This website is intended to be used as a resource for writing research style biology lab reports.
The guidelines given here are the same guidelines you will follow when you describe original research as a practising biologist. They are a combination of accepted practices for scientific report writing, and simple tips for clear writing.
While different instructors have slightly different guidelines for writing lab reports, the general guidelines on this website provide an overview of effective writing practices.
Former University of Regina undergraduate student and current science journalist, Andrea Anderson offers this advice:
Every experiment. Each process and protocol. Species, new and known. The biological insights and investigations you undertake as an undergraduate—and beyond—are built on information passed on by others. Those researchers had the curiosity and know-how needed to discover something new. But just as importantly, they had the communication skills to document them in a way that made others take note. Science communication is not always easy. It takes practice and patience—from knowing which details to include in lab reports to finding accurate sources of health and science information on social media. Still, what is worth knowing, is worth knowing how to share. Best of luck in the coming semester! – Andrea Anderson (U of R BSc. Hon, 2000)
This site is maintained by Heather Dietz and has been adapted from materials previously written by Maria Davis, Heather Dietz, Mel Hart, Lauri Lintott, and Harold Weger.