How to Write a scientific Paper

This is a brief outline of the format for a scientific paper. Your laboratory exercises will require that you follow this scheme:

1. Introduction
   
   
   
   • Description: Provide a brief description of the experiment which will test the hypothesis.
   • Problem/Questions: Provide a clear statement of the question the experiment is designed to test. Consider how a positive/negative result will disprove the hypothesis.
   • Hypotheses: (Note that this is PLURAL!)
   1. Develop multiple hypothesis ("educated guesses") for the probable answers to the problems or questions. Provide as many LOGICAL predictions of the solutions to the problems or questions as you can.>
   2. These are several reasonable predictions regarding the outcome of EACH set-up whether it is an experimental or control set-up.

2. Material and Methods
   • (Note - This is a minor part of the paper. If this information was provided to you as part of a write-up, you may reference it and only provide details unique to your actual experiment and lab experience.)
   • Materials: A simple list of the equipment and supplies used is provided, or it may be presented along with the methods.
   • Methods:
   1. Design an experiment to test the hypotheses.
   
   
   2. The experiment must be carefully planned, with adequate controls, to allow acceptance or rejection of the stated hypotheses.
   
   
   3. The materials and methods employed in testing the hypotheses should be described in enough detail to allow anyone to duplicate the experimental conditions.
   
   
   4. The experiment MUST BE REPEATABLE in that it PROVIDES ESSENTIALLY THE SAME RESULTS when repeated to be valid.
   
   

3. Experiment (To do, but not part of paper per se.)
   • Run the experiment
   • Make the observations.

4. Results
   • Collect data: record .
   • Organize data: In writing a formal report, the data should be used to develop appropriate charts, tables, or graphs.

5. Conclusions
   
   
   • AnalyzeProvide an analysis of the data obtained.
   • EvaluateUsing the analysis of the data, accept, reject, or suggest further testing of the stated hypotheses.

6. Discussion
   
   
   • Implications:This should include statements regarding the implications of the results of the experiment. What other questions or problems arise as a result of the analysis of the data?
   • Utility: How is the information useful?