Writing scientific research papers

Writing scientific research papers

Writing the Scientific Paper. W hen you write about scientific topics to specialists in a particular scientific field, we call that scientific writing. (When you write to non-specialists about scientific topics, we call that science writing.) T he scientific paper has developed over the past three centuries into a tool to communicate the results of scientific inquiry. The main audience for scientific papers is extremely following points are important to keep in mind when writing a scientific paper1: A) BEFORE YOU START Originality – Generate your own educated ideas, and be as innovative as possible when conducting research. This will help to raise the quality and impact of your papers. Background knowledge – Study the literature thoroughly before you begin writing your blogger.com Size: KB • Analyze audience and purpose to focus your writing. Writing • Start with whatever section is easiest to write. • Skip around to different sections as needed. • Keep writing. Revision • Work on content first, then structure, then style. • Keep focused on your main purpose: communicating, reasoning, presenting clearly. • Get blogger.com Size: 45KB

Guide: Writing the Scientific Paper

Scientific research is not a solitary endeavor. Rather, science is a communal effort, writing scientific research papers. Scientists use findings and ideas of other scientists as the basis for their own studies, and in turn report their findings back to the scientific community. Thus, communication of findings is part of the scientific process. In fact, only by writing papers, writing scientific research papers, presenting seminars, or reporting findings in some other way, does one become a full participant in the scientific or research community.

In other words, a good scientist is also a good communicator. A scientific research paper normally follows a standard outline and format bolded below. A common problem in many scientific papers is that the author does not organize material into the appropriate sections. Thus, pay close attention to the functions of the various sections described herein. The title of your paper is very important. It should be a clear and concise description of the content of the paper.

When creating a title, express the subject but do not try to impress the reader with technical jargon. Sometimes a clever, informed phrase can attract readers, but wittiness is not the goal. Remember, writing scientific research papers, your goal is to communicate information. A simple, direct title is usually best, writing scientific research papers.

The abstract summarizes the essentials of the paper. It briefly describes the purpose, any unusual methodology, and key results of the project. Writing scientific research papers are often limited to a few hundred words, so they need to be concise. The abstract is best written after a paper is completed. For more information on writing a good abstract, see the Abstract UFI. Good scientific papers explain how the specific study being described is related to other research and ideas on the same topic.

Good papers not only report on the specific details of a particular project but also help illuminate larger issues of interest to readers of the discipline.

The introduction is where the author helps the reader see the larger context for the specific study. This is accomplished by briefly reviewing some of the relevant literature and explaining how the current project is related to the existing body of work. Interpretations made earlier and now known to be incorrect are disqualified here as well. This is also the time to describe the goals and objectives of the study, e. The methodology section, sometimes called "Materials and Methods", is where the author describes how the study was conducted.

The description should be complete enough so that the reader can evaluate the appropriateness of the methods to answer the questions writing scientific research papers test the hypotheses as presented in the Introduction. If you employed some methods that others have used, you should writing scientific research papers the publications in which those methods are described.

In many cases, it is appropriate for geologists to include a subsection or even a separate section in which you describe your study site. If some statistical analyses were performed on the data, they should be described completely and accurately in the Writing scientific research papers section.

Another worker should be able to easily repeat your methods. In the Results section, one should report, but not discuss, the primary results. In other words, "Just the facts, please". Remember, it is not the reader's job to figure out what the various tables and figures are trying to illustrate. An author needs to writing scientific research papers the key findings verbally first and then refer the reader to relevant tables and figures for more a more detailed, or graphic, representation of the results.

Figures and tables should each be numbered consecutively so that the reader may refer to them when intended, e. All tables should have a descriptive title, writing scientific research papers, and a caption for each figure should be provided, writing scientific research papers.

The caption should include the subject or title of the figure and all other information that will help the reader understand or interpret what is being illustrated. This is no accident. In geological writing, it is as important more important? to carefully plan illustrations and tables as it is the text. The discussion is the section of the paper in which the author describes what the results mean. Were the original hypotheses supported, or questions answered?

How are unexpected results explained? Do findings support or contradict findings from similar studies? These are some of the sorts of questions you might address. This section should include thorough citation of the works of others that are involved in your discussion. This is frequently done with a numbered list of the points made.

Most scientific articles include a brief, but important, section in which the authors thank various people, granting agencies and institutions who have contributed in some way to the work. These contributions could be in helping to form the original hypotheses, collecting data, aiding data analysis, providing financial resources or collecting permission, or reviewing an earlier draft. Here one provides full citations for all works mentioned in the body of the paper and only those works mentioned in the paper.

Every research paper follows one or another bibliographic style. Check with professors or journal editors to learn the style, or apply a digital style editor, and use it consistently for all citations. A FEW FINAL THOUGHTS. Contrary to what most students have been taught, there is no hard and fast rule about the use of active vs passive voice in scientific articles.

Likewise, there is no standard format for citing other sources or for citation style in the Literature Cited section. This means you need to consult with the editor or professor ahead of time to find out the specific instructions for the paper you are writing.

Above all strive to be direct and clear. Ultimately, you are trying to persuade the readers about the significance of your findings. Only in very rare circumstances do results speak for themselves.

In most cases they need an ardent and articulate advocate- -you! This UFI Useful Flyer of Information was developed and written by Mark A. Davis for the benefit of students.

It has been modified by J. Erickson and the Geowriting class at St. Lawrence University. For other UFIs see the Geology Dept. UFI webpage. Skip to main site navigation Skip to main content. How to Write a Scientific Research Paper. Request Info Discover why St.

How to Write an Effective Research Paper

, time: 1:11:56

WRITING A SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH ARTICLE

• Analyze audience and purpose to focus your writing. Writing • Start with whatever section is easiest to write. • Skip around to different sections as needed. • Keep writing. Revision • Work on content first, then structure, then style. • Keep focused on your main purpose: communicating, reasoning, presenting clearly. • Get blogger.com Size: 45KB Writing the Scientific Paper. W hen you write about scientific topics to specialists in a particular scientific field, we call that scientific writing. (When you write to non-specialists about scientific topics, we call that science writing.) T he scientific paper has developed over the past three centuries into a tool to communicate the results of scientific inquiry. The main audience for scientific papers is extremely 1. An abstract, or summary, is published together with a research article, giving the reader a "preview" of what's to 2. Your abstract should be one paragraph, of words, which summarizes the purpose, methods, results and 3. It is not easy to include all this information in just a few