How to Write a Lab Report for Bacteria
A lab report on bacteria requires you to write in a format unlike an APA (American Psychological Association) or MLA (Modern Language Association) style. Lab reports are more technical and present all information in a scientific format.
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Instructions
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General Information
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Italicize bacterium mentioned in your report. The first word of a genus should be capitalized, while the second word is not. For example, Staphylococcus aureus would be italicized in a report, with the first word capitalized and the second word remaining lower case.
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In subsequent references, abbreviate the genus name of the bacterium. For example, if you're writing about Staphylococcus aureus, mention the full word within the introduction of your report, and then abbreviate the word to S. aureus throughout the remainder.
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Center your title at the top of the page. Titles should contain no more than 10 words.
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Ask your research instructor or professor what information should be included on the title page of your report.
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If you use references for your report, place them at the end of your report. If you're writing a report for a class, ask your professor how references should be designated.
Report Structure
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Start with a brief "Introduction" section that explains the basis of your report. Don't write more than 200 words for this section.
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Next, include a "Methods and Materials" section that explains to your reader which materials and methodology you used to conduct your research.
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Within this section, write a short, concise paragraph on the materials you used.
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Next, write a "Results" section that summarizes your research findings. Present the findings in a table graph format, and include a brief synopsis of the end results that correlates with the table.
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Lastly, write a "Discussion and Conclusion" section that outlines the analysis of your research and why it did or didn't work. Include a brief summation of your findings.
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Tips & Warnings
If you're writing a lab report for a class, ask your professor on specifics that should be included.
Include any needed references and citations using the format outlined by your instructor.
According to Warren D. Dolphin of Iowa State University, your report's "Introduction" should include the reason for your report being conducted, what is already known about the subject, and what the purpose of your study is.
Don't use pronouns such as "I" or "We" when writing your report.
