Parts of a Scientific Paper

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The factor that was manipulated (the treatment variable). The parameter that was measured (the response variable). The organism that was used, preferably mentioned by scientific name.
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Title should include:
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Allows scientists to determine quickly if the paper is worth their time reading
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What does an abstract do?
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A summary of your entire paper in about 200-400 words and should include 1-2 sentences about the introduction to the broad study, 1-3 sentences about methods, 1-3 results sentences, and a concluding sentence
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How to write an abstract
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Allows others to assess the validity of your experimental design, to understand your lab techniques, and to know the experiment you used
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Purpose of Methods section
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What did you find for your experiment?? Just pure data no interpretation.
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Results
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It gives the big lessons that can be learned from the work, and it compares the work to other similar research found in the literature
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What does the discussion do?
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Always filled with references to the scientific literature, emphasis be broadly applicable to generalizations and principles
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Do's of the discussion section
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Do not summarize (one paragraph in beginning is okay). Don't use subheadings unless very complicated
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Don'ts of the discussion
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Interpretations of the data in light of literature available prior to the study. Were your results expected or unexpected? Implications of the results in the real world. Main principles demonstrated from results
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Things to definitely include in discussion
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Provide a clear answer to the question posed at the end of the introduction
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How to end a discussion section
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When a reader needs to see the actual values, not just the trends. When you have too many values to list individually in the text
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When do you use tables?
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Number each table separately from figures, the caption goes above, organize date in columns to be read up and down, include units in column names, use a table caption and add explanation of columns if needed
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Organization of Tables
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What results are being shown in the graph The organism studied in the experiment (if applicable), Context for the results: The treatment applied or the relationship displayed, etc. location (ONLY if a field experiment), Sample sizes and Statistical test summaries as they apply
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Figures should include:
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Figure 1: The mean diameter of the zone of inhibition of Staphylococcus epidermidis when subcultured in the presence of Triclosan and ethanol (control) over the course of 3 days (n=4). Error bars represent SE.
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Example figure
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Alphabetical order, hanging first line, only capitalize first word of article title, no italics or underline in title, italicize journal titles and book titles, pay attention to punctiuation
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References
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One author Abbott, T. 1999. The earth stands still when when professors speak. Journal of Irreproducible Results 50:1-5. Two authors Ashford, C.J. and Smith, O. 2004. Do professors know what they are talking about? Journal of Unacceptable Questions 101:20-30.
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Examples of journal references
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Follow a logical outline to the reader understands every step. Use past tense. Describe basic experimental design. Use subheadings for each major task. Use precise language. Definitions of new terms and abbreviations. Conditions of the experiment (temperature, light, pH). And finally end with statistical tests and justification.
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Structure of a methods sectiom
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