1. Critical Factors for a Good Paper
Have a clearly stated hypothesis
Do experiments that test the hypothesis
And explain how they test the hypothesis
Try to find more than one way to test the hypothesis
Interpret the data
Have good graphics and tables that support data interpretation
Have a clearly stated conclusion that is supported by your results

2. Things to watch out for
Don’t include data that doesn’t address the hypothesis (but this doesn’t mean that you can cherry pick data)
Be open-minded: if your data suggests alternative explanations, so be it
It’s OK to have a provocative title, but don’t let the urge to have a catchy title cause you to twist your data interpretation

3. How can I be a better writer?
Read, read, read
Have others critically review your drafts and be receptive to criticism
Choose the best words, not the longest
Tell a story, but it’s not a suspense novel (if we don’t know where you are going from the start, it’s not a good paper)
Consider professional editing, particularly if you have limited fluency in English