Writing a paper in the Physical Sciences such as Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Mathematics is based primarily on the use of the Scientific Method. The Scientific Method is a method by which you can continually test and expand on your findings. When writing a paper in the Physical Sciences, you will be dealing mainly with empirical data, which is data that is capable of being proved or disproved and is derived through observation or direct experiences. Most of this data will also be quantitative, or numerical data. When writing a paper in the physical sciences it is important to remember the Scientific Method since you will probably be asked to prove theories or other known experiments.

What is the procedure for the Scientific Method?

1. Make Observations. Note all the details about the subject matter being studied.

2. Question your observations and look for patterns and relationships between the data that you have collected.

3. Formulate a tentative hypothesis or generalization about the subject that you are going to explore that will explain your previous observations.

4. Collect evidence to support your hypothesis through controlled experimentation and direct observation.

5. Reformulate your hypothesis based on the evidence you have found and the things that you can assume based on this evidence.

6. Test your reformulated hypothesis further.

7. Analyze the results of your experiments and observations.

8. If the hypothesis you have formed proves to be true, them develop a theory to explain why your hypothesis is true. If your hypothesis turns out to be false, then either make an alteration to it, or start over.

The most common thing that you will be asked to write in a physical science class will be a lab report. Here are some guidelines for writing lab reports.

Writing a Lab Report

• It is hard to define a general format for a lab report because it will vary based on course, professor and type of research or experiment performed. The basic format of a lab report however, will contain a title page, an abstract, introduction, methods and materials, results, discussion, conclusion and references sections.

• The title page includes the name of the lab experiment , your name and the names of your lab partners, the date, your professors name and any other information that your professor specifies.

Abstract

• Your abstract will summarize your entire report and give the basic content of the experiment.

• Your abstract should be one concise paragraph containing about 100-200 words.

• The abstract tells the reader the purpose of the experiment, the techniques used, the results you obtained and your conclusions.

• Remember to write the abstract last, after you have written the whole report so you can include everything within the report.

Introduction

• In the Introduction to your lab report, you should present the subject of your report and give basic background information about the experiment.

• Explain what kind of experiment is to be performed and its purpose or significance.

• Summarize relevant research that you have done so that your reader can understand the experiment and your rationale behind performing it.

Methods and Materials

• This section can be a comprehensive list, or a rewritten copy of your lab notes.

• Make sure you list all materials used as specifically as possible. For example, give the species name of the plant or animal that your performed the experiment on.

• Make sure you include all the steps that you performed, and list them in the order that you did them.

• Make sure to use quantitative data wherever possible. This will make your report more exact and credible.

Results

• In the results section you need to present the actual findings of your experiment.

• You should explain each main point first, before using all the quantitative data. Explain first what the result was, and then show how the numbers contributed to that result.

• Include all relevant graphs and charts in this section. Remember to include all titles, legends and labels required for interpreting the graphs and charts.

Discussion

• In the Discussion section you must explain, analyze and interpret your results as well as fully discuss the experiment.

• It is in this section that you should explain any problems, surprises or errors that occurred during your experiment.

• Keep in mind that this is one of the most important parts of your lab report because it will show if you know how to interpret your results or not.

Conclusion

• Analyze how your results relate to other experiments done. Like in a literature paper, go beyond what you have simply stated to make connections in a broader realm.

• Form conclusions from the results and discussion sections that you have already written and explain those conclusions.

• It is here that you can state any criticisms of the experiment, how it could be done better etc.

• You can also tell how your results could be interpreted in another way. There may be several options.

References

• Make sure to reference all material that you got from another source, whether it was another experiment, help in interpreting your data etc.

• You need to ask your professor about the preferred documentation format.

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