Lab Report Format and Expectations

The following is intended to aid students in the Hydrology (CWR 4101) class to produce a well-conceived written laboratory report. A successful laboratory report will allow another engineer to reproduce the results. Each person must do an original report, no duplication. All reports must be typed. All work must be your own. Failure to do original work will result in a grade of "F" and other possible disciplinary action. Lab reports must include the following with each category being assessed a maximum point total as indicated.

Cover Page (5 points)

The cover page must include the following: class letters and name; lab section number; instructor's name; lab number; name of laboratory; date submitted; person submitting the report.
Introduction and Objective (15 points)

Describe in a clear and concise manner (at least half a page) exactly what you are intending to demonstrate and/or determine and why.

Procedure (15 points)

Present all steps required to produce the results such that another engineer can reproduce the work. This should be done in a clear and concise manner, which flows from one section to the next. It is to the student's discretion on which format to use, i.e., bullets, paragraph, numbers, etc. DO NOT COPY THE PROCEDURE FROM THE LAB MANUAL! You must explain in your own words what you did to perform this lab.
Results (30 points)

A write-up of and inclusion of all major results, briefly and clearly. All Figures and Tables must be properly labeled. This will be graded on accuracy and presentation. Note: when a reader of your laboratory report gets to the results section, they should know what they are looking for (what are the major results?). The major results should stand out.

Discussion and Conclusion (15 points)

Discuss the implications of what has been presented. Describe what has and can be gained from this exercise. Draw conclusions from the results and experience obtained while performing the lab. Note: It could be to the student's advantage to introduce new (or old) ideas that will facilitate the learning experience with certain labs. This can NOT be done in three or four sentences, rather it will take three to five paragraphs. It is required that you fully explain what you learned from the lab exercise and what could be learned by offering new ideas/suggestions for future work.

Miscellaneous (20 Points)

This includes Technical Writing Style, Grammar, Appendix, and List of References as needed per laboratory report. Note: an Appendix contains documentation that supports the results section. Sample calculations should be shown in the appendix. Data, supporting plots, spreadsheet output, and computer printouts are included in the appendix.

Total (100 points)
Extra Credit

Extra credit will be assigned for selected labs. Although, if a student is not satisfied with his/her performance and feels that they may need more points, it is suggested by the instructor to research a new topic that may be useful information for other students. Conditions: 1) These assignments have to be approved by the instructor before they are attempted. 2) These assignments will not be accepted during the last week of the semester.
Frequently Asked Questions

When are labs due?
Labs are due at the next lab session unless noted otherwise.

What happens if labs are late?
Ten points will be deducted for each day the lab report is late, up to 50% of graded score.

What happens if I miss a lab?
Since each lab is offered multiple times, check with the instructor to see if you can attend an alternate lab section. However the instructor reserves the right to subtract points (15 points) from the lab based on the student missing the lab.

How long should my lab be?
Do not hand in a lab with the "Kitchen Sink" thrown in. Say what you need to say in a clear and concise manner with no filler. Therefore, there is not a set length, but quality will win over quantity. However, please follow the guidelines for each section to ensure full completion of the lab report.
AutoCAD Assignments

A list of basic commands will be provided for each of the laboratory assignments that require an AutoCAD drawing. This will be done to aid those students that have little or no experience with AutoCAD. The command list will accumulate from assignment to assignment, and it is assured that all of the required drawings can be produced using it. Therefore, it is strongly advised that the student become proficient in the use of this resource.