Electric Circuits Notebook - Scoring Rubric

Your notebook will be collected at the end of class on ________________, ___________________ _____.
The following items should be in your notebook. They should be clearly organized and easy to find. Use
an organizational system and label all work. Each lab will be graded separately. Thirteen Electric Circuits
lab grades will be entered into the gradebook. An overall notebook grade will be determined based on
your use of the notebook as an organized and effective record-keeping tool which documents your
engagement in the learning cycle during classtime and labtime.

Name: Period:

Item Score
C1. Sparky the Electrician Lab
Included, labeled and organized all parts of the lab report. _____/3
Data section includes informative and labeled sketches of four successful
arrangements and of two unsuccessful arrangements. (Lab score)
Conclusion clearly and accurately describes the two requirements for an electric
circuit.
Discussion of Results uses the two requirements to explain why the unsuccessful
arrangements were unsuccessful and why the successful arrangements were
successful.

C2. First to Light Lab

Included, labeled and organized all parts of the lab report. _____/3
Data section includes a clearly labeled diagram of the simple circuit and
documents the observations made during testing. Observations are pertinent to (Lab score)
the Purpose.
Conclusion answers the question posed in the Purpose; answer is correct and
consistent with the Data section.

C3. Greatest Current Lab

Included, labeled and organized all parts of the lab report. _____/3
Data section includes a diagram of the simple circuit which was tested;
measurements, observations and other results are clearly documented; data is (Lab score)
pertinent to the Purpose.
Conclusion answers the question posed in the Purpose; answer is correct and
consistent with the Data section. Evidence which provides support for the
answer is clearly identified and discussed.

C4. Voltage-Current-Resistance Lab

Included, labeled and organized all parts of the lab report. _____/6
Data section includes the provided table - complete and taped in. Graph is
sketched; sketch is clear. Results of linear regression analysis are recorded. Data (Lab score)
is accurate; correlation constant if close to 1.00.
Conclusion reports an equation relating ΔV, I and R. The equation is correct.
Discussion of Results discusses the evidence which supports the equation,
explaining how the data and graph lead logically to the equation; attention is
given to how and why the slope and the resistance values are related. An error
analysis is conducted; a percent error calculation is included; work is shown
clearly and labeled.

C5. Round vs. Oblong - The Greatest Resistance? Lab

Included, labeled and organized all parts of the lab report. _____/3
Data section includes a labeled diagram of the two tested circuits; measurements
are recorded and seem reasonably accurate. The resistance values are calculated (Lab score)
accurately; work is clearly shown and labeled.
Conclusion answers the question posed in the Purpose; answer is correct.

C6. Series vs. Parallel Lab

 Included, labeled and organized all parts of the lab report. _____/4
Data section includes a diagram of the series and the parallel circuit; tests which
were conducted are documented; results are clearly recorded. (Lab score)
Conclusion/Discussion answers all the questions posed in the Purpose; answers
are correct, clearly stated and complete.

C7. Comparing Voltage Drops and Currents in Series Lab

Included, labeled and organized all parts of the lab report. _____/8
Data section includes a schematic diagram; resistors are labeled and values are
stated, along with a unit. Ammeter locations and voltmeter arrangements are (Lab score)
shown and labeled as ΔV1, I1, etc. Measured values are listed on the diagram; all
necessary measurements are made; units are given. Calculations are performed
and work is shown in an effort to determine mathematical equations relating the
quantities. Data is reasonably accurate.
Conclusion/Discussion identifies the mathematical relationships between the
voltage drops, currents and resistance values for each resistor. The voltage gain
in the battery is compared to the sum of the voltage drops across each individual
resistor. All questions are answered (see Questions section on Lab Description
page); data is used to support the answers. Discussion is complete and accurate;
reveals understanding.

