ECE 331 ver. S09
Lab Report Guide
Beginning with Lab 2 and continuing through all subsequent labs, each student (not lab teams)
must prepare and submit a brief lab report according to the guidelines below.
Due Date
Lab reports should be turned in to the TA at the beginning of the next lab. For example, Lab 2
reports are due at the beginning of your Lab 3 session.
Format
• Lab reports should be typed and printed. No specific requirements are given for font,
spacing, etc., but you should make every effort to prepare professional quality work; it
should look and read (i.e., no slang or unprofessional phrases) like something you would be
proud to deliver to your boss.
• Written sections should be in paragraph form, not bullet form. You can include tables,
figures, or anything else that will help achieve the objectives of your report.
• Please provide section headings for the sections described below.
Content
The required sections of the report are detailed below along with suggested lengths for each
section. You can write more if you would like, but please try to keep it concise.
Title Information
• Either on a title page (optional) or on the top of the first page of your lab report, include the
following information:
o ECE 331, semester and year
o Lab #, and date you completed the lab
o Your name and your lab partner’s name
Summary (2-3 sentences)
• Summarize your learning experiences for the lab. In your own words (not cut and pasted
from the lab assignment), summarize the goals of the lab, expected outcomes, and
achieved outcomes (your actual results/accomplishments).
Discussion (1/2-1 page)
• Discussion and analysis of procedure and results, why (or why not) things worked, etc.
should be included. You may include procedure from the lab, written in your own words, but
try to focus more on, in your view, the critical steps. Do not write a step by step procedure
for the lab. Include discussion of problems you encountered, their cause(s), and how you
solved them.
Feedback (~1/2 page)
• Note any troubles you encountered in the lab or any errors or confusion with the lab
documents. List experiences that were helpful or not helpful. Your comments here will help
us to improve the labs. Positive feedback is welcomed too!
• If you do not have any feedback, you should still include this section and note that you do
not have any constructive feedback.
Discussion Points (varies)
• Provide your response to the Discussion Points at the end of each lab. If these require
calculations, schematics or drawings, those can be done by hand and attached at the end
of the report, but please note here that they are attached.
Attachments (varies)
• Any drawing, hand-written calculations, etc. can be attached. Please refer to these items
within your report so we will know to look for them as attachments.
• If the pre-lab check off sheet was not collected, attach it here.
• Attach your lab check-off sheet as the last page of your report.
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