scientific writing part ii july 23, 2003

Scientific Writing Part IIScientific Writing Part IIJuly 23, 2003July 23, 2003

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The Scientific Paper (overview)The Scientific Paper (overview)

A scientific paper contains specific parts A scientific paper contains specific parts that are organized in a specific mannerthat are organized in a specific manner

The paper’s objectives and goals are The paper’s objectives and goals are explicitexplicit

The paper is addressing a specific The paper is addressing a specific audience audience

The Scientific Paper (overview)The Scientific Paper (overview)

The paper reflects the level of researchThe paper reflects the level of research• Past researchPast research• Opposing researchOpposing research• Reconciles issuesReconciles issues

The paper has been through the review The paper has been through the review process many timesprocess many times• Self proofingSelf proofing• Colleagues, advisors, non-specialistsColleagues, advisors, non-specialists• Editors, anonymous reviewersEditors, anonymous reviewers

Structure of the Scientific PaperStructure of the Scientific Paper

1.1. Title pageTitle page2.2. AbstractAbstract3.3. IntroductionIntroduction4.4. Materials and methodsMaterials and methods5.5. ResultsResults6.6. DiscussionDiscussion7.7. AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements8.8. Literature CitedLiterature Cited


The TITLE PAGE (1/8)The TITLE PAGE (1/8)

• The title of the paperThe title of the paper A single sentence that describes the topic of A single sentence that describes the topic of

the paperthe paper

• Author’s name and addressAuthor’s name and address

The population genetics of The population genetics of Epinephelus merraEpinephelus merra of the Society of the Society IslandsIslands

Gregorio BenavidesUniversity of California, Santa CruzCenter of Ocean HealthSanta Cruz, CA 95060Email: [email protected]

Example of a title page:

Scientific names of organisms are in italics

The ABSTRACT (2/8)The ABSTRACT (2/8)

• ““Abstracts and summaries are hard to write Abstracts and summaries are hard to write because you have little space to create a big because you have little space to create a big impact”impact”

• ““This is the first – and sometimes last – impression This is the first – and sometimes last – impression that readers and reviewers get of your work”that readers and reviewers get of your work”

• ““It is worth slaving over”It is worth slaving over”

Dr. Laurel Fox, UCSCDr. Laurel Fox, UCSC



• It is a brief synopsis of the entire paper It is a brief synopsis of the entire paper in a series of sentences:in a series of sentences:

First sentence: Summary of your First sentence: Summary of your introductionintroduction

Next sentence or two: Your methodsNext sentence or two: Your methods Next sentence: Your resultsNext sentence: Your results Final sentence: The most important Final sentence: The most important

conclusionconclusion



• The abstract does not contain The abstract does not contain referenced sentencesreferenced sentences

““The geography of speciation has long been The geography of speciation has long been contentious. In recent years, phylogenetic contentious. In recent years, phylogenetic approaches have been proposed to approaches have been proposed to determine the geographical mode of determine the geographical mode of speciation (Brooks et al., 1991; Barraclough speciation (Brooks et al., 1991; Barraclough and Vogler, 2000; Berlocher, 1998).and Vogler, 2000; Berlocher, 1998).



• In some cases, you may want to include In some cases, you may want to include the name of a researcherthe name of a researcher

Name of the hypothesis or process is named Name of the hypothesis or process is named after the scientistafter the scientist

““McArthur and Wilson’s theory of McArthur and Wilson’s theory of island biogeography dictates that…”island biogeography dictates that…”


The INTRODUCTION (3/8)The INTRODUCTION (3/8)

• Serves two purposes:Serves two purposes:

1.1. To provide background on the To provide background on the question you will addressquestion you will address

2.2. To state and justify To state and justify youryour hypothesis hypothesis



1.1. Background on the question you will Background on the question you will address: what it entailsaddress: what it entails

A.A. Review the primary and secondary Review the primary and secondary literatureliterature

B.B. Summarize and synthesizeSummarize and synthesize

C.C. Condense into one or two paragraphsCondense into one or two paragraphs


Reflect the level of understanding that Reflect the level of understanding that you have on the subjectyou have on the subject


• Whenever you quote someone, or even Whenever you quote someone, or even paraphrase their idea, you must CITE paraphrase their idea, you must CITE THEMTHEM


Examples of how to cite references:Examples of how to cite references:• ““For complex calculations, parallel processors For complex calculations, parallel processors

are superior to current computer are superior to current computer architecture,” architecture,” (Smith 1980)(Smith 1980)

• The use of parallel processors for complex The use of parallel processors for complex mathematical calculations was first proposed mathematical calculations was first proposed by by Smith (1980)Smith (1980) for handling complex for handling complex calculationscalculations

