Writing a Scientific Paper

There are two reasons why you should learn how to write good reports of your science projects.

1. by putting your work into words, you will gain a better understanding of your project.

2. knowing you are going to write a report of your project and what should be included in the report will help you plan and conduct the project. You will have to apply the same scientific method - the planned, orderly procedures - in writing, as you do in your science work.

A paper on a scientific or technical subject necessarily consists of:

a) a report of facts b) an interpretation of facts c) a combination of a report and an interpretation.

(1) The method of writing is governed by many conditions, including the nature of the subject, the purpose of the article, the characteristics of the writer, and the interests of the probable readers. No set method or arrangement will be suited to all kinds of papers.

(2) It is important that the plan of the composition be made very clear to the reader. The main topics and their subdivisions should be plainly indicated. In this respect scientific writing differs from literary composition.

(3) A scientific paper is intended to be studied and used as reference; it is not merely to be read. Hence literary devices should be subordinated if they interfere with clearness. The plan should be self-evident throughout the composition.

The Title

A good title will distingush your project report from all others which have to do with the same general area of study. Titles of scinetific reports should convey important information rather than show off the author's cleverness.

Abstract

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The abstract is a brief condensation of the whole paper.

• A 100- to 150-word summary of the report should follow the title (in geosciences, 300-500 words is rather common). This summary should include in one paragraph a statement of the purpose of the project, general methods or procedures used, and principal findings and conclusions. The purpose of an abstract is to give the reader enough information for him to decide whether or not to read the whole report.

Introduction

(& background information) This section should give the reader enough information to be able to understand the history and the importance of your problem. It will often include a review of other people's findings. If well written, this section will explain your motives for undertaking the project and will stimulate the reader. In short, this section contains:

A. Nature of the problem; its state at the beginning of the investigation.

B. Purpose, scope, and method of the investigation.

C. Most significant outcome of the investigation; the state of the problem at the end of the investigation. (this part is not always there)

The Problem

• •

If your report is based on the study of specific problem, the problem should be clearly stated or defined. You should tell whether you are searching for or testing hypotheses, suggesting a theory, or merely reporting some observations to be made under clearly specified conditions.

The best reports will include a discussion of the relationship between the problem and existing theories.

Hypotheses to be tested

•

If one or a series of experiments is being reported, all hypotheses being tested should be stated. This section may also include a discussion of what the possible experimental results will mean in terms of accepting or rejecting the hypotheses.

Experimental procedures

1.

Anyone who reads your report should, with the proper materials and facilities, be able to repeat your experiment or observations and obtain similar results. Therefore, you must describe in detail all of the equipment and conditions (T, P, etc.).

2.

Photographs and drawings can be used as well as words. Every step in your procedure should be carefully explained. If you discover that some method of doing something will not work, mention it so that others will not repeat your mistake. In brief: (a) Description of the equipment and materials employed.

(b) Description of the experiments. Explanation of the way in which the work was done. (Give sufficient detail to enable a competent worker to repeat your experiments. Emphasize the features that are new.)

Result (data) & Observations

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Presentation and description of the results.

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Numerical data such as measurements and other statistics are best presented in the form of tables and figures.

Discussion of results

(Analysis and Interpretation of Data or Observations)

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In simple, short reports, this section may sometimes be included with the preceding one. The analysis of numerical data may include graphs and scattergrams. Statistical methods may be used to discover relationships. Non-mathematical observations should be analyzed and interpreted in terms of the hypotheses that were being tested. In other words,

a. Main principles, causal relations, or genralisations that are shown by the results.

b. Evidence (as shown by your data) for each of the main conclusions.

c. Exceptions and opposing theories, and explanations of these.

d. Comparison of your results and interpretations with those of other workers.

Conclusions

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In this section, each hypothesis should be re examined and rejected if the data show it be wrong. Hypotheses which are supported by the research can be tentatively accepted for further testing. You will seldom be able to fully accept a hypothesis.

