Writing a Scientific Paper your first formal lab report

TITLE Descriptive Tells what the experiment was about Should NOT include the words experiment or lab report in the title

AUTHOR Name(s) of researchers/authors Institution Institutional address 10 or 12 pt type Joe Biology Arrowhead High School 700 North Avenue Hartland, Wisconsin 53029

ABSTRACT A summary of the paper Should flow (read) well 2-3 sentences on the Introduction 2-3 sentences on the Methods 2-3 sentences on the Results 2-4 sentences on the Discussion Should flow (read) well

INTRODUCTION 2 parts background information purpose

INTRODUCTION Background information open to create interest species history & medical importance describe life cycle life cycle diagram niche at each stage reactions to light (other studies) in-text citations! (APA)

example …which would be expected to increase the primary productivity of the system (Jones, 1987; Smith, 1990; Artscheider & Limin, 2001; Nielsen, et al, 2010). Additionally, a synergistic effect would be expected to occur in situations where phytoplankton interact with surface waters…

INTRODUCTION Purpose Separate paragraph; what was the purpose of the experiment (if you did this well, should be similar to the title)

METHODS Paragraph form 1st or 3rd person Past tense Tell what you did in the experiment A person unfamiliar with the experiment should be able to replicate the experiment accurately based upon YOUR description

RESULTS Paragraph (written) description of results—NOT of your interpretation of the results Data table (if appropriate) Graph (if appropriate) Drawings, photos, etc. (if appropriate) Looking for BEST way of presenting data

DISCUSSION USING THE DATA (results), give an interpretation/analysis of what they mean. What did you learn from the data? Substantial Where the REAL work is done Compare with What you knew going in Other studies, etc.

LITERATURE CITED =bibliography (but we do not use the term bibliography for a science paper…EVER!) Give credit for your sources APA