How to write a scientific paperAlyssa Oplt

10-8-19

General writing tips

• Active voice

• Active voice: We placed the crickets in the container

• Passive voice: Crickets were placed in the container

• Concise wording

• Avoid jargon- a scientist in another field should be able to read your paper and understandwhat’s going on

• Avoid bias- your writing should be as objective as possible

Sections of a paper

• Title

• Abstract

• Introduction

• Methods

• Results

• Discussion

Types of summaries

Title

• A summary of your results in the fewest words possible

• Needs to include key words to tell people what you’re working with

• Incorrect examples:

• Larger male crickets are more aggressive

• A novel study into the intricate lives of male crickets and their aggressive behaviors related toresource holding potential

Abstract• Should contain:

• Goals of the study

• The hypothesis

• The scope of the study

• Brief summary of the results

• Conclusion

• Should not contain

• Methods overview

• Information that is in the title

• More words than necessary (aim for 200 or less)

• References to the figures or literature

Abstract

Introduction

• Provides the necessary background and context for your study

• Explains the significance of your work

• Explains the current state of the field

• Shows where the current gaps in knowledge are

• Justifies your work as fitting into the knowledge gaps

Methods

• Explain in detail how you conducted the experiments you did

• Should be enough detail to be reproducible

• Be specific and exact in your description of the materials

• Ex: 5 week old Acheta domestica crickets from flucker farms

Results

• Break into sections based on the findings of the experiments

• Use figures and tables to guide your writing

• Explain the major findings of each figure

• Be concise:

• "It is clearly evident from Fig. 1 that bird species richness increased with habitat complexity“

• "Bird species richness increased with habitat complexity (Fig. 1)“

• Make sure to explain the trends in your data and what they mean in the context of yourstudy and in relation to your hypothesis

Discussion• Summarize your findings into a conclusion

• What implications come from your conclusions?

• How do these findings change the current understanding of the field?

• How do your findings compare to findings of others in the field?

• What are future directions or applications of your work?

• Make sure all of your conclusions are directly supported by your results- reference whichexperiments support each conclusion

• Remain unbiased, don’t reach further than what the results can support

Bibliography / Citations

• Vancouver style references

• References with are numbered within sentences

• Male crickets often fight over resources (2,5).

• Bibliography:

• Surname Initial(s). Article title. Title of journal with standard abbreviation. Date ofpublication;Volume(number):Pages.

• Kwan I, Mapstone J. Visibility aids for pedestrians and cyclists: a systematic review ofrandomised controlled trials. Accid Anal Prev. 2004;36(3):305-12.

• Ordered chronologically based on when you refer to them in your writing

resources

• Basic overview of each section of a paper:

• https://www.scidev.net/global/publishing/practical-guide/how-do-i-write-a-scientific-paper-.html

• Detailed advice for each section:

• https://www.nature.com/scitable/ebooks/english-communication-for-scientists-14053993/writing-scientific-papers-14239285/

• Bibliography:

• https://innsida.ntnu.no/wiki/-/wiki/English/Using+the+Vancouver+reference+style