Writing a scientific paper in Writing a scientific paper in the format of the journal the format of the journal
EcologyEcologyBOT 332 University of AlbertaBOT 332 University of Alberta
DATA COLLECTION
EXPERIMENTCritical test of null hypothesis
OBSERVATIONSPatterns in space or time
HYPOTHESISPredictions based on model
MODELSExplanations or theories
INTERPRETATION
After Underwood (1997)
RESULTS
METHODS
INTRODUCTION
DISCUSSION
DATA COLLECTION
EXPERIMENTCritical test of null hypothesis
OBSERVATIONSPatterns in space or time
HYPOTHESISPredictions based on model
MODELSExplanations or theories
INTERPRETATION
After Underwood (1997)
RESULTS
METHODS
INTRODUCTION
DISCUSSION
DATA COLLECTION
EXPERIMENTCritical test of null hypothesis
OBSERVATIONSPatterns in space or time
HYPOTHESISPredictions based on model
MODELSExplanations or theories
INTERPRETATION
After Underwood (1997)
RESULTS
METHODS
INTRODUCTION
DISCUSSION
INTRODUCTION
OBSERVATIONSPatterns in space or time
HYPOTHESISPredictions based on model
MODELSExplanations or theories
INTRODUCTIONOBSERVATIONS
Patterns in space or time
HYPOTHESISPredictions based on model
MODELSExplanations or theories
Reason for doing the researchReason for doing the research Research questions/hypotheses/predictionsResearch questions/hypotheses/predictions Citations for other major studies on same topicCitations for other major studies on same topic
General to specific: e.g.General to specific: e.g.
Plants compete. Some of the effects are…Plants compete. Some of the effects are…Vorhees and Myers (2001) found…Vorhees and Myers (2001) found…
However, it is not clear why…; There is However, it is not clear why…; There is little evidence showing…;little evidence showing…;or or A question A question still remains... [I am doing this study still remains... [I am doing this study because…]because…]
Density has been shown to…Density has been shown to…Response X is also a function of relative Response X is also a function of relative
abundanceabundance
To test the effect of density and relative To test the effect of density and relative abundance we grew oats and beans …abundance we grew oats and beans …
These species are useful because…These species are useful because…It was hypothesized that…It was hypothesized that…and/or and/or It was predicted that…BECAUSE…It was predicted that…BECAUSE…
INTRODUCTION
Describe what was done…Describe what was done… e.g. “The seeds where sown…”e.g. “The seeds where sown…”
Give as much detail as necessary for someone Give as much detail as necessary for someone else to repeat itelse to repeat it
Not a list of instructionsNot a list of instructions Name the statistical analyses you used to test Name the statistical analyses you used to test
effects of treatmentseffects of treatments Cite the program you usedCite the program you used
METHODS
A summary of the important data you collectedA summary of the important data you collected Provides evidence supporting/not supporting your Provides evidence supporting/not supporting your
hypothesishypothesis Should include little/no interpretationShould include little/no interpretation Includes tables that summarise, but do NOT Includes tables that summarise, but do NOT
duplicate textduplicate text Includes figures where these make things clearerIncludes figures where these make things clearer
Point out main features in textPoint out main features in text
RESULTS
Figures and Tables must have a Figures and Tables must have a number and titlenumber and title
RESULTS
All figures and tables must be referred to in the textAll figures and tables must be referred to in the text Figures and tables should be numbered in the order Figures and tables should be numbered in the order
they are cited in the textthey are cited in the text
RESULTS
The important statistical details should be The important statistical details should be given in the text…given in the text…
‘‘The overall mortality of transplanted gobies The overall mortality of transplanted gobies (mean = 1.04 ± 0.004) was slightly greater than (mean = 1.04 ± 0.004) was slightly greater than that of residents (1.03 ± 0.001), and this difference that of residents (1.03 ± 0.001), and this difference was significant (paired was significant (paired tt test, df = 17, test, df = 17, tt = 2.31, = 2.31, PP = = 0.041). ‘0.041). ‘
RESULTS
The important statistical details should be The important statistical details should be given in the text…given in the text…
‘‘The rate of banana consumption differed The rate of banana consumption differed significantly between monkeys, fish and members significantly between monkeys, fish and members of the sewing circle (ANOVA, df = 2,36, F = 1.42, of the sewing circle (ANOVA, df = 2,36, F = 1.42, PP = 0.023). ‘ = 0.023). ‘
RESULTS
MUST ADDRESS THE QUESTION(S) THE MUST ADDRESS THE QUESTION(S) THE PAPER IS ABOUTPAPER IS ABOUT make reference to your hypothesis/predictions – make reference to your hypothesis/predictions –
where these supported?where these supported? ……AND whether your findings are ecologically AND whether your findings are ecologically
realisticrealistic Should include references that support and/or Should include references that support and/or
challenge your results and ideaschallenge your results and ideas Should talk up the good, as well as the badShould talk up the good, as well as the bad
DISCUSSION
Evaluation of experimental methods used Evaluation of experimental methods used Ways to find out more about the Ways to find out more about the specificspecific
questions askedquestions asked End with a concluding paragraph that sums up:End with a concluding paragraph that sums up:
what you didwhat you did what you foundwhat you found your main conclusionsyour main conclusions
EXPAND ON WHAT WAS IN THE EXPAND ON WHAT WAS IN THE RESULTS – DON’T JUST REPEAT!RESULTS – DON’T JUST REPEAT!
