Activities - Exercise 2: Write up of Laboratory Experiment (2 weeks, 2 hours per week)

The primary aim of this exercise is to teach the undergraduates how to write-up laboratory work and projects. Students have the greatest difficulty with writing. This also offers the opportunity to discuss other forms of written presentation such as technical reports, theses, conference papers and popular articles. Each Exposition Group Leader will no doubt have their own views on the relative merits of different styles of written documents.

In the Exposition Class, a considerably higher standard of report should be sought than might be expected of later Laboratory Reports. It will set the tone for report writing not only for undergraduate labs. but for Project Reports and, later, in writing technical reports in industry.

The students are required to write up the results of a laboratory experiment which they have carried out during the term on 'The statical equilibrium of plane frameworks.' This experiment has been replicated virtually.

This virtual experiment can be used to generate data for writing the report if required.

It is suggested that this exercise be tackled in two bites:

Session 1

In the first session, the Exposition Group Leader can discuss different styles of good report writing illustrated with their own ideas and examples of style, grammar etc. Some examples of how this can be done are given below:

Suggestion 1

Ask students to write an outline report on something general such as 'UK Supermarkets'. This is a typically a 15 min activity, which can be done individually, in groups of 4 or by the Leader using a whiteboard to the whole group. Discuss title, content and role of introduction in setting the scene. Headings down to the third level should be used with a given level determining a specific level of generality.e.g.

1. Tesco

1.1 Meat Products

1.1.1 Fresh Meat

1.1.2 Frozen Meat

Work in groups of 4 to establish what makes a good report or swop reports round randomly, give them 10 minutes to read the new report and then get the reader to present what the writer had written. This should be done with no warning. The object of the exercise is to make them realise that a report has to mean something sensible to the reader.

Suggestion 2

In groups of 4, look at a variety of reports and try to find common themes as to what works and what doesn't. The Exposition Leader should bring along a selection of lab reports from different years: e.g. 4th year project report, MPhil, PhD thesis, research papers etc, to show how different approaches suit different aims. Look to see common features and differences. This gets them to see what research is about, and gets them thinking more broadly. The discussion can then lead on to the outline of the Statics Experiment Report based on the supervisor's copy of the Statics experiment document provided. This session could occur, if necessary, before the experiment is undertaken but should be followed by the students writing their individual reports as a first draft (not in the final lab booklet provided).

Preparing the Draft Report

Get the students to bring along their experimental/virtual experiment results. Set the scene by pointing out that there are a number of different ways of interpreting the experiment. Talk them through what they are getting over, and who they are addressing in their written report. Talk about how the practice relates to the theory.

  • The summary should read well on its own;
  • The introduction should set the scene;
  • The main body should include adequate introductory material and a clear statement of the objectives; these should not be relegated to an appendix, thereby interrupting the flow of reading;
  • Avoid the diary style of writing: "At 9 am I loaded the structure….";
  • Avoid use of the first person in writing, i.e. don't personalise the report;
  • Explain the calculations that are made;
  • Use Tables to present the results. Don't write out every single calculation like in a Maths exam.

Conclusions are also difficult. Think about 'what have we learned' in terms of material properties and selection. Nothing 'new' should appear in the Conclusions. Also consider experimental errors. Good treatment of experimental statistics may be beyond first-year students but is a topic that might well be discussed during Exposition.

The report can be addressed in more than one way, depending on what they think the practical is about. Show them the importance of using prose rather than bullet points. If the actual experimental values obtained are important, then these need to be included in an Appendix.

The discussion can then lead on to the outline of the Statics Experiment Report based on the supervisor's copy of the Statics experiment document provided. This session could occur, if necessary, before the experiment is undertaken but should be followed by the students writing their individual reports as a first draft (not in the final lab booklet provided).

Session 2

Students are asked to bring two copies of their draft reports to this session. Pairs of students may usefully be asked to criticise each other's draft report. They might otherwise working in Groups of 4 to swap reports, so the session becomes a 'do-it-yourself workshop' to get feedback from their peers.

Some Leaders will feel that this must be supplemented by their own criticism of the drafts. This may not take a full two hours and another activity can be included. Students should then follow this by preparing their final report (either in the booklet provided or with a similar cover-sheet) for you to assess.

Students are allocated one 'week off', from exposition during the term. The allocation of when this is will depend on the timing of their experiment. The 'week off' should be timed to allow them to prepare the final report. Report marks are allocated evenly between draft and final. Go through a good report with them, once they have finished the final one. Get detailed feedback on this and advice for the future.

Resources