Report Preparation Details

General Considerations

Allow a 1-inch margin on the left and right sides of all pages.

Include page numbers so the total number of pages is known (i.e., Page 18 of 30) or use a table of contents for the appendix.

Use 12-point font for the body of the report.

Lab reports must be typed.  Only the equations and calculations in the Sample Calculations section may be hand written if necessary. Calculation sets are to be hand written.

Paper

Standard 8.5" by 11" white paper should be used.  Normal margins are 1.5" on left and 1" on right, top, and bottom.  The report text must be typed, but calculations and equations may be presented in clear, easily read, neat, hand-written form.  Content and clarity are more important than word-processing skills.

Headings

Format major and minor headings so that they give a clean, organized appearance to the report.  Using the heading fields built into Word allows you to automatically create a table of contents.

Tables

Tables should be numbered (Arabic numbers) in sequence of their first appearance and should contain a descriptive title.  Tables should appear in the body of the text directly after they are discussed.  Tables might include such items as columns of intermediate values such as calculated from a spreadsheet program like Excel, Lotus, or Quatro. 

Units must be indicated for all items (columns) in a table.  A sample calculation must be in the appendix for all items calculated.  All columns in a spreadsheet must be in the order calculated from left to right.  Again clarity is of utmost importance.  The reader must not have to try to figure out what you did.

Figures

Graphs and drawings should be numbered (Arabic numbers) in sequence and should contain a descriptive caption.  Figures should appear directly after the text describing the figure is discussed.  

Graphs should be easily readable, and all data points distinguishable. Graphs should be drawn using French curves or straight edges, or preferably computer software with the points through which the curve is drawn clearly indicated. 

 Where more than one curve is on a given graph, a legend should be provided (and the plots made accordingly) so that the curves and points plotted can be clearly distinguished (color coding is also useful).  

Graphs must be properly scaled and properly oriented (dependent variable on vertical axis, independent variable on horizontal axis; dependent variable toward binding, independent variable toward bottom of report) and adequate margins provided to allow for binding and proper labeling of axis.  

Differentiate between experimental points (values) and theoretical (predicted) values.  A single graph with both the experimental and theoretical (predicted) values and/or lines is generally the best way to compare theory with experiment.  Any differences can then be discussed with reference to this graph.  

Generally, graphs should be plotted in a way so that if possible the relationship is a straight line.  Good engineering judgment should be used in plotting all graphs, scales, etc.  Use good engineering judgment to select the best scales.  Look in books and journals for examples of good (and bad) graphs.