How to Write a Scientific Paper
Paper Format
• Standard:
– Abstract – Introduction – Materials & Methods – Results – Discussion – References
• Review paper:
– Abstract (mostly) – Introduction – Subheadings – Conclusion – References
Journal Article Summary
• THESE ARE PRIMARY SOURCES
• What were their aims?
• Pay attention to abstract
– It will guide you through the paper
• Pick out main points and methods used • What were their main conclusions?
• Did they miss anything?
Abstract
• Overview of entire paper • Summarize:
– what you did – how you did it – results – conclusions
• Concise
Introduction
• Background information
• Summarize previous studies
• Cite all appropriate references • Outline question/problem to be addressed
Materials & Methods
• What you did
• How you did it
• Enough information for someone else to repeat your experiments
– Falsifiability
Results
• What you found • Often use tables and figures
– graphs – graphical representations of results
• Should be easily understandable • Should address every point from the methods, if not more
Discussion
• The real meat of the paper • Put your results in light of other studies • How does your study conflict or support other studies? • Big picture • Problems encountered • Future directions
General Writing Style
• Don’t be too personal
– I think that ... – They say this, but I don’t believe it ...
• Use evidence (or lack)
– Our data show that ... – They say this, but their evidence is, at best, sketchy ...
General Writing Style
• Be clear and concise!
– Say what you need to say, then quit
• Who is your audience? • No word contractions
– e.g., don’t, won’t, can’t
• Avoid colloquialisms
– Shows bad English, and we have enough of that already
References
• Journal-style referencing is best • Refer to handout
– Posted online
• Reference EVERY article that you cite and use (and cite every reference in the text)