Scientific PaperScientific Paper

ElementsElements

Title, Abstract, Introduction, Methods Title, Abstract, Introduction, Methods and Materials, Results, Discussion, and Materials, Results, Discussion, Literature CitedLiterature Cited

The actual words Abstract, The actual words Abstract, Introduction, etc. are centered on the Introduction, etc. are centered on the line above the text of each section. line above the text of each section. The exception is the Title that appears The exception is the Title that appears alone.alone.

WritingWriting

The writing should be clear, logical, The writing should be clear, logical, orderly, free of grammatical and orderly, free of grammatical and spelling errors.spelling errors.

Do not refer to the writer or Do not refer to the writer or experimenters by name or with experimenters by name or with personal pronouns.personal pronouns.

TitleTitle

Tell the reader the type of work being Tell the reader the type of work being reportedreported

Organism studiedOrganism studied Aspect or system examinedAspect or system examined Variable(s) manipulatedVariable(s) manipulated Follow the title by the author(s) names Follow the title by the author(s) names

and affiliation(s)and affiliation(s)

AbstractAbstract

A one or two paragraph condensation A one or two paragraph condensation of the entire paper.of the entire paper.

Provides the main features and results Provides the main features and results of the work.of the work.

Should be able to stand alone.Should be able to stand alone.

IntroductionIntroduction

Present the question at issuePresent the question at issue Present background information about Present background information about

why the question is of interestwhy the question is of interest Place the question in the context of Place the question in the context of

what is already known about the topicwhat is already known about the topic Present what the current study might Present what the current study might

contribute to the questioncontribute to the question Present the hypotheses being testedPresent the hypotheses being tested

Study SiteStudy Site

Describe the field locationDescribe the field location Describe the sampling procedureDescribe the sampling procedure

MethodsMethods

Describe the materials and procedures Describe the materials and procedures usedused

Should allow others to repeat your study to Should allow others to repeat your study to see if they would get similar resultssee if they would get similar results

Published techniques that you’ve used Published techniques that you’ve used should be cited without describing them in should be cited without describing them in detaildetail

Use past tense and tell the reader what was Use past tense and tell the reader what was done (not how to do it).done (not how to do it).

ResultsResults

Present the results of your studyPresent the results of your study Be clear, without comment or bias or Be clear, without comment or bias or

interpretationinterpretation Graphs, data tables and figures are Graphs, data tables and figures are

importantimportant Report statistical testsReport statistical tests Do not draw conclusions in this Do not draw conclusions in this

sectionsection

DiscussionDiscussion

Evaluate the meaning of your resultsEvaluate the meaning of your results Draw conclusions about your original Draw conclusions about your original

hypotheseshypotheses Present the significance of your conclusions Present the significance of your conclusions

in regards to the question at issuein regards to the question at issue Present what the study has contributed to Present what the study has contributed to

the overall understanding of the questionthe overall understanding of the question

Literature CitedLiterature Cited

List all published work mentioned in List all published work mentioned in your paperyour paper

Use style presented in your handbook Use style presented in your handbook or see the or see the CSE Style ManualCSE Style Manual