Rubrics for lab report

Rubric Category Excellent Good Fair Poor

Title (5%) Clearly describes the content of the Describes the content but the The content is not clearly No title. Poor description or poor use
current lab exercise. Uses usage of descriptive words is not described. Fair use of descriptive of descriptive words.
descriptive words that are appropriate words
associated with the lab.
Introduction and Clearly states the purpose or States the purpose or objective of States the purpose or objective Does not clearly state the purpose or
Objectives (15%) objective of the experiment. the experiment. Provides some of the experiment. Provides objective of the experiment.
Provides relevant background relevant background information limited background information Provides little to no background
information and context. and context. Demonstrates an or context. Demonstrates a basic information or context.
Demonstrates a clear understanding understanding of the scientific understanding of the scientific Demonstrates a lack of
of the scientific concepts and concepts and principles related to concepts and principles related understanding of the scientific
principles related to the the experiment. Includes a to the experiment. Includes a concepts and principles related to
experiment. Includes a well-defined hypothesis or research question, vague or incomplete hypothesis the experiment. Lacks a hypothesis
hypothesis or research question. but it may lack clarity or or research question. or research question.
specificity.
Methods and Provides a detailed and accurate Provides a description of the Provides a basic description of Provides an incomplete or inaccurate
Materials (20%) description of the experimental experimental procedures, but the experimental procedures, but description of the experimental
procedures. Includes all necessary some important details may be important details are lacking or procedures. Does not include
materials and equipment used in unclear or missing. Includes most unclear. Includes some of the necessary materials and equipment
the experiment to ensure reliability of the necessary materials and necessary materials and used in the experiment. Does not
of the data. Describes the steps equipment used in the equipment used in the describe steps taken to ensure
taken. experiment to ensure reliability of experiment to ensure reliability reliability of the data. Does not
the data. Describes some steps of of the data. Describes limited include citations for external sources
the data. steps taken. or references.
Results and Data Presents all collected data in a clear Presents most of the collected Presents some of the collected Does not present collected data or
Analysis (20%) and organized manner (tables, data in a clear and organized data, but there may be significant presents it in an unclear or
graphs, etc.). Interprets and manner (tables, graphs, etc.), but organizational issues or disorganized manner. Does not
discusses the results or significant there may be some minor inconsistencies. Performs basic perform calculations or statistical
findings. Provides appropriate organizational issues or calculations and statistical analyses. Does not interpret or
observations. inconsistencies. Performs analyses, but they may be discuss the results. Does not provide
calculations and statistical inaccurate or incomplete. appropriate units or labels for data
analyses, but some may be Provides limited interpretation and observations.
inaccurate or incomplete. and discussion of the results, and
Interprets and discusses the may not identify important
results, but may not fully highlight trends, patterns, or significant
all trends, patterns, or significant findings. Includes inappropriate
findings. Provides appropriate units or labels for data and
units and labels for most data and observations.
observations.
Discussion and Analyzes and interprets the results Analyzes and interprets the Provides limited analysis and Does not analyze or interpret the
Conclusion in the context of the original results, but may not fully relate interpretation of the results. May results. Does not discuss limitations
(20%) objective or hypothesis. Discusses them to the original objective or not adequately discuss or sources of error. Does not relate
any limitations or sources of error hypothesis. Discusses some limitations or sources of error. the findings to relevant scientific
that may have affected the results. limitations or sources of error, but Fails to relate the findings to principles or theories. Does not draw
Relates the findings to relevant may overlook important ones. relevant scientific principles or logical conclusions based on the
scientific principles or theories. Relates the findings to some theories. Draws conclusions that results.
Draws logical conclusions based on relevant scientific principles or are unsupported or lack logical
the results and supports them with theories. Draws conclusions based consistency.
evidence. on the results, but may lack some
logical consistency or supporting
evidence.
Organization and Demonstrates a well-structured and Demonstrates a mostly well- Demonstrates a somewhat Lacks organization and a logical flow
Clarity (20%) logical flow of information. Uses structured and logical flow of organized and logical flow of of information. Uses language that is
clear and concise language to information. Uses mostly clear information, but may have unclear, vague, or confusing. Does
communicate ideas effectively. and concise language to significant inconsistencies or not include appropriate headings,
Includes appropriate headings, communicate ideas effectively. gaps. Uses language that is subheadings, or section transitions.
subheadings, and section Includes appropriate headings, occasionally unclear or verbose. Contains frequent grammar,
transitions. Uses proper grammar, subheadings, and section Includes headings, subheadings, punctuation, or spelling errors.
punctuation, and spelling. transitions, with some minor and section transitions that are
inconsistencies. Contains few inconsistent or poorly executed.
grammar, punctuation, or spelling Contains noticeable grammar,
errors. punctuation, or spelling errors.