SelfGuide

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SECTION FIVE : Conclusion

Focusing on what you learned by doing the lab

Step 1: Write a paragraph summarizing what you have learned about the scientific concept of the lab from doing the lab. Back up your statement with details from your lab experience.

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The Conclusion is where you make it clear to the lab instructor what you learned in the lab experience. Since the purpose of the lab is to learn something about science, take the time to write a Conclusion that convinces the lab instructor of what you have learned.

  • Return to the scientific concept you established in the Introduction. But instead of describing what you know about the scientific concept in the Conclusion, describe what you learned about the concept from doing the lab. For example:
    • How has your understanding of the concept improved or otherwise changed from doing the lab?
    • What specific aspects of the procedure or data contributed to your learning?
    • What difficulties did you have with the concept before doing the lab and how were those difficulties alleviated by doing the lab?
    • How might what you have learned in the lab be applicable in the future?
  • Be direct in your statement of what you have learned. Don't be afraid to start out saying, "In this lab, I learned that ...." This sort of clarity will be appreciated by the reader. Elaborate on your statement with additional details about what you have learned.

Step 2: If there is anything else you have learned about from doing the lab, such as the lab procedures or kinds of analyses you used, describe it in a paragraph or 2.

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  • There may be more that you have learned about from the lab experience than the scientific concept of the lab. If so, write a paragraph describing it. For example:
    • Was there anything in the lab procedure that you found particularly interesting to learn how to do?
    • Did you apply a procedure for analyzing data that was useful to learn about?
    • Did you learn anything about using a spreadsheet or graphing or creating other visuals?
    • Did you learn anything about writing or about science from writing the report?

     

 

 

 
 
 

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