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Laboratory Report Evaluation

Physics 208

Laboratory Report Feedback

Name of Student (writer) being evaluated______________________________________

(Reader, please write your name on the bottom of the last page)

1. Are all the sections included?

?   Abstract

?   Introduction

?   Theoretical Background

?   Procedure

?   Analysis

   Conclusions

2. Abstract

1. Does the writer summarize the entire paper in the abstract?

2. Are the results included in the abstract – the actual numbers including uncertainty?

3. Is the question being addressed clearly articulated? 

4. Is the experimental procedure summarized?

5. Does the Abstract exceed 6 sentences?

6. What did the writer do well in writing the Abstract?

7. What could the writer do to improve the Abstract?

3.  The Introduction:

a.       According the Introduction to this paper, what is the question that the experiment is supposed to answer?

b.      Does the writer give a brief overview of the procedure that will be used?

c.       What did the writer do well in the Introduction section?

d.      What can the writer do to improve the Introduction section?

4.  The Theory Section

a.       Are the basic defining equations included?

b.      Can the reader (you) clearly follow the steps involved in the theory?

c.       Does the reader effectively describe the system being discussed in this section?

d.      Is each equation displayed on its own line (equations can be hand-written) and numbered?

e.       What did the writer do well in the Theory section?

f.        What can the writer do to improve the Theory section?

5.  Procedure

a.       Does the Procedure section include a sketch of the experimental setup?

b.      Is there a description of the equipment used?

c.       Does the writer clearly describe the steps used in taking the data?  Would another student be able to repeat the experiment based on the description provided?

d.      What did the writer do well in the Procedure section?

e.       What can the writer do to improve the Procedure section?

6.  Analysis

a.       Does the writer introduce the reader to the data; is it clear to the reader what the data is?

b.      Are graphs clearly labeled (axes including units and a descriptive title).

c.       Are uncertainties included where appropriate?

d.      Does the writer clearly explain how the data was processed?

e.       Does the writer compare results with accepted value where applicable?

f.        What did the writer do well in the Analysis section?

g.       What can the writer do to improve the Analysis section?

7. Conclusion

a.       Did the writer review the purpose of the experiment in the conclusion?

b.      Are the results clearly stated including uncertainty?

c.       Are the results appropriately compared with accepted value?

d.      What did the writer do well in the Conclusion section?

e.       What can the writer do to improve the Conclusions section?

8. Quality of writing

a.       Does it appear that the writer edited the report for grammar, spelling, punctuation, etc?

b.      Is the writing clear and easy to follow?

c.       Is the writing concise, without fluff?

d.      What did the writer do well as far as the overall report?

e.       What can the writer do to improve the overall report?

Name of reader_____________________________________________________