Writing Civil Engineering Lab Reports

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Tom Siller, Civil Engineering

Good results depend on how well you follow the lab procedures. Not only do you have to produce accurate, precise numbers, but you also have to do a good job writing your report. Describe every detail and make conclusions and observations about your results. If you don't get the numbers you want, write about what you did and why you think the numbers aren't what they should be. It's easy to say, "My results are accurate," but more difficult to admit that your results are not accurate. Overall, you should understand how the test works and interpret why the results appear the way they do.