Structure, format, content, and style of a scientific paper

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Why scientific format

Research Section of Paper
What did I do in a nutshell? Abstract
What is the problem? Introduction
How did I solve the problem? Materials and methods
What did I find out? Results
What does it mean? Discussion
Who helped me out? Acknowledgments
Whose work did I refer to? Literature cited
Extra Information Appendices (optional)


The scientific format may seem confusing for the beginning science writer due to its rigid structure which is so different from writing in the humanities. One reason for using this format is that it is a means of efficiently communicating scientific findings to the broad community of scientists in a uniform manner. Another reason, perhaps more import ant than the first, is that this format allows the paper to be read at several different levels. For example, many people skim Titles to find out what information is available on a subject. Others may read only Titles, Abstracts and Conclusions. Those wanting to go deeper may look at the Tables and Figures in the Results, and so on. The take home point here is that the scientific format helps to insure that at whatever level a person reads your paper (beyond title skimming), they will likely get the key results and conclusions.

Examples

What to put into different sections

Title

*informative, catchy, concise
*semicolons? why not, if it helps, though some consider them bad taste

A majority of readers will find your paper via electronic database searches and those search engines key on words found in the title.

Abstract

*concise, direct, informative
*passive voice is preferable, although in longer abstracts an occasional active assertion may be enlivening

Abstracts are now more important than ever due to the increasing number of articles. One cannot read all the papers in each issue of a journal, not even in ones own field. Abstracts should state major findings, even some specifics (numbers, formulas showing basic trends).

Introduction

*give the first impression about the paper
*place the work into broader context
*relate to other relevant research
*say why is the work important, in plain language
*state major achievements/limitations
*state techniques/methods
*describe organization of the paper

Body of the paper

*describe your findings in an organized, structured, and logical way
*think about the organization ahead of actual writing
*create informative headings helping easy orientation

Conclusions

*give your article closure
*summary of major results
*prospects for future extensions
*possible applications
*relevance to other works, fields

Hints

Mermin's rules about equations within scientific papers

  • Fisher's rule: Number ALL displayed equations.
  • Good Samaritan rule: When referring to an equation, identify it by a phrase as well as a number.
  • Math is Prose rule: End a displayed equation with a punctuation mark.
  • Notation rule: Do not introduce unnecessary notational complexity; do not introduce unnecessarily unconventional notation; do not make lengthy that which is brief.

How to clarify your prose

  • Pick a published paper you like and try to emulate its structure and style.
  • Ask a colleague if in doubt that writing may be incomprehensible. EXAMPLES: Do not write The energy increases with pressure pressure, but The energy increases with increasing pressure pressure, to be clear since one can often mean the opposite (At low fields the rate decreases can mean that the rate increases with decreasing fields, but one never knows).
  • Be consistent-if there is an allowed ambiguity, stick to your choice throughout the paper. EXAMPLES: We take five configurations for the macrostate macrostate. Each microstate is defined by ...' Either pick microstate or configuration, some may get confused. Similarly with grammar. If you describe an experiment in the past sense, do not switch randomly to the present one.
  • Do not offend readers - avoid if possible words like Clearly, Obviously, As is well known, Of course, ...
  • Do not overdo with Footnotes, In-line equations, References, Figures, Latin phrases, Acronyms, ...
  • Include only equations, figures, tables, and references that you refer to.
  • Carefully define every term in equations.
  • Define all the lines and symbols in figures.
  • Each figure and table comes with a caption.
  • Number all equations.
  • All nontrivial statements should be explained or referenced.
  • Revise 5-10 times:
    • spell check,
    • grammar check,
    • check for flow,
    • shorten,
    • give the paper to a colleague for opinion,
    • stop revising after a revision eliminates a previous revision, or if you are revising 10th time. There is little chance you will improve anything.