The Paper

The Physical Arrangement of the Written Report

 

The following section establishes the basic written report requirements. Familiarity with the basic techniques and requirements will help you to read and understand publications, give you an inside view of how scientists think, and help you to write your own scientific paper describing the results of your research experimentation. The main point to keep in mind is to think before you write, then rethink, revise, rewrite, and reread again and again. Make it clear and concise.

 

The paper must include (in this order):

 

  1. The ABSTRACT - In preparing your abstract, you must keep in mind that:

1.      The abstract is a concise summary of your work

2.      As the first sheet of your research