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Guidelines For Writing A Scientific Paper

WRITINGA SCIENTIFIC PAPER I Gde Raka Widiana Writing an effective scientific paper is not easy. A good rule of thumb is to write as if your paper will be read by a person who knows about the field in general but does not already know what you did. Before you write a scientific paper read some scientific papers that have been written in the format of the paper you plan to use. In addition to the science, pay attention to the writing style and format. The Anatomy of Thesis or Research Paper Title Abstract Introduction Materials and Methods Results Discussion (Summary) References Abstract An abstract is a succinct (one paragraph) summary of the entire paper. The abstract should briefly describe the question posed in the paper, the methods used to answer this question the results obtained, and the conclusions. It should be possible to determine the major points of a paper by reading the abstract. Although it is located at the beginning of the paper, it is easiest to write the abstract after the paper is completed. Introduction The Introduction should (i) describe the question tested by the experiments described in the paper, (ii) explain why this is an interesting or important question, (iii) describe the approach used in sufficient detail that a reader who is not familiar with the technique will understand what was done and why, and Materials and Methods succinctly describe what was actually done. It should include description of the techniques used so someone could figure out what experiments were actually done. The details of a published protocol do not need to be reproduced in the text but an appropriate reference should be cited – e.g., simply indicate “were done as described by Hughes et al. (4)”. Results Begin each paragraph with an opening sentence that tells the reader what question is being tested in the experiments described in that paragraph. Write the opening sentence in bold font for emphasis. (Sometimes a complete sentence is used and sometimes a short phrase is used– either style is OK but the style should be used consistently throughout the manuscript.) Any results that include multiple data points that are critical for the reader to evaluate the experiment should be shown in tables or figures. However, the results should be summarized in accompanying text. Results (cont’d) The text of the Results section should be succinct but should provide the reader with a summary of the results of each table or figure. Not all results deserve a separate table or figure. As a rule of thumb, if there are only a few numerical results or a simple conclusion describe the results in the text instead of in a table or figure. Your paper should focus on what worked, not things that did not work (unless they didn’t work for reasons that are interesting and provide biological insights). Tables and Figures Should be put into a contextual framework in the corresponding text. It should be possible to figure out the meaning of a Table or Figure without referring to the text. Tables and figures should typically summarize results, not present large amounts of raw data. When possible, the results should provide some way of evaluating the reproducibility or statistical significance of any numbers presented. Tables and Figures should be sequentially numbered. Tables and figures may be printed on separate pages that follow the Reference section. Discussion Do not simply restate the results — explain your conclusions and interpretations of the Results section. How did your results compare with the expected results? What further predictions can be gleaned from the results? Citations There are a variety of ways of citing references in the text – the style used depends upon the policy of the journal (Harvard or Vancouver style). In text citations should refer to reference list. Reference lists Like citations, a variety of reference formats are used by di

