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TRANSCRIPT
Lab Title
Date
Section Number
Team Number
Name 1 (Team Leader) Name 2
Name 3 Name 4
University of Massachusetts Lowell
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
1. ABSTRACT.............................................................................31.1 General Notes on Formatting........................................................31.2 General Notes on Figures and Tables...........................................31.3 Updating the Table of Contents and List of Figures and Tables....5
2. INTRODUCTION......................................................................52.1 Common Problems in Lab Report Based on Past Experiences......5
3. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH.....................................................74. EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS........................................................75. INTERPRETATION OF RESULTS................................................76. CONCLUSION.........................................................................87. REFERENCES.........................................................................8
APPENDIX A Data SheetsAPPENDIX B Excel Analysis Worksheet Printouts
LIST OF FIGURES
Page
Figure 1. Example Figure and Figure Title.................................................................4
LIST OF TABLES
Page
Table 1. Sample Table Heading and Formatting......................................................4
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1. ABSTRACT
The Abstract should summarize, in a few sentences, the main points and outcome of
the work. The abstract is a standalone section that encompasses the entirety of the
work completed in a paragraph or two.
The next subsections are helpful hints on how to use this template. These subsections
should NOT be included in your laboratory reports.
1.1 General Notes on Formatting
This Word Template uses Arial 12 point font with double line spacing for the text. The
text should be justified. Single line spacing should be used within tables. The page
should have one (1) inch margins. The following sections of your laboratory reports are
Style Heading 1: Abstract, Introduction, Experimental Approach, Experimental Results,
Interpretation of Results, Conclusions, and References. Subsections of these sections
(if needed) can use Style Heading 2 (e.g. 1.1 General Notes on Formatting).
1.2 General Notes on Figures and Tables
Use the [References Tab] above to set up tracking of Table 1 within the paragraph
(Cross-Reference) as well as its caption (Insert Caption) shown above the table. Table
or Figure captions need to be created first, then you can reference them within the text
so that they automatically update the list of Tables and citations within paragraphs as
figures are added/removed. This same feature will also apply to Figure 1, any
equations and Appendices as well. See the following examples for placement of table
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and figure titles on Page 4. You are not allowed to use the figures in the provided
analysis templates for each lab as figures in your reports. Also see Table 1 for an
example of table formatting.
0.010.101.0010.000
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Particle Diameter (mm)
% P
assi
ng
#4 #10 #40 #200GRAVEL CoarseSAND
MediumSAND
FineSAND
SILT/CLAY
Figure 1. Example Figure and Figure Title.
Table 1. Sample Table Heading and Formatting.
Column One Column Two1
(units) Column Three Column Four Column N
1 1 1 1 1
2 2 2 2 2
3 3 3 3 3
4 4 4 4 4
5 5 5 5 5NOTES:
1. Notes are Size 10 Font located in table.
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1.3 Updating the Table of Contents and List of Figures and Tables
After you have completed your reports, you can have Microsoft Word automatically
update your Table of Contents, List of Figures, and List of Tables. Bring the mouse
pointer over the Table of Contents, hit the “minor” mouse button (typically the right
mouse button), and then click “Update Field” on the menu that appears. You will want
to select “Update Entire Table” if another menu appears. Click “OK” and you are done
updating.
2. INTRODUCTION
This section contains the objectives for the work, the need for the measured values (i.e.
the purpose of the lab), and relevant background information.
2.1 Common Problems in Lab Report Based on Past Experiences
The following is a partial list of common student errors that have been observed over
the years. You should try to avoid these, as these errors will adversely impact your
report grade.
Abstract: Needs to state the outcome; a person reads the abstract and then
decides if he/she will read the report.
Proof-Read: spell check finds misspelled words not the wrong word. Without
proof-reading it is very easy to tell what sections were written by different people.
Write in 3rd person: (don’t use “I” or “We” etc.), e.g. “I measured the water
content…” should be written as “The water content was measured…”.
Verb Tense: keep the same throughout (don’t switch between past and present).
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Figures and Tables: Figures are labeled below, while Tables are labeled above.
Figures and Tables should all be referred to in the report before they appear.
Make sure you reference the correct Figure. Incorrect references are as bad as
no references. Refer to and Label Figures in a way other than “diameter vs.
percent finer graph”. Use a meaningful name such as “Grain Size Distribution”
etc.
Don’t “Steal” Figures. List a source (e.g. Figure 3. Casagrande’s Apparatus
(reference)).
Make Neat Tables – Bold, capitalized headings. Be consistent, center the data
too, not just the headings. Be consistent with decimal places and use significant
digits as detailed in ASTM D6026. Do you know the water content accurately to
9 decimal places? Indicate units. Only put a table landscape when there is a
great deal of data and it is necessary.
Appendices should also be referred to in the report.
Focus on presenting and discussing results (not on background and procedure).
Keep formatting and style consistent throughout report.
Use superscripts (e.g. ft3 not ft^3) anywhere they appear.
Equations: use equation editor and label equations, even simple ones. Define
the terms.
Liquid Limit plot is semi-log.
Use “entire” not “whole”.
“Weighted” is not the same as “Weighed” – Use the correct word!
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3. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH
In this section you describe the experimental apparatus and procedure. You should list
equipment used and describe the test procedure. It is highly recommended you
reference the applicable standards (e.g. ASTM D1557) and any deviations from the
standards.
4. EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS
In this section you present your results in a clear and professional manner using tables
and/or figures. Hand written notes can be in an appendix and referred to in the text.
This section is not a spot to just ‘dump’ tables and figures. Only the important and
relevant tables and figures should be presented here with a brief description.
Supporting raw data tables and such should be in an appendix. If it’s not worth talking
about, it’s not supposed to be in the body of the report. Remember, the items in the
appendices should be referred to in the body of the report and need to be relevant.
5. INTERPRETATION OF RESULTS
Interpret and discuss the results in this section. Are the results in agreement with the
theory? If not, explain why or why not. Compare your results to those available in the
literature and provide relevant references. This section is where you elaborate on the
results presented in the Experimental Results section. What do the results mean? Do
they make sense? Why or why not?
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6. CONCLUSION
In this section you will summarize the main points and findings. The conclusion should
have no information that the reader hasn’t seen already but can refer to it by
summarizing the main findings. Keep in mind that this section is mainly what people will
be using from your reports.
7. REFERENCES
Books, papers, standards (ASTM), reports, websites, etc. should be listed here in
alphabetical order using the ASCE author-date referencing format. Go to
http://www.asce.org/Content.aspx?id=29606 for further information. It is also suggested
you go read an article from an ASCE journal in an area of civil engineering you are
interested in to see this reference system in practice. ASCE journals are available from
the Lydon Library. A list of ASCE journals can be found at
http://www.asce.org/PPLContent.aspx?id=17273.
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APPENDIX A Data Sheets
Appendices of report contain raw data, spreadsheet outputs, sample calculations, tables
and graphs which are important for backing up the work but are in the way of the report.
Appendices should also be referred to in the report when needed. Attached are cover
sheets to two (2) appendices that you will need for your laboratory reports. You are
welcome to submit additional appendices if you feel that they are warranted.
APPENDIX B Excel Analysis Worksheet Printouts