How to write a scientific report
Oliver Allinson
What is a scientific report?
Who will use a scientific report?
Just like non chronological reports, scientific reports are broken down sections! There are 10 sections in a scientific report!
1. Aim
2. Hypothesis
3. Constant
4. Variable
5. Equipment
6. Safety
7. Method
8. Diagram
9. Results
10.Conclusion
Can you memorise them? Have a go!
How to write the - Aim
All scientific reports are written in the ‘passive’ tense. This means they do not use any personal pronouns like, ‘we’ ‘us’ ‘they’.
Instead we can use sentences like:
Aim
E.G – ‘The aim of this experiment is to find out which material is the best insulator..’
‘The aim of this experiment is to calculate the rate at which heat energy escapes containers covered in different materials…’
Good
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Aim�
E.G ‘ This experiment will assess which of these materials, bubble wrap, polythene, aluminum foil and cotton is the most effective at keeping a container of water warm…’
E.G ‘ This experiment will assess which material is better at keeping a container of water warm…’
Or
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Aim - SC
How to write the – Hypothesis
But be careful!!!!!! Remember not to use personal pronouns! You must write in the passive tense!
Discuss with your partner … how might you start your hypothesis?
Hypothesis
Which one of these could you use to start your hypothesis?
.
We believe….
The hypothesis is…
Our researchers believe…
I think…
How to write the – Hypothesis
‘The hypothesis is that the cotton will keep the water warmer for longer than the other materials.’
‘The hypothesis is that the cotton will be the most effective insulator and will therefore be the material that keeps the water warmer for longer than the other materials.’
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Hypothesis - SC
‘The hypothesis is that the cotton will be the most effective insulator and will therefore be the material that keeps the water warmer for longer than the other materials.’ Cotton is the main material used by human beings to keep warm and because of this, is already proven to be a good insulator.
Excellent
How to write the ‘constant’ section of your report!
For example:
If we conducted the heat loss experiment in different containers, wrapped in different materials, filled with different liquids, kept in different places and measured them with different thermometers; what would we be testing?
How to write the ‘constant’ section
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To make sure this experiment is fair, the following items in this experiment will stay the same…
To ensure that the test remains controlled and fair, the following aspects of this experiment will remain constant…
The constant is written in future tense!
How to write the ‘variable’ section
How to write the ‘variable’ section
The materials that the containers will be wrapped in will be changed.
This experiment will vary the type of materials used as insulators. The materials that will be changed include; cotton, bubble wrap, polythene and aluminum foil.
The purpose of this experiment is to assess which material is the most efficient insulator. Four of the five containers will be wrapped in one of the materials mentioned above and the loss of heat will be measured periodically from each.
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Excellent
The variable is written in the future tense
How to display your list of equipment
For example:
5 x glass beaker (900ml)
5 x Thermometer
2.5l hot water
Remember to make sure you write the quantity first
How to write the – Safety Precaution
Do you know what an imperative verb is? Can you think of some examples?
Make sure the container holding the boiling water is kept on a flat surface.
Keep water away from electric sockets.
Don’t place experiment containers in a place where they can be knocked over.
Wear eye protection.
Ensure children are supervised by an adult.
How to write a Method
Lets have a look at some examples!
What do you think a method is? What is the purpose of the method and why does it help the reader? Discuss!
The method is a list of step by step instructions to tell your reader exactly what to do / exactly what you did! This part is written after you have conducted your experiment!
How to write a Method
A method includes lots of different language features! An excellent method must include:
.Imperative verbs
.Time connective words�.Time connective phrases
How to write a method!
What to include in your diagram
What do we need to include in the diagram section of your report?
Your diagram must include drawings showing your reader how you set out your experiment. All of your drawing must include labels and must be draw with a ruler! and Your diagram must include labels to show your reader exactly how to set out the experiment. You can include a glossary on your diagram marking unknown words with a *
What to include in your diagram
How to show your results!
How to write a conclusion
Tell the reader the results of the experiment.
Suggest reasons for the results of the experiment.
Start your conclusion by saying if the hypothesis was correct or not.
Suggest any future questions that may now need to be answered because of this experiment
The results of the experiment show that the hypothesis was not correct. 30 different temperature recordings were taken over 60 minutes and the results show that container 1 (wrapped in bubble wrap) had the warmest water at the end of the experiment (37oC). The water in container 3 (wrapped in aluminum) was the coolest (21oC).
The water in the container without any insulation was the second coolest at (230c) and the water in the container wrapped in polythene was 26oC and the container wrapped in cotton at 30Oc. This clearly shows that bubble wrap is a more effect insulator and that aluminum is a conductor of heat energy.
This report concludes that the reason the bubble wrap was an effective insulator was not due to the material (plastic) but instead due to structure of the material which trapped air. Therefor air mixed with plastic is the best insulator. A further experiment would be to find out if a combination of materials would better at insulating heat energy.