevance questions!
Grammar/Mechanics -Strong use of grammar,
mechanics, neatness, and
(G) complete stand-alone
sentences
Comments:
Proficient
-Appropriate title
- Appropriate purpose
statement
-If, then, because testable
hypothesis statement that
address the question(s) on the
pre-planning sheet.
Includes:
- List of materials given
-Step by step, numbered
procedure.
-Data tables provided
-Labeled and correctly plotted
graph(s) of data
- Respond to questions related
to lab results
Incomplete statement of the
purpose(s)
Give a hypothesis
Makes a valid claim OR
states whether hypothesis is
supported, but it’s not
supported by evidence
Includes most some data
Discusses evidence but
doesn’t connect it to claim or
explain meaning
Uses evidence to highlight
how the claim is supported or
not supported.
One source of error and how
it relates to lab data
Gives a general statement of
learning
Includes brief explanation of
one of the following:
-New experiments suggested
-Connects to real world
example and partially answers
the relevance questions.
-Use of grammar, usage,
mechanics, neatness and
complete sentences
Partially proficient/Unsatisfactory Pts
Incomplete/ missing: -Inappropriate title
- Unclear purpose statement
- Incomplete or inappropriate hypothesis.
Incomplete/ missing:
- List of materials
-Step by step, numbered procedure.
Incomplete/ missing: data tables
Incomplete/ missing: graphs and questions
Misinterprets purpose(s)
OR
No mention of purpose
Incomplete hypothesis
OR
No mention of hypothesis
Makes a claim irrelevant to lab
OR
Does not make a claim
Minimal reference to evidence or data
OR
Connects evidence to claim incorrectly
OR
No analysis of evidence
Does not connect the evidence to the claim.
OR
Fails to analyze how the claim is relevant in
the absence of evidence.
Source(s) of error, but does not relate to lab
data
OR
No mention of sources of error.
Concluding sentence does not reflect learning
OR
No concluding sentence
Mentions examples of one of the following:
-New experiments suggested
-Connects to real world example
OR
No application given
Fails to answer the relevance questions.
-Poor use of grammar, mechanics, neatness
and sentences
Total Points