Physics I Laboratory Grading Rubric for Written Reports (7 required).  Each experiment will be tallied for a total of 100 points.   Fall 2008

DESCRIPTION OF THE EXPERIMENT.  30 points.

Clearly identifies the purpose of the experiment.  This should be written in clear, succinct prose.  Use first person or third person, but should be consistent

• what is being tested?
• what results are predicted?
• discusses the tools and equipment
• uses clear diagrams
• sets the tone of writing for one's peers

EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS.  40 points.

• Results are presented in clear, well-labeled graphs.  Most experiments use computer-generated graphs.  The computer generated graphs should have appropriate scales on the axes, points plotted as a scatter plot with no connecting lines (unless appropriate to show continuity), a trend line shown when appropriate
• Appropriate use of the trend line.  Sometimes the trend line is inappropriate and has no relevance to the experiment and should not be included.
• Appropriate use of simple tables.  Raw computer data should not be presented in extensive tables.  When tables are used, the tables should be small and concise and serve to provide a short summary of the data. 
• Calculations should be demonstrated with a sample calculation.  The calculations may be hand-written, but it is possible with a little more effort to show the formulas and calculations with an equations editor on the word processor. 
• Units and dimensions should be shown and correctly derived.

DISCUSSION OF THE RESULTS (this is often the most difficult part of the report).

30 points.

• The significance of the results is clearly presented.  It basically answers the purpose of the experiment or why the experiment was done
• The results are compared with the predictions made before the lab
• Numerical results are presented in a simple table along with percent differences fom published results.  A comment should be included on the quality of the results based mostly on the percent differences
  
• The student clearly explains what she or he has learned by doing the experiment and that the student understands the principles presented in the graphs
• The report is basically free from grammar errors, spelling errors (use of a spell-checker and peer proofreading is encouraged).  Sentences and paragraphs are succinct and free from run-on errors.
• The report communicates the physics and the student clearly shows an understanding of the physics in the whole report.