DISCUSSION
Before you put pen to paper:Before you put pen to paper: Make a list of what you put in the results on scrap Make a list of what you put in the results on scrap
paperpaper Think about what these results tell you about your Think about what these results tell you about your
hypothesishypothesis Plan a way to discuss them in a logical orderPlan a way to discuss them in a logical order Consult your TAsConsult your TAs
DISCUSSION
RUNNING HEADRUNNING HEAD
Journal title, volume(issue), page numbers, publisherJournal title, volume(issue), page numbers, publisher
Don’t worry about it!
TITLETITLE Captures the topic of the paper and possibly its Captures the topic of the paper and possibly its
findingsfindings Not more than 13 wordsNot more than 13 words Be specificBe specific
LIST OF AUTHORSLIST OF AUTHORS
LIST OF AUTHORSLIST OF AUTHORS
Give student #, NOT your nameGive student #, NOT your name Put your department and University address Put your department and University address
underneathunderneath
ABSTRACTABSTRACT
ABSTRACTABSTRACT
A brief summary of the paperA brief summary of the paper The research questionThe research question What you didWhat you did Most important resultsMost important results Major conclusionsMajor conclusions
Don’t give citationsDon’t give citations Not greater than 200 wordsNot greater than 200 words Be concise!Be concise!
KEYWORDSKEYWORDS Words that a search engine could pick upWords that a search engine could pick up
e.g. interspecific competition, intraspecific competition e.g. interspecific competition, intraspecific competition
LITERATURE CITEDLITERATURE CITED
Includes ALL the references cited in the textIncludes ALL the references cited in the text Spelling and dates must correspondSpelling and dates must correspond List references in alphabetical order by first List references in alphabetical order by first
authorauthor Format varies from journal to journalFormat varies from journal to journal
LITERATURE CITED – the LITERATURE CITED – the EcologyEcology way way
Frego, K.A. and T.J. Carleton. 1995. Microsite tolerance of four bryophytes in Frego, K.A. and T.J. Carleton. 1995. Microsite tolerance of four bryophytes in
a mature black spruce stand: reciprocal transplants. The Bryologist 98: a mature black spruce stand: reciprocal transplants. The Bryologist 98:
452-458. 452-458.
Only FIRST author’s surname comes first!
Name. Date. Title. Journal title. Volume #: page numbers
INDENT after first line!(hanging indent)
SPELLING!!
No issue number!
LITERATURE CITED – the LITERATURE CITED – the EcologyEcology way way
Name. Date. Title. Publisher. City and country publisher is based in
Books are not generally considered to be primary references!
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Formal ‘Thank-you’sFormal ‘Thank-you’s
DISCUSSIONwith concluding paragraph
RESULTSwith figures and tables
ABSTRACT and KEYWORDS
METHODS
INTRODUCTION
LITERATURE CITED
After Underwood (1997)
And…
• LIST OF AUTHORS
• ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
We will provide the dataWe will provide the data You must interpret graphical output and You must interpret graphical output and
statisticsstatistics Read Steve’s handout for details on the topic Read Steve’s handout for details on the topic
of the paperof the paper Read the lab manual – pages 19-24 for general Read the lab manual – pages 19-24 for general
information on manuscript formatinformation on manuscript format Worth 13% of overall gradeWorth 13% of overall grade
The assignment – Write a paper for The assignment – Write a paper for submission to submission to EcologyEcology
10-12 Pages of text (not including figures, 10-12 Pages of text (not including figures, tables and Literature Cited)tables and Literature Cited)
Give 5 references from the primary literature Give 5 references from the primary literature (journals)(journals)
12-point font12-point font EVERYTHING DOUBLE SPACED!EVERYTHING DOUBLE SPACED! 1-inch margins1-inch margins One side of paper onlyOne side of paper only
The assignment – Write a paper for The assignment – Write a paper for submission to submission to EcologyEcology
Each Figure/Table on its own sheet and numbered but WITHOUT titles
Figure/Table numbers and titles listed on a separate sheet
The assignment – Write a paper for The assignment – Write a paper for submission to submission to EcologyEcology
FORMATTING SPECIFICSFORMATTING SPECIFICS In-text citationsIn-text citations
1 author1 author
The assignment – Write a paper for The assignment – Write a paper for submission to submission to EcologyEcology
FORMATTING SPECIFICSFORMATTING SPECIFICS In-text citationsIn-text citations
2 authors2 authors
The assignment – Write a paper for The assignment – Write a paper for submission to submission to EcologyEcology
FORMATTING SPECIFICSFORMATTING SPECIFICS In-text citationsIn-text citations
>2 authors>2 authors
The assignment – Write a paper for The assignment – Write a paper for submission to submission to EcologyEcology
FORMATTING SPECIFICSFORMATTING SPECIFICS In-text citationsIn-text citations
Avoid direct quotes – PARAPHRASE!Avoid direct quotes – PARAPHRASE!
GENERAL POINTSGENERAL POINTS
Past tense/active voicePast tense/active voice
GENERAL POINTSGENERAL POINTS
Assume the reader is ignorant and stupid - be Assume the reader is ignorant and stupid - be specific and explicitspecific and explicit
Assume the reader has a short memory – Assume the reader has a short memory – repeat details if appropriate…repeat details if appropriate…
……but avoid repeating something if you are not but avoid repeating something if you are not expanding on what you said beforeexpanding on what you said before
Data are plural!Data are plural!