Introduction

The introduction section of a lab report should explain background information on the topic, present the explanatory rational of any hypotheses, and provide a general overview of what the experiment was about. The background information should be 1.5–2 pages. The final paragraph should very briefly introduce the experiment. The introduction must successfully establish the main scientific concepts of the lab, providing details as if they were being explained to someone for the first time. Any rationale used to analyze the data presented or answer any required review questions should be introduced and explained in the introduction.

The introduction should include in-text citations using references from the textbook, instructor-provided prelab PowerPoint slides, lecture slides, and the online lab manual. Do not include direct quotes. Instead, students should paraphrase and cite. In writing this section, students are encouraged to use resources and literature other than the course lab guides. If using outside resources, make sure to include them in the reference section and cite within the text. Do not use personal pronouns.

Focus on the science and background information to start the introduction section. If writing the first sentence is difficult, begin with a declarative definition, as shown in the examples below:

“Macromolecules are the building blocks of cells … ”

“Microscopes magnify cells and organisms too small to see with the naked eye …”

Within the introduction, some of the following should be included:

• A summary of the concepts that are being investigated in the lab
• Explanations of any new terms or equations (chemical or mathematical)
• A brief 2–3 sentence summary of the lab procedures, explaining any new techniques or special methods used to analyze the data