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329 views20 pages

Guidelines For Writing A Scientific Paper

WRITINGA SCIENTIFIC PAPER I Gde Raka Widiana Writing an effective scientific paper is not easy. A good rule of thumb is to write as if your paper will be read by a person who knows about the field in general but does not already know what you did. Before you write a scientific paper read some scientific papers that have been written in the format of the paper you plan to use. In addition to the science, pay attention to the writing style and format. The Anatomy of Thesis or Research Paper Title Abstract Introduction Materials and Methods Results Discussion (Summary) References Abstract An abstract is a succinct (one paragraph) summary of the entire paper. The abstract should briefly describe the question posed in the paper, the methods used to answer this question the results obtained, and the conclusions. It should be possible to determine the major points of a paper by reading the abstract. Although it is located at the beginning of the paper, it is easiest to write the abstract after the paper is completed. Introduction The Introduction should (i) describe the question tested by the experiments described in the paper, (ii) explain why this is an interesting or important question, (iii) describe the approach used in sufficient detail that a reader who is not familiar with the technique will understand what was done and why, and Materials and Methods succinctly describe what was actually done. It should include description of the techniques used so someone could figure out what experiments were actually done. The details of a published protocol do not need to be reproduced in the text but an appropriate reference should be cited – e.g., simply indicate “were done as described by Hughes et al. (4)”. Results Begin each paragraph with an opening sentence that tells the reader what question is being tested in the experiments described in that paragraph. Write the opening sentence in bold font for emphasis. (Sometimes a complete sentence is used and sometimes a short phrase is used– either style is OK but the style should be used consistently throughout the manuscript.) Any results that include multiple data points that are critical for the reader to evaluate the experiment should be shown in tables or figures. However, the results should be summarized in accompanying text. Results (cont’d) The text of the Results section should be succinct but should provide the reader with a summary of the results of each table or figure. Not all results deserve a separate table or figure. As a rule of thumb, if there are only a few numerical results or a simple conclusion describe the results in the text instead of in a table or figure. Your paper should focus on what worked, not things that did not work (unless they didn’t work for reasons that are interesting and provide biological insights). Tables and Figures Should be put into a contextual framework in the corresponding text. It should be possible to figure out the meaning of a Table or Figure without referring to the text. Tables and figures should typically summarize results, not present large amounts of raw data. When possible, the results should provide some way of evaluating the reproducibility or statistical significance of any numbers presented. Tables and Figures should be sequentially numbered. Tables and figures may be printed on separate pages that follow the Reference section. Discussion Do not simply restate the results — explain your conclusions and interpretations of the Results section. How did your results compare with the expected results? What further predictions can be gleaned from the results? Citations There are a variety of ways of citing references in the text – the style used depends upon the policy of the journal (Harvard or Vancouver style). In text citations should refer to reference list. Reference lists Like citations, a variety of reference formats are used by di

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Riska Aprilia
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WRITING A SCIENTIFIC PAPER

I Gde Raka Widiana

Writing an effective scientific paper is not easy. A good r !e of t" #$ is to %rite as if yo r paper %i!! $e read $y a person %"o kno%s a$o t t"e fie!d in genera! $ t does not a!ready kno% %"at yo did. &efore yo %rite a scientific paper read so#e scientific papers t"at "ave $een %ritten in t"e for#at of t"e paper yo p!an to se. In addition to t"e science' pay attention to t"e %riting sty!e and for#at.

T"e Anato#y of T"esis or Researc" Paper


Tit!e A$stract Introd ction (ateria!s and (et"ods Res !ts )isc ssion *S ##ary+ References

Abstract
An a$stract is a s ccinct *one paragrap"+ s ##ary of t"e entire paper. T"e a$stract s"o !d $rief!y descri$e t"e , estion posed in t"e paper' t"e #et"ods sed to ans%er t"is , estion t"e res !ts o$tained' and t"e conc! sions. It s"o !d $e possi$!e to deter#ine t"e #a-or points of a paper $y reading t"e a$stract. A!t"o g" it is !ocated at t"e $eginning of t"e paper' it is easiest to %rite t"e a$stract after t"e paper is co#p!eted.

Introduction
T"e Introd ction s"o !d *i+ descri$e t"e , estion tested $y t"e [Link]#ents descri$ed in t"e paper' *ii+ e.p!ain %"y t"is is an interesting or i#portant , estion' *iii+ descri$e t"e approac" sed in s fficient detai! t"at a reader %"o is not fa#i!iar %it" t"e tec"ni, e %i!! nderstand %"at %as done and %"y' and

Materials and Methods


s ccinct!y descri$e %"at %as act a!!y done. It s"o !d inc! de description of t"e tec"ni, es sed so so#eone co !d fig re o t %"at [Link]#ents %ere act a!!y done. T"e detai!s of a p $!is"ed protoco! do not need to $e reprod ced in t"e te.t $ t an appropriate reference s"o !d $e cited / e.g.' si#p!y indicate 0%ere done as descri$ed $y 1 g"es et a!. *2+3.

