Durham Physics: Report Writing Guidelines

G. H. Cross and C. S. Adams

Department of Physics, Durham University, Rochester Building, South Road, Durham DH1 3LE, England

(Dated: November 11, 2009)

I. INTRODUCTION

This document outlines general guidelines on preparing reports for laboratory and computer projects at Levels 1 to 3. Supplementary information particular to certain activities may be given by the laboratory leader.
II. LENGTH

the outcome was and what the main conclusions were. Include numerical results and compare with literature data if appropriate. Up to 200 words.

2. Methods:

1. Introduction: A few
paragraphs on the background and motivation to the investigation. Set the scene for the reader and put the work in context using evidence of past studies with references to previous work. One or two paragraphs on the specific objec-tives of your investigation; say what you set out to do, what you achieved and why it is important.

All reports have a STRICT page limit, see Table I. One page equals one side of A4, e.g. a Level1 (L1) report is limited to 2 pages of A4 for the main report plus a 1-page Appendix containing the error analysis. The page limit is based on a minimum font size of 10 point (9 point for figure captions and table text) and minimum margin width of 2 cm. Style files are provided, see Section V.
Main report Appendices 2 1 2 1 4 1 4 1 4 Unlimited 16 Unlimited

Activity L1 Experiments L2 Skills L2 Electronics L2 Long experiment L3 Computing L3 Laboratory Project

TABLE I: Page limits for all laboratory based activities. III. PLAGIARISM

In general ALL material, i.e., all text, all figures and all diagrams, should be original. Figures or diagrams from other sources should NOT be cut and pasted into the report, unless they are essential, for example, astro-nomical images, maps, etc. In this case the item should be clearly referenced in the caption to the source.
IV. STRUCTURE

A typcial report contains the following sections. Note that some activities may require additional instructions as specified by the laboratory leader:
Abstract: State the objectives and main findings (only text; no References or diagrams). A summary of what was investigated, how it was investigated, what

This section includes both relevant the-ory and experimental details. Separate subsec-tions, e.g. 2.1 Theory, 2.2 Experiment, may be in-cluded depending on the nature of the project. Under the theory heading do not reproduce large chunks of text and equations that can be found in other sources and referenced. For all projects, a brief description of the methodology should be given. For experimental projects this may include a set-up diagram if appro-priate. Describe the essential features of how the mea-surements were made and what was measured. Dont include a photograph of the apparatus unless it re-ally shows something that cannot be communicated with a line diagram. Dont give lists of instructions. Dont write chronologically unless that really is the most logical way to present the methodology. Write in the past tense. 3. Results and discussion: Results: The main sec-tion of the report presenting data obtained in an ap-propriate form. Use the present tense, e.g., Fig. 1 shows a graph of . . ..

Figures should have labelled axes with units. Data should be presented with error bars. Discussion: For short reports, a brief discus-sion of the interpretation of results can be included together with each result. Compare results to liter-ature values where appropriate. Say whether the re-sults fit the theory and give a reasoned argument to explain your observations. For longer reports a sepa-rate subsection discussing the interpretation of results and possibilities for future work may be appropriate. For computing reports an innovation subsection dis-cussing extensions to the project is expected.

may be included but again be consistent, either no titles or all titles. For numeric style, references should be numbered in the order that they appear in the text. Check that each reference contains full bibliographic details of the source (authors names, journal, volume, page num-ber, year).
Appendices: The appendix should include the error analysis (which will be assessed) and other supporting

information, e.g. computer code (not reformatted), derivation of an equation, etc. It should NOT be necessary to have to refer to the Appendix while reading the main report. All the key results, plots etc. should be included in the main report. For longer reports, e.g. at levels 3 and 4, where more than one distinct experiment or project has been per-formed, the report may be better structured as follows:

4. Conclusions: Brief (1 or 2 paragraphs)

summing up of the main results and implications of the work. References: Use a consistent referencing style (ei-ther numeric, see the Emulation of Style document on DUO, or alphabetic). Titles

The report should be easy to follow with the material presented in a logical order. The reader should not have to constantly page flip between the Methods and Results or Results and Appendices. In the longer report style the aim is to keep the discussion of a particular investigation and corresponding results together so that the reader can follow easily without section hopping.
V. FORMATTING AND GENERAL STYLE POINTS

Abstract 1. Introduction. 2. Title of Experiment/Project A. 2.1 Methods. 2.2 Results/discussion. 3. Title of Experiment/Project B. 3.1 Methods. 3.2 Results/discussion. 4. Title Experiment/Project C. etc. . . . Conclusions. References.

Format: Reports can be prepared in Word, Latex [1] or any other word processing package. Style: 1 In scientific writing it is acceptable to use we rather than I even if you worked on your own.
2 All figures should be referenced in the text, and should be numbered in the order they appear in the text.

All text in figures e.g. axis labels etc. should not be smaller than the main text font size. All figures should have a caption but no title. 4 Figures
6 Note that all parameters are in italic font, e.g., the
momentum, p.

13

shoul d be generally understandabl e from their caption

7 Labels in equations (e.g. sin, cos, ln, e, etc.) and label

subscripts should be in normal font, .g. sin t, e
t

alone, e.g., Experiment isand notthecriticalacceptable,momentump .

c

Optical

8 Exponents (whether

text or on graphs) should be

written as 108 not 1e-8.

Layout used to measure the fringe spacing in a double

Equations appear as if they are part of a sentence the text before them ends with a comma, and the equaslit experiment is better.
tion ends with full stop (or comma), e.g. the force, F ,

on the particle can be written as,

Graphs should not have a shaded background or horF = dp ,

(1)

izontal lines (Fig. 1 is poor, Fig. 2 is bdetter).

where p is the momentum and t is time. Inser t a

space ( in Latex) between the equation and full stop/comma. Inline equations should be written on one
line so Eq. (1) becomes, F = dp/dt, not F =
d p d t

. In-

sert a space between a value and the unit. Units should in normal font, e.g. the momentum of the particle is p = 3 10
16

kg m s .

FIG. 2: Plot of the frequency shift of the atomic resonance as a function of the electric field modulation frequency. The

data () correspond to an average of 10 measurements with the standard error indicated by the error bar. The solid line is a fit to three Lorenztian resonances.

FIG. 1: This graph has the following faults: (i) Grey background; (ii) Horizontal lines; (iii) Box; (iv) Poor choice of y axis scale making detail of the plot compressed; (v) No error bars; (vi) Axes font lables too small; and (vii) Legend should
be given in caption. [1] A word or Latex template is available on the DUO module

Acknowledge The authors would ments: like to thank M. G. Bason, R. G. Bower, A. C. Edge, I. G. Hughes, G. D. Love, J. R. Lucey, N. Metcalfe, A. Skelton, and I. Terry for stimulating discussions.

pages. The Latex package is available on the ITS, see http : //www.dur.ac.uk/its/software/tex/texresources/

(login to say altair and type latex myfile.tex) or for a free PC version go to MikTeX http : //miktex.org/.

PDF to Wor