Construction Materials Lab General Guidelines for Writing Laboratory Report The laboratory report includes generally not more than ten pages for an experiment ad should include the following: Page 1: Cover page – title of experiment, course name and number, author(s) (individual or group member names as appropriate), date of experiment, date of submission, department name Page 2: Title of Test and Table of Contents Page 3: Abstract and Introduction – The abstract summarizes the main points of a report in a few words. It is normally written last, but people read it first. Introduction - In the introduction, explain what experiment you are doing, the objective and scope, i.e. what you are trying to obtain by doing this experiment. Page 4: Procedure – The procedure is brief (conforming to ASTM XXX) and shall note any deviations from the ASTM standard. If something differed during the procedure make note of it. Procedure should include photos illustrating the steps to complete the experiment. Page 5: Apparatus what apparatus/instruments used, their manufacturer, model number (if available), their operating mechanism, a description of the apparatus (include photos of the apparatus/instruments) - Page 6: Methodology – the basic principle of the experiment, e.g. sieve analysis is done for the determination of gradation of the aggregates, multiple sieve sizes are used because we want to know the various sizes of the aggregates; how the actual experiment was performed, which sieve sizes were used, how they were stacked, etc. Example Calculation - Show how to obtain the results of the experiment. Page 7: Results and Analysis – show the tables and charts of final results, e.g. show particle size distribution analysis calculation table; show the gradation curve; explain how you calculated nominal max aggregate size and fineness modulus; provide as much details as possible. Interpretation of Results Cite whether the results are in agreement with or contradicting the existing theories. Page 8: Conclusions state the final conclusions from your result; the conclusions should be consistent with the objectives. _ Page 9: References – list of references, e.g. the AASHTO guideline of sieve analysis; any reference you provide must be referred to at least once in the report; follow ASCE reference format. Refer first to the author's last name followed immediately by the year of publication (e.g., Terzaghi 1943). Page 10: Appendix / Data Sheets – any sample calculation that you want to show in addition to the ones already discussed in Results and Analysis section, and other materials as appropriate. It's ok to include data sheets from laboratory day even if dirty. Use Times New Roman and 12-point font (justified) for main text inside the report; use bullets and numbers as necessary; provide at least 1 inch page boundary on all sides; include page numbers. Submitted report must be stapled and/or bounded properly. You may include as many tables, figures, and photographs as necessary. However, all tables, figures and photographs must be referred to in the text, i.e. you cannot have a table or figure or photograph in your report which has not been discussed or referred to at least once in the main text./n