Laboratory Work Notes, Prelab and Postlab Writeup
Pre-laboratory Assignment (50%)
Pre-labs are due at the beginning of the weekly laboratory sessions. All work should be done neatly, and must be dated appropriately. The prelab must be submitted via email for grading.
The purpose of the prelab is to solidify in your mind the goals for the week's laboratory work and clarify any questions in the steps that you are suppose to follow. This will help the laboratory run more efficiently.
There are three (3) components to the prelabs:
1. The madness behind the method. Reference the laboratory handout procedure and include it in your submission. Catalogue the reasons for each step in the procedure, i.e., each solution used, each baking step, etc. If you have described the reason for a step in a previous prelab, you may reference that description rather than retyping it each time. If you do not know why a certain step is performed, note the fact that you do not know, find out from the T.A. or Professor during the lab session, and include it with your Post-laboratory report.
2. Additional work. Complete any additonal prelab assignments/problems given on the lab procedures handout.
Laboratory Work
Ideally, all laboratory records are kept in laboratory notebook; in this course we will provide special paper that you will use in the cleanroom to take notes. We can not use regular paper in a cleanroom and hence we can not have regular lab-books in the cleanroom. Record the details of the experiments that you are conducting and keep a neat record. Note in particular any deviations from normal procedures (as given to you). This information will be useful when you get to do your Lab/device fabrication report. Helpful items to keep notes on:
1. Procedure. Note any changes made to the procedure and the reasons they were made. Also, note any problems or mistakes you encounter.
2. Observations. Include all relevant results from the lab work.
3. Discussion. Do some quick analysis of your results and note any important sources of error.
Post-laboratory Assignment (50%)
This is where you should consolidate your knowledge about the subject matter of this laboratory assignment. Answer neatly all questions asked in the lab handout.
PLEASE SEND ELECTRONIC VERSION of your pre-lab and post-lab work (word or pdf files) to: TO jhu495 at gmail dot com, or jhu773 at gmail dot com if you are enrolled in the graduate level course. Please use your fist name initial and last name as the name of the files. For example aandreou.pdf.
This document was adapted by AGA 09/15/2017 from one drafted by Teaching Assistant Mike Erickson in 1998.