Take the University Challenge: Writing in the Sciences The Academic Skills Centre

So you want to be a scientist? Be curious Think critically Follow convention Present your findings

Scientific Writing Answer the question(s) Be clear and concise – Creativity in thought rather than writing style Follow conventions of discipline – Read the instructions! Demonstrate your understanding of the topic

Assignments Problem sets Lab reports Essays and research papers

Lab Reports

Why? Prepare to become a scientist – Report findings to the scientific community – Contribute to body of research – Follow style of journal articles Demonstrate understanding – How does the practical relate to the theory?

How? Scientific Method QUESTION What is the problem or observation? HYPOTHESIS What do you think will happen? EXPERIMENT or STUDY Collect data to test your hypothesis ANALYSIS Summarize the results of your experiment or study INTERPRET Do your results support the hypothesis? COMPARE How do your results compare to those of other studies? WHAT’S NEXT? What’s the next question to be answered? RESEARCH Learn about the topic – what have others found out?

Sections of Lab Reports Introduction Methods Results Discussion Title Abstract Conclusions Appendices References Basic sections “IMRAD” Additional and optional sections

Sections of a Lab Report REASEARCH Learn about the topic – what have others found out? QUESTION What is the problem or observation? HYPOTHESIS What do you think will happen? EXPERIMENT or STUDY Collect data to test your hypothesis ANALYSIS Summarize the results of your experiment or study INTERPRET Do your results support the hypothesis? COMPARE How do your results compare to those of other studies? WHAT’S NEXT? What’s the next question to be answered? Introduction Methods Results Discussion

Sections of Lab Reports Frame research within broad context Present relevant background information State hypotheses, predictions, and rationale Introduction Methods Results Discussion

Sections of Lab Reports Describe how you conducted the experiment or study – Materials, procedure, subjects, location, analysis and statistics, etc. Provide enough detail to allow a reader to repeat what you did Use full sentences! Introduction Methods Results Discussion

Sections of Lab Reports Summarize data collected – Report, don’t interpret! – Raw data in appendix only Present data in tables and/or figures – Refer to in text Introduction Methods Results Discussion

Sections of Lab Reports Interpret results – Did the data support your hypothesis and predictions? – Remember – you cannot prove, only support or reject Compare to other studies – Are your results in line with previous findings? If not, why? Implications of your research How could you improve your study and/or what would you study next? Introduction Methods Results Discussion

Writing Style

Always use full sentences Sentences should be – Concise – Direct – Active Therefore – Avoid unnecessary words, phrases, and jargon – Put the main verb early in the sentence – Use the active voice whenever possible

Writing Style Voice Passive voice Objective – Obscures who/what is doing the action Was the norm in scientific writing – Indirect and cumbersome Object – Verb – Subject E.g., “The plants were measured…” Active voice Subjective – Highlights who/want is doing the action Becoming much more common and encouraged – Direct and clear Subject – Verb – Object E.g., “I measured the plants…”

Writing Style Tense Past or present? Use past tense when – Referring to your study (you completed it in the past) – Another study done in the past Use present tense the rest of the time

Tips For Better Reports

Tips For Better Reports Plan Ahead - Lab Read the lab manual BEFORE the lab – Make sure you fully understand what you’re doing and why – if you don’t, ask! Prepare tables for recording data Write out hypothesis and predictions BEFORE beginning the experiment/study Take notes during your lab – Note any changes in the methods and any new details Plan time to write your report as soon as possible after your lab

Tips For Better Reports Plan Ahead - Writing Begin with an outline Suggested order of writing: – Methods – Results – Discussion – Introduction – References – Abstract (if required) – Title

Tips For Better Reports Remember! Scientific Method REASEARCH Learn about the topic – what have others found out? QUESTION What is the problem or observation? HYPOTHESIS What do you think will happen? EXPERIMENT or STUDY Collect data to test your hypothesis ANALYSIS Summarize the results of your experiment or study INTERPRET Do your results support the hypothesis? COMPARE How do your results compare to those of other studies? WHAT’S NEXT? What’s the next question to be answered?

Tips For Better Reports The Hourglass Analogy Structure your report like an hourglass Begin with the big picture, narrow to your hypothesis, experiment, and results, then expand throughout your discussion

Tips For Better Reports Follow Instructions This is REALLY IMPORTANT! Formatting – Spacing, fonts, margins, pages Sections – Title page, abstract, conclusions, appendix required? Tables and figures – Embedded or separate? Referencing style – Often follows a peer-reviewed journal

Tips For Better Reports Tables and Figures Must stand alone – titles must be fully descriptive Tables – Title above – Don’t use vertical lines – Display units – Define abbreviations Figures – Title below – Ensure details visible in black and white – Label axes

Tips For Better Reports Referencing When should you reference? – Whenever you write something that is not your original thought or general knowledge It may be difficult to know if something is considered general knowledge – if in doubt, reference! This includes the methods from your lab manual – Most sentences should therefore be referenced What sources should you use? – Lab manual, textbook, peer-reviewed literature – NEVER cite Wikipedia or other questionable sources

Tips For Better Reports Referencing How should you reference? – Paraphrase almost always; avoid direct quotations The purpose is to include what was said, not how something was said – In-text citations and reference list Abbreviated in-text citation directly follows each paraphrase Reference list provides full reference information and follows report – Follow instructions in lab manual – very carefully!! – Try referencing software E.g., RefWorks – free from library

Tips For Better Reports REVISION

Come Talk to Us! Do you want to ask questions about something you heard today? Come see us at the Academic Skills Centre during special 10 minute drop-in sessions!

Special Drop-in Appointments Wednesday, Sept. 4, Thursday, Sept. 5, and Friday, Sept minute drop-in appointments (first come-first served) Academic Skills Centre Champlain College 206 9am-4pm