The decision of whether to use direct quotations or to paraphrase depends on the purpose of the information. Citations are necessary for an author to show the reader where the information came from.
Speaking is fundamentally different from writing because listening is fundamentally different from reading. It is storytelling, and you are the storyteller.
The purpose of a lab report is to describe the results of an experiment or research study. University lab reports follow the style and format of professional journal articles, which research scientists use to share and evaluate each other’s work.
An introduction acts as the first impression of an essay. It provides sufficient detail to interest the reader without developing the main points; this prepares the reader for an explanation of these points.