Whether you are filling out lab worksheets or writing up entire lab reports, there are a few tips that will help you to create more detailed and professional documents and to assist in grading:
Why Do We Write in Passive Voice?
It’s part of the scientific point of view. We observe and record as objectively as possible, avoiding personal bias by removing ourselves. Using the passive voice also clarifies procedures and descriptions so they can be easily reproduced and compared.
NOTE: DO NOT write reports as directions, such as those given in your lab manual. For example, do not write, "Heat the solution until it boils." Instead, write "The solution was heated to boiling."
What is passive voice?
"Voice" refers to the way the verb is used in the sentence. Remember that a sentence has to have a subject and a verb, and many verbs require direct objects. Here’s an example of active voice:
subject verb direct object
Purdue Pete hit the baseball.
doer action receives action
In passive voice, the subject of the sentence also receives the action. The doer of the action is someone else. Here’s an example of passive voice:
The baseball is hit by Purdue Pete.
receives action action who did the action
200mL of distilled water was poured into a 500 mL beaker.
I poured 200mL of distilled water in a beaker. (active voice)
Pour 200mL water in a beaker. (direction/command)
The covered crucible was mounted on a ring stand.
We put the crucible on a ring stand. (active voice)
Set the crucible on a ring stand. (direction/command)
The temperature was initially measured at 75°C.
I measured the temperature at 75°C. (active voice)
Measure and write down the temperature. (direction/command)
It is understood that all actions were done by the experimenter.
What is Plagiarism?
Be familiar with the Lone Star College System's definition of and consequences of plagiarism and academic integrity standards:
Other useful websites that explain plagiarism and good practices to avoid it:
An interactive tutorial on plagiarism and citing sources.Examine these examples of chemical lab reports. Keep in mind your instructor may request other information in addition to what you find in these basic reports.
An excellent example of a good lab report, with comments to help explain what is expected in each section and grading notes. Sections of a formal lab report are listed below the Lab Notebook format.