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It doesn’t matter whether you are in high school or in college; if you study microbiology, you will definitely need to prepare various lab reports. Such assignments are totally different from ordinary essays. They have numerous features that should be taken into consideration.
Microbiology lab reports should be written in past tense with the use of passive voice. Scientific writing requires clear language without any ambiguity. Students should strictly follow the guidelines suggested by professors. They should also properly structure their reports.
This article is devoted to the main peculiarities of microbiology lab reports. It will describe lab report steps and offer useful tips for the creation of a good microbiology paper.
What Are The Main Peculiriaties Of Microbio Lab Report
A microbio lab report is a paper that shows:
- how well you performed the experiment
- your understanding of the process
- how well you can convey the information
- the results you get and the ability to evaluate them
Such papers are usually written in the past tense with the use of passive voice. They include such section as:
- title
- introduction
- methods and materials
- results
- conclusion
- references or bibliography section
The main purpose of these reports is to thoroughly describe the experiments that have been performed.
Useful Tips For Preparation Of A Good Microbiology Laboratory Report
writing down some facts for microbiology lab report
Here are the things students should focus on when writing a lab report in microbiology:
Check Multiple Unknown Lab Report Microbiology Samples
Start with checking various samples available online. It will help you get acquainted with the structure and main features of such papers. Pay attention to the details and write down some advantages and disadvantages you notice in students’ works. It will help you avoid such mistakes in your own report.
Check The Structure Of A Microbiology Report
As mentioned above, most microbiology assignments are divided into several parts and include:
- title
- introduction
- methods and materials
- results
- conclusion
- references or bibliography section
Still, the requirements vary, and it is essential to draw attention to what your instructor says. In most cases, students don’t need to write an introduction, and they begin their reports with a purpose statement.
Let’s have a closer look at the main parts and check what they should include:
Title
Undoubtedly, the title should be short and precise. It explains the purpose of your experiment.
Introduction
This section is not obligatory, and not all instructors ask students to write it. Still, if your assignment says that you need to prepare an introduction, ensure that:
- it is clear and concise
- it doesn’t exceed six sentences
- it describes the outlines of your work and explains its significance
Purpose Statement
As the majority of lab reports don’t include the introduction part, papers start with a purpose statement. It briefly explains why the experiment was conducted and states its main objective.
The hypothesis is also mentioned in this part. It describes the outcomes students expect before they start their experiment.
Methods And Materials
plate method used in experiments
Mention all the methods and materials you’ve used throughout your experiment in this section. In most cases, the instructions are provided by your professors. State such things as:
- organisms’ types
- sizes of all the used equipment
- if you use agar, mention its type as well
Check all the data and ensure its accuracy. Write in full sentences and provide an explanation if needed.
Note that methods often are placed in a lab manual. Summarize all the steps and offer a thorough explanation of all the procedures. Basically, the main point is to make this section clear and detailed. It will let other researchers easily replicate the experiment following the guidelines.
Results
Describe the results and state if the hypothesis was confirmed or disproved. The results may include measurements, calculations, tables, and figures.
If your hypothesis wasn’t confirmed, speculate about the possible reasons:
- was the experiment conducted properly
- did you miss any steps
- did you get accurate results and data
Conclusion
This section is also known as discussion, and its main aim is to interpret the meaning of results as well as draw a conclusion. It is essential to overview the results even if the hypothesis wasn’t confirmed.
Sum up the results in several sentences and mention the prerequisites for further research.
References Or Bibliography Section
According to the instructions, you need to prepare either a reference section or a bibliography section. Ensure that you follow the guidelines and properly cite all the materials used in work. Verify that you format them in the required style.
In most cases, microbio lab reports include a bibliography section as such papers rarely cite many sources.
Pay Attention To Language
There is no doubt that scientific works should be written in a clear language without any flowery or ambiguity. Don’t use any language means of expression and make your paper logical and coherent.
Describe the experiment, methods, and results in an objective manner so that readers can easily follow your thoughts.
Use passive voice and past tense throughout the paper to highlight the evidence and facts.
Use Various Figures And Tables
Undoubtedly, it is not the major requirement when it comes to writing microbiology reports. Still, figures and tables will make your paper more reliable and help present plenty of information in summary form.
Remember that figures should be enumerated properly and be clearly labeled. Don’t forget to provide a thorough explanation of all the figures and tables you include in your work.
Write A Clear Result Section
This is the main section that should include specific data measurements. It also should state whether your hypothesis was confirmed or disproved. Usually, the types of results contain such points as:
- measurements
- calculations
- tables
- figures
- plate counts
It is important to explain each detail and provide accurate data and numbers.
Properly Organize Reference Section
Even though lab reports usually don’t have many sources to cite, it is still vital to use a proper format and style:
- include all the information about the sources that were cited in the work
- clarify the citation style that should be used in a report and ensure you format it properly
If you need to include a bibliography section, make sure that you:
- use full and correct citations
- state all studies, reviews, and other material that you mention in the paper
In most cases, students are required to use the Chicago style for a Bibliography section. Note that scientific works shouldn’t include direct quotations. Do you use extracts from other papers? Paraphrase or summarize the main thoughts before inserting the information in your report.
Edit And Proofread Your Final Paper
Sometimes students assume that if they don’t use figurative language, they won’t have any mistakes. Thus, they often skip proofreading and editing when preparing microbiology reports. However, such papers require more attention as they usually include numbers and data.
As soon as you finish your report, leave it for some time and take a rest. Clear your mind before checking the paper again. It will help you evaluate the assignment and easily find inaccuracy and errors.
Conclusion
All in all, writing a microbiology unknown lab report sample is a complex task that takes a lot of work. Students need to read multiple samples, follow the instructions, and meet all the requirements.
It is essential to properly organize the paper and leave time for editing and proofreading. The language should be clear and formal, without any ambiguity. The report should thoroughly explain all the steps of the experiment. It should also describe the methods and materials used and offer a detailed explanation of the results.
Undoubtedly, lots of students wonder if there is a chance to ask for professional help when it comes to writing lab reports. Luckily, there is a huge amount of reliable writing services that can offer such help. They provide high-quality papers for comparatively low prices on short notice. Moreover, students may read some useful articles while waiting for their reports to be written by top professionals.
Nevertheless, remember that it doesn’t matter whether you create a report on your own or ask for help. It is crucial to take care of your assignment in advance if you expect to get a good grade. Ensure that you follow all the instructions provided by your professor and format your paper in a proper way.