Results
&egin eac" paragrap" %it" an opening sentence t"at te!!s t"e reader %"at , estion is $eing tested in t"e [Link]#ents descri$ed in t"at paragrap". Write t"e opening sentence in $o!d font for e#p"asis. *So#eti#es a co#p!ete sentence is sed and so#eti#es a s"ort p"rase is sed/ eit"er sty!e is 45 $ t t"e sty!e s"o !d $e sed consistent!y t"ro g"o t t"e #an script.+ Any res !ts t"at inc! de # !tip!e data points t"at are critica! for t"e reader to eva! ate t"e [Link]#ent s"o !d $e s"o%n in ta$!es or fig res. 1o%ever' t"e res !ts s"o !d $e s ##ari6ed in acco#panying te.t.

Results (contd)
T"e te.t of t"e Res !ts section s"o !d $e s ccinct $ t s"o !d provide t"e reader %it" a s ##ary of t"e res !ts of eac" ta$!e or fig re. Not a!! res !ts deserve a separate ta$!e or fig re. As a r !e of t" #$' if t"ere are on!y a fe% n #erica! res !ts or a si#p!e conc! sion descri$e t"e res !ts in t"e te.t instead of in a ta$!e or fig re. 7o r paper s"o !d foc s on %"at %orked' not t"ings t"at did not %ork * n!ess t"ey didn8t %ork for reasons t"at are interesting and provide $io!ogica! insig"ts+.

Tables and Figures


S"o !d $e p t into a conte.t a! fra#e%ork in t"e corresponding te.t. It s"o !d $e possi$!e to fig re o t t"e #eaning of a Ta$!e or Fig re %it"o t referring to t"e te.t. Ta$!es and fig res s"o !d typica!!y s ##ari6e res !ts' not present !arge a#o nts of ra% data. W"en possi$!e' t"e res !ts s"o !d provide so#e %ay of eva! ating t"e reprod ci$i!ity or statistica! significance of any n #$ers presented. Ta$!es and Fig res s"o !d $e se, entia!!y n #$ered. Ta$!es and fig res #ay $e printed on separate pages t"at fo!!o% t"e Reference section.

Discussion
)o not si#p!y restate t"e res !ts 9 e.p!ain yo r conc! sions and interpretations of t"e Res !ts section. 1o% did yo r res !ts co#pare %it" t"e [Link] res !ts: W"at f rt"er predictions can $e g!eaned fro# t"e res !ts:

Citations
T"ere are a variety of %ays of citing references in t"e te.t / t"e sty!e sed depends pon t"e po!icy of t"e -o rna! *1arvard or ;anco ver sty!e+. In te.t citations s"o !d refer to reference !ist.

Reference lists
<ike citations' a variety of reference for#ats are sed $y different -o rna!s. For an e.a#p!e of a co##on!y sed e.a#p!e' see Instr ctions to a t"ors3 on AS( %e$ site *"ttp=>>-$.as#.org>#isc>ifora.s"t#!+ or e.a#p!es fro# p $!is"ed #an scripts.

Genetic nomenclature
?se correct genetic no#enc!at re for $ot" genotype and p"enotype. To revie% t"e r !es for $acteria! genetic no#enc!at re' see t"e (icro$ia! Genetics topics !ink.

Format
Flow.
f!o%s s#oot"!y' fro# $ackgro nd to rationa!e to conc! sion. don8t force t"e reader to fig re o t yo r !ogic e.p!icit!y state t"e !ogic $e"ind any transitions fro# one idea to anot"er.

Abbreviations.

Format (contd)

?se standard a$$reviations *"r' #in' sec' etc+ instead of %riting co#p!ete %ords. So#e co##on a$$reviations t"at do not re, ire definition are s"o%n on t"e attac"ed ta$!e. )efine a!! ot"er a$$reviations t"e first ti#e t"ey are sed' t"en s $se, ent!y se t"e a$$reviation @e.g. A#pici!!in resistant *A#pR+A. As a genera! r !e' do not se an a$$reviation n!ess a ter# is sed at !east t"ree ti#es in t"e #an script. Wit" t%o [Link] *t"e degree sy#$o! and percent sy#$o!+' a space s"o !d $e !eft $et%een n #$ers and t"e acco#panying nit. In genera!' a$$reviations s"o !d not $e %ritten in t"e p! ra! for# *e.g. B #! or C #!' not #!s+.