• As early as As early as 19801980, parallel processors were , parallel processors were believed to be the optimal computer believed to be the optimal computer architecture for handling complex architecture for handling complex calculations calculations (Smith)(Smith)


Examples of how to cite references:Examples of how to cite references:

• ““Guns don’t kill people, people kill people” Guns don’t kill people, people kill people” (Smith and Wesson, 1980; Uzi 1990a, 1990b)(Smith and Wesson, 1980; Uzi 1990a, 1990b)

• The results of numerous studies on smoking The results of numerous studies on smoking have shown that smoking is not addictive to have shown that smoking is not addictive to any significant degree any significant degree (Benson 1980; Hedges (Benson 1980; Hedges 1985)1985)

• The use of DDT for controlling mosquito The use of DDT for controlling mosquito populations has not been shown to have an populations has not been shown to have an adverse effect on the brown pelican or other adverse effect on the brown pelican or other shore birds shore birds (Monsanto et al., 1977; (Monsanto et al., 1977; Shellthinner 1985)Shellthinner 1985)


The MATERIALS The MATERIALS ANDAND METHODS METHODS section (4/8)section (4/8)

• Provide information on your Provide information on your experimental designexperimental design

Setup of your experimentsSetup of your experiments• Location, number of replicates, how you Location, number of replicates, how you

measured activity, diagrams, etc.measured activity, diagrams, etc.



• Provide information on your Provide information on your experimental designexperimental design

Identify experimental conditionsIdentify experimental conditions• Directly relates to your questionDirectly relates to your question• Should be explicitly statedShould be explicitly stated



• You may need to cite references in the You may need to cite references in the M&MM&M

Method you are using is based on or is Method you are using is based on or is exactly like on used in another studyexactly like on used in another study

• You want to replicate studyYou want to replicate study• Shorter than re-stating the whole experimental Shorter than re-stating the whole experimental

designdesign


The RESULTS section (5/8)The RESULTS section (5/8)

• There is only one goal: the There is only one goal: the presentation of your datapresentation of your data

• Focus on information that pertains Focus on information that pertains directly to your hypothesisdirectly to your hypothesis


Structure of the Scientific PaperStructure of the Scientific PaperAvoid reporting results twiceAvoid reporting results twice

The Effect of Temperature on HSP Concentration in Trematomus bernachii

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0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

0 2 4 6 8 10 12

Temperature (Celsius)

Co

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en

tra

tio

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(mic

rom

ole

s)


• Use text to present data, orUse text to present data, or

• Use tables and figures, butUse tables and figures, but

• Don’t say the same thing twice!!Don’t say the same thing twice!!



• Things that you will report:Things that you will report:• Data that will allow you to verify/backup Data that will allow you to verify/backup

your hypothesisyour hypothesis• Results of the statistical testsResults of the statistical tests• Results of your experimentsResults of your experiments



• Things that you will NOT include:Things that you will NOT include:• Interpretation of the dataInterpretation of the data• In most cases, referencesIn most cases, references• Discussion of your resultsDiscussion of your results• More background dataMore background data


The DISCUSSION section (6/8)The DISCUSSION section (6/8)

• Here is where you interpret the dataHere is where you interpret the data Were your hypothesis supported?Were your hypothesis supported? Speculate on the resultsSpeculate on the results Synthesize what you know about the topicSynthesize what you know about the topic Use you imaginationUse you imagination



• Here is where you interpret the dataHere is where you interpret the data What are the implications of your findings?What are the implications of your findings? Step back and examine the SIGNIFICANCE Step back and examine the SIGNIFICANCE

of your findingsof your findings• Are they universal? Can they apply to other Are they universal? Can they apply to other

systems?systems?



• Here is where you interpret the dataHere is where you interpret the data Reconcile your findings with those of other Reconcile your findings with those of other

people’s workpeople’s work Offer why there may be differencesOffer why there may be differences Look AHEADLook AHEAD


The ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS section The ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS section (7/8)(7/8)

• Here is where you thank anyone who Here is where you thank anyone who helped with the design and execution helped with the design and execution of your project.of your project.

• Thank and list the funding sourcesThank and list the funding sources


The LITERATURE CITED section (8/8)The LITERATURE CITED section (8/8)

• List all of the references that you cited List all of the references that you cited in the paperin the paper

• Use the convention or “rules” set by Use the convention or “rules” set by the journal or professorthe journal or professor



NOW YOU ARE NOW YOU ARE DONE!!DONE!!

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scientific writing part ii july 23, 2003

Documents

scientific paperthe

scientific paperexamples

scientific writing

scientific paperthe

paper authors

entire paper

people smith

resultsfinal sentence