Lab reports for my ET151 Circuits 1, ET152 Circuits 2, ET161 Linear Electronics, and ET262 Operational Ampifiers courses use the same format. Unless otherwise specified, all lab exercises require a non-formal write-up. All reports should be neat and legible, although official school paper is not required (nor will it get you brownie points). Standard technical writing style is expected along with proper grammar and spelling. This means that you should avoid active voice, first person, personal pronouns, and the like. For example, don't write "I set the power supply to 6 volts". Instead use "The power supply was set to 6 volts". A formal report should conform to the following outline (in the order given) and must be word processed/typed:
1) Cover page. Title, date, your name, partners name.
2) Objective. Answer the question "What are you trying
to show/verify?". These are statements of the items that
you are investigating in this particular exercise.
3) Conclusion. Answer the question "What was actually
shown/verified?". These are concise statements of fact regarding
the circuit action(s) under investigation. If all works well,
these should match nicely with your Objective section. Under no
circumstances should you reach a conclusion that is not supported
by your data, even if that conclusion is stated in the text or
in lecture. What matters here is what you did and your
analysis of it. If there is a discrepency between your results
and theory, state the discrepency, don't ignore your results.
4) Discussion. Reduce and analyze your data. Explain circuit
action or concepts under investigation. Relate theoretical results
to the lab results. Don't just state what happened, but
comment on why and its implications. Derive your conclusions
from this section. The Discussion is the penultimate part that
you write.
5) Diagrams with actual/nominal values. Do not sketch these.
Use a CAD program such as MultiSIM or appropriate drawing templates.
6) Equipment List. Include model and serial numbers.
7) Final Data Sheet. Include all derived and calculated
data. Make sure that you include percent deviations for each theory/measurement
pair. Use Percent Deviation = (Measured-Theory)/Theory * 100,
and include the sign.
8) Original Data Sheet. Include actual measured values.
9) Sample Calculations. The key here is sample.
Show the formulas used, values inserted, and final answers.
10) Graphs, Answers to questions at the end of the exercise,
Other. Graphs must be drawn on appropriate graph paper, appropriately
titled, with labels, and drawn using either a straight edge or
a french curve (depending on the type of graph). Alternately,
graphs may be created with a plotting program.
Non-formal reports should include items 2, 3, 4, 7 and 10. You can place the normal cover page info at the top of the first page. Although non-formal do not have to be word processed/typed, handwritten reports are not encouraged. Again, unless otherwise specified, all exercises are to use the non-formal format.
Make sure that you leave sufficient space in the margins and between sections for my comments. Either 1.5 or double line spacing is fine. Multi-page reports must be stapled in the upper left corner. Paper clips, fold-overs, bits of hook-up wire, etc. are not acceptable. Reports are due no later than one week following the date performed. The first half-week late creates a one letter grade loss, the second half-week causes a second letter grade loss. Reports are not acceptable beyond one week late.