Topic outline

  • Instructions for reports

    Requirements

    The requirements for the lab report are practically the same as in previous lab courses.

    • Report must contain clear and coherent description of the objectives, methods, equipment and results, showing that the author has investigated and understood the subject.
    • Report starts with a title page showing the name of the exercise, measurement date as well as the work group number and its members. The author shall be indicated clearly.
    • Table of contents must be provided.
    • Results from measurements or simulations must be presented in tables and/or graphically.
    • Report must be submitted in an electronic format as pdf and in the original text format (word, tex, etc). An anti-plagiarism tool is used by the course assistants.
    • Report is written in Finnish, Swedish or English. Foreign course assistants only accept English.
    • The typical length of a report is 10-15 pages, with the maximum length 15 pages. The limitation is not strict, but if clearly above 15 pages, consider using appendixes.
    • Using references is obligatory. Using only the instructions and Wikipedia as references is not enough.
    • Plagiarism is strictly forbidden. Misconduct will be handled according to the Aalto University Code of Academic Integrity.
    • The first version of the report is submitted within three weeks of the measurement session. Specifically, the deadline is noon 12:00 o'clock. For example, if you have the session 1.1., the deadline is 22.1. noon 12:00 o'clock.
    • An optional second version of the report is submitted within one week of the feedback session.
    • In practice, writing one report takes 1 full-time working week. It is not possible to write an acceptable report, if you start the night before deadline. It is recommended to start writing the report right after the measurement session.
    • Point deductions are made if the deadline is overrun. 0-7 days is minus one point, 8-14 days is minus two points, and so forth.

    An example of a good lab report is shown at the bottom of this page.

    If you write your lab reports in LaTeX (recommended), you may utilize the template for Physics Special Assignment that is available from this link. Some minor modifications are needed in the template.

    Grading principles

    Each course participant writes a report on one of the exercises, which is graded in the scale 0-10. Each report version is graded and the final grade is the average of the first and second version.

    • The assistant reads and comments the first version of the report. He/she will contact the author and invite him/her to an oral feedback session.
    • The author is given the opportunity to make a second, improved version of the report after the feedback session. If the first version is approved, the author may decide not to make a second version.
    • In the feedback session, the assistant will tell the author the maximum grade for the second version, provided that the requested corrections are made. It should be noted that it is not always possible to obtain 10 points for the second version.
    • An acceptable report must be a complete technical report with background, methods and conclusions. Presenting the results only is not sufficient. All questions posed in the instructions must be handled in the report.
    • An average report without major errors or omissions is given 7 points. Full 10 points are given only for an exceptionally good report.
    • The course is graded in the normal 0-5 scale. It is guaranteed that the course is passed with 12 points out of 22 (one full report 10, two short reports 5+5, and review points 2), provided that the report and both the form assignments are accepted and all six exercises have been attended.
    Grading criteria
    For each of the criteria below, the assistants provide +/- comments indicating what was good/to be improved. The points for each criteria are given at 1/2 points accuracy. An excellent performance within some criteria can compensate for deficiences elsewhere by 1/2 points. The overall points for the report are summed up.

      1. Determining the result, max 5p

      a) Each question in the instruction sheet has been answered

      b) The results are reasonable and relatively close to correct, or, it is well justified why unusual results were obtained

      c) Discussion if the experiment was successful

      d) Error analysis provided, if relevant to the exercise

      e) Own contribution visible

      2. Text and formulas,  max 3p

      a) Language is good, but some miskates are forgiven

      b) The text is logical and easy to follow. Typically, theory and description of the experimental methods are separate from presentation of the results.

      c) Exercise instructions are not copied directly.

      d) Referencing is appropriate

      e) Own contribution visible

      3. Graphs, figures, tables, max 2p

      a) The basic format of graphs are appropriate:

         - physical quantities on the axes are given, complete with units

         - Error bars in a typical case included in the data points at least in the y-direction

      b) Figure describing the equipment can be copied from the instruction material, but reference should be given


    Lomake assignments

    The deadline and submission process are similar to those of the report.
    • The lomake must be submitted within three weeks of the measurement session.

    Grading criteria for lomake

    The grading of lomake's follows that of reports described above in relevant parts:

    1. Determining the result, max 3p

    a) Each question in the lomake has been answered

    b) The results are reasonable and relatively close to correct, or, it is well justified why unusual results were obtained

    c) Discussion if the experiment was successful

    d) Error analysis provided, if relevant to the exercise

    3. Graphs, figures, tables, max 2p

    a) The basic format of graphs are appropriate:

       - physical quantities on the axes are given, complete with units

       - Error bars in a typical case included in the data points at least in the y-direction


    • File icon
      Example of a good lab report File
      PDF document
      Not available unless any of:
      • You are a(n) Student
      • You are a(n) Teacher
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