C8. Bulbs in Series Circuits Lab

Included, labeled and organized all parts of the lab report. _____/6
Data section includes schematic diagrams of the two-bulb series circuit, and the
two single-bulb circuits; bulbs are labeled; ammeter locations and voltmeter (Lab score)
arrangements are indicated. Relative brightness is indicated using starburst
notation. Measured values are listed on the diagram and labeled as ΔV low R, ΔVhigh
R, Ilow R, etc. ; all necessary measurements are made; units are given. Diagrams
are legible, labeled and organized.
Conclusion/Discussion answers all the questions posed in the Purpose (and the
Questions section of the Lab Description page). All comparisons are made.
Measured data is used to explain the findings. Discussion is complete and
accurate; reveals understanding.

C9. Comparing Voltage Drops and Currents in Parallel Lab

Included, labeled and organized all parts of the lab report. _____/8
Data section includes a schematic diagram; resistors are labeled and values are
stated, along with a unit. Ammeter locations and voltmeter arrangements are (Lab score)
shown and labeled as ΔV1, I1, etc. Measured values are listed on the diagram; all
necessary measurements are made; units are given. Calculations are performed
and work is shown in an effort to determine mathematical equations relating the
quantities. Data is reasonably accurate.
Conclusion/Discussion identifies the mathematical relationships between the
voltage drops, currents and resistance values for each resistor. The voltage gain
in the battery is compared to the voltage drops across each individual resistor;
the current through the battery is compared to the branch currents. All questions
are answered (see Questions section on Lab Description page); data is used to
support the answers. Discussion is complete and accurate; reveals
understanding.

C10. Bulbs in Parallel Circuits Lab

Included, labeled and organized all parts of the lab report. _____/6
Data section includes schematic diagrams of the two-bulb parallel circuit, and the
two single-bulb circuits; bulbs are labeled; ammeter locations and voltmeter (Lab score)
arrangements are indicated. Relative brightness is indicated using starburst
notation. Measured values are listed on the diagram and labeled as ΔV low R, ΔVhigh
R, Ilow R, etc. ; all necessary measurements are made; units are given. Diagrams
are legible, labeled and organized.
Conclusion/Discussion answers all the questions posed in the Purpose (and the
Questions section of the Lab Description page). All comparisons are made.
Measured data is used to explain the findings. Discussion is complete and
 accurate; reveals understanding.

C11. Combination Circuits Lab

Included, labeled and organized all parts of the lab report. _____/8
Data section should include the provided sheet - completed and taped in. Work
should be shown for the ΔV/I calculations and the percent error calculations. (Lab score)
Other calculations should be performed in an effort to generate equations from
the data which respond to the Purpose of the lab; work is clearly shown and
labeled so as to communicate the ideas. (Wrong turns, scribbles, and changes in
the direction of one's thought should be documented and are always considered
a sign of the scientific process.)
Conclusion/Discussion states several mathematical equations which related the
quantities in the combination circuit. Customary symbols - ΔV1, ΔV2, I1, etc. - are
used in the equations. Equations are supported by the data and referenced to the
data (or at least included in the Calculations part of the Data section). All
questions are answered (see Questions section on Lab Description page); data is
used to support the answers. Discussion is complete and accurate; reveals
understanding.

C12. Energy Audit Activity

Included, labeled and organized all parts of the lab report. _____/10
Data section included provided sheets - completed and taped in. All rooms and
appliances in house were included; no major omissions. Data is reasonable. (Lab score)
Calculations are correct.
Conclusion/Discussion states an estimate of the total monthly cost of electricity.
Main sources of electrical energy consumption are identified.

C13. Use of Notebook as a Record-Keeping Tool

Ideally, a student would use the notebook to record notes from class lectures, _____/10
post-lab sections, textbook readings, etc. Answers and discussions of opening
questions are provided. The notebook is a record of the involvement of a (HW score)
scientist/student in both class and lab. A blank or even sparsely-used notebook
with little evidence of involvement in class is not a sign of a student who has
used the notebook to document and record their involvement in class. A diligent
student keeps careful records which subsequently become an effective and useful
learning tool.