•

In earth science papers, this section is commonly presented concisely and in a style of point-by-point. It is sufficiently different from « abstract » in format.

Implications & Recommendations

• •

In this next-to-last section of your report, you should discuss any meaning your research may have for a better understanding of a broad area of science. You should also include a discussion of any new problems (or revision of hypothesis) that have been suggested by your study. Never try to draw illogical connections between your research results and unrelated areas of interest and study.

In earth sciences, this section is often included in « Conclusions »

Acknowledgements

The order of acknowledgement generally follows this rule: 1. The persons who have helped you carry out this research (help you in generating ideas through discussion, producing data, etc.).

2. The persons who have reviewed your paper and provided comments and suggestions.

3. The organisations which provided financial support to your research.

4. Contribution number of your research institute.

Reference (or Bibliography)

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You should strictly follow the style imposed by each individual journal.

•

If you are a young researcher or student, I highly recommend you to use « EndNote » software to build up your own bibliography. This will save you a lot of time in the research and/or preparation of a scientific paper.

General Elements of Scientific Writing

Content

Title Title page Authorship and affiliation Give the author his due credit and responsibility for the research, for the convenience of cataloguing, indexing and referencing Abstract The page, contains the title of paper, its authors and their affiliations, and the name of the corresponding author and its addressees including e-mail A shortened form of the article, giving only the most important facts or arguments to help reader understand and assess the paper, or help him decide whether the paper is the one he needs, and whether he should read it through.

Keywords Acknowledge ments

Aim

A short phrase that summarizes the entire topic for the convenience of reading, cataloguing, indexing and referencing Help computer system provide indexing functionality and abstracts of articles A short paragraph in which the writer names people or other organizations that have helped in completing the research work and writing the paper

Application

All kinds of papers and reports Long articles All kinds of papers and reports Parts of papers, reports, especially journal articles Journal articles Generally required Contents The list of items or parts contained in an article, with the number of the page they begin on A longer article or paper should have an index page

List of illustrations Glossary of terms and abbreviations Make separate lists for figures as well as tables and their corresponding page numbers for the convenience of referencing Provide a list of specialized, technical, or abbreviated terms with their meanings which occurred in the paper for the convenience of referencing Articles with many figures and tables Articles with many specialized terms, symbols & abbreviations Introduction Introduce the background of the paper, explain its theme and goal, and give information about its contents for the preparation of further reading All kinds of papers and reports Background Background is often a part of Introduction, but some papers treat them separately. If Background is to be separated from Introduction, Introduction will focus on the unveiling of the organizational structure, whereas Background on the introduction of history and goal about the research. Additionally, the goal can also be put in another section.

Depends Materials and methods Introduce the basic elements of the research and experiment, as well as the methods and means to perform qualitative and quantitative analyses. It should be detailed enough so a skilled laboratory technician could duplicate the experiment through each step described. This section should enable a reader with suitable background to exercise judgment on the rationality and effectiveness of the experiment results. Required in a paper or report. Some articles call this "procedure".

Results Discussion Introduce the information one gets from a scientific experiment or medical test Explain, conclude, analyze, compare and summarize the results of the experiment, then lift it to the theory level Necessary for most papers and reports except for application forms and feasibility reports It is necessary for most papers and reports except for application forms and feasibility reports Conclusion Provide answers to the all questions from the introduction, get final results mainly from full texts discussed Applicable to papers and reports Suggestions for future research Based on research subjects indicate issues needed for further study List of references Appendices Parts of papers, reports To prevent from plagiarism, acknowledge correlations of your work and opinions with other researchers Citations of other’s articles, directly or indirectly List all relevant data, facilities, codes, and charts to enhance the fluency and readability of the articles When there are many complicated supportive materials of the papers and reports

Index List key words in alphabetical orders, also state their page numbers for the convenience of referencing Long articles Facts about the author Provide study background of the authors for the assessment of their articles.

Distinguished journals, papers

Bon appétit !