BIOL 1441-033 Tue 3:00 4:50 LS 207BIOL 1441-030 Wed 11:00 12:50 LS 200BIOL 1441-037 Fri 11:00 12:50 LS 200Heath Blackmon LS 459Office Hours: 10:30-12:00 Tue and Thuheath.blackmon@mavs.uta.edu

Scientific CommunicationScientific Writing & Literature

Scientific LiteratureThree basic types:

Primary

2.SecondaryReview papersCompilations and Textbooks

3.Popular

Primary LiteraturePopular Popular Secondary Literature

Scientific Literature1. Primary:

Reports original results of experiments or observations.Published in Scientific Journals or Conference ProceedingsThe best source for information on specific subjects because it is the initial report of findings.

Scientific Literature1. Primary:

Scientific Journals:Usually published by a scientific society specializing in the specific subjectPeer-reviewed: manuscripts are sent to the editor, who sends it out to multiple scholars in the field that make comments. Those comments are than sent to the author(s) and they are addressed. The editor, with input from the reviewers, then decides if the manuscript is to be published or it is in need of additional revisions.

Scientific Literature1. Primary:

Conference Proceedings:Published by the organization that organizes a conference or meetingIncludes the findings that were presented during that meeting.May or may not be peer-reviewed

Scientific Literature2. Secondary:

Literature ReviewA synopsis of recent or historical primary literature designed to draw comparisons or provide a better understanding of the subject.Published in a variety of formats, including Scientific Journals, Proceedings, and Society Newsletters.May or may not be peer-reviewed

Scientific Literature2. Secondary:

Compilations and TextbooksMuch like a Literature Review, but with a broader treatment of the subject.Typically published in book form.Not formally peer-reviewed, but open to criticism after publication. Most authors do submit their works to friendly peers prior to submission.Typically a good source of knowledge on a subject, incorporating primary literature into the overall work

Scientific Literature3. Popular:

Magazines, Newspapers, Internet Blogs, etc.Often a source of good practical information, but must be read with caution.Almost never reviewed for content.Good way to communicate scientific findings to laypersons who may not be as knowledgeable on the subject.Is targeted at a different audience than others.Utilizes a different style of writing than others.

Good ThingsBad ThingsAmazing coverageNo peer review

Many LanguagesVulnerable to malicious editing

On average high accuracyYou must determine validity and completeness

Do not use as a cited source! Instead use it as a resource to give you a basic understanding of the topic so you know were to go next.

Scientific WritingGeneral Rules:

Be thoroughBe conciseBe descriptive, but avoid fluffLabel all figures and tables so that they can stand alone

Scientific WritingYou must be proficient at writing so that you can properly and professionally convey your findings and views to members of your respective community.

Formats for written communication that are important to you:Letters and E-mailLab Reports and Scientific PapersEssays and Short Answer Questions on Exams

Scientific WritingLAB REPORTS:

Will follow general form of a scientific paperMust follow the Instructions for Writing a Laboratory Report that is accessible from http://biology.uta.edu/introlabs/ .Must include at least two primary citation.You will learn how to access and search databases online today.Must draw intelligent conclusions from the data.No page number requirement, but should not exceed 10 pages.

Pubmed Google Scholar

Formatting:

The entire document should be double-spaced. All text should be 12pt Times New Roman. All margins should be set to 1 Less than 10 PagesThe title should be centered and bolded. The authors full name should follow the title on a separate line. Section headings should also be centered, bolded and on a separate line. Sub-headings should be left justified, and on its own line. Do not start a new page for each section.The abstract should not have a heading.

Scientific WritingLAB REPORTS:

Components of a Scientific Paper:TitleAbstractIntroductionMaterials and MethodsResultsDiscussionLiterature Cited

Title is clear concise and short!

The abstract tells the reader exactly what was done and what was found, but does so very compactly again only what is needed no fluff!

The introduction section will provide the background to your reader. Include any important definitions and history that make your experiment relevant. Your hypothesis should be clearly connected to the topic in your introduction and stated clearly.

The methods section should be written in the past tense and describe exactly what you did. No lists, no results, no figures in this section.

The results section is were you will report you findings not your conclusion or interpretations. This is done in paragraph format, and you can and should make reference to your graphs and tables that will be in the appendix.

The discussion section is were you must discuss what happened in your experiment.-what do your result mean-what went wrong-what went right-future work or extensions-how could problems of been avoided-cite at least one primary source to show how your relates to the current research.

Graphs and tables must be clear and complete. No hand drawing, no crooked columns, no vertical lines in tables.

If you have multiple data sets you must use various shades or shapes so data is clear in black and white.

Scientific WritingLAB REPORTS:

TitleSimple, yet descriptiveAbstractA brief summary of your paperMaterials and MethodsWhat materials did you use?What were the methods of the experiment?This section is what defines the experiment for repeatability. It is important that you are extremely thorough here

Scientific WritingLAB REPORTS:

ResultsThis is reserved simply for reporting results. No conclusions should be drawn from these results, yet.DiscussionThis is where conclusions and predictions are made.The meat and potatoes of the reportLiterature CitedWhat references did you use?

Scientific WritingLAB REPORTS:

Literature CitedHow do I site a reference?

Different conventions depending on the field of study.Typically, we place the name of the author and the year the article was published in parenteses.Ex: may not reach previous densities until hardwood leaf litter is present (Watson, 2005).This would correspond to a citation in the Lit Cited section

Scientific WritingLITERATURE CITED:Articles:Watson, Charles M. 2005. Post-burn substrate preference of the ground skink, Scincella lateralis, in East Texas. Herpetological Times 11(2). Pp 223-225.BooksSoloman, Berg, and Martin. 2004. Biology, 7th ed. Brooks/Cole-Thompson Learning. Belmont, CA

Scientific WritingTables and Figures:

Must stand alone

If seperated from the report, it must be understandible as a document.

May be cited in text as (Figure 1.) or Figure 1 shows that.

Scientific WritingTables and Figures:

How to produce tables and figures in Excel:

Go over it in on computer.

* Today turn in web assignment one

* Next week turn in web assignment two

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