Format (contd)
Past, present, and future tense.
Res !ts descri$ed in yo r paper s"o !d $e descri$ed in past tense *yo 8ve done t"ese [Link]#ents' $ t yo r res !ts are not yet accepted 0facts3+. Res !ts fro# p $!is"ed papers s"o !d $e descri$ed in t"e present tense *$ased pon t"e ass #ption t"at p $!is"ed res !ts are 0facts3+. 4n!y [Link]#ents t"at yo p!an to do in t"e f t re s"o !d $e descri$ed in t"e f t re tense.

Format (contd)
Third vs first person. first person s"o !d $e sed sparing!y / *reserve t"e se of first person for t"ings t"at yo %ant to e#p"asi6e+ (ost te.t s"o !d $e %ritten in t"e t"ird person to avoid so nding !ike an a to$iograp"ica! acco nt penned $y a narcissistic a t"or. It is $etter to say 0It is possi$!e to ..3 t"an to say 04ne co !d ...3.

Format (contd)
Empty phrases.
Avoid sing p"rases t"at do not contri$ te to nderstanding. 0In order to ...3 *s"orten to si#p!y 0To ...3+. In s"ort' don8t se #ore %ords t"an yo need to #ake yo r point.

Specify.
It is co##on to se a prono n s c" as 0it3 or 0t"ey3 to refer to a concept fro# t"e previo s sentence. #ean.

Parentheses.
Avoid do $!e parent"eses For e.a#p!e' 0T"ree gene prod cts cata!y6e reactions in t"e pat"%ay for pro!ine $iosynt"esis *Fig re B+ *D+3 co !d $e re%orded to say 0Fig re B s"o%s t"e t"ree reactions of t"e pat"%ay for pro!ine $iosynt"esis *D+.3

roofreading
A!%ays spe!!c"eck yo r paper and caref !!y proofread yo r paper $efore s $#ission. In addition to c"ecking for errors and typos' read yo r paper to yo rse!f as if yo %ere reading it o t !o d to ens re t"at t"e %ording and sentence constr ction is not c! #sy.

!"M# $!#F$% R#!"$RC#!


B. F. D. 2. B. F. D. 2. C. Instr ctions to A t"ors' E. &acterio!.@"ttp=>>-$.as#.org>#isc>ifora.s"t#!A Word sage in scientific %riting @"ttp=>>%%%.[Link] >aginfo>c"eck!ist."t#!A )ang!ing #odifiers @"ttp=>>o%!.eng!is".p rd [Link] >"ando ts>gra##ar>gGdang#od."t#!A A!!ey' (. BHHI. T"e craft of scientific %riting' Drd edition. Prentice 1a!!' NE. @and acco#panying %e$ site= "ttp=>>fi!e$o..[Link] >eng>#ec">%riting>A )ay' R. BHHJ. 1o% to %rite and p $!is" a scientific paper' Ct" edition. 4ryn. Press. )ay' R. BHHC. Scientific Eng!is"= A g ide for scientists and ot"er professiona!s' Fnd edition.4ryn. Press. Go$en' G.' and E. S%an. BHHK. T"e science of scientific %riting. A#. Scientist LJ= CCKMCCJ. @Avai!a$!e on!ine at "ttp=>>%%%.researc".[Link]#>Nandreas>sci."t#!A (c(i!!an' ;. BHJJ. Writing papers in t"e $io!ogica! sciences. &edford &ooks' N7. Str nk' W.' and E. &. W"ite. BHLH. T"e e!e#ents of sty!e' Drd edition. (ac(i!!ian P $!is"ing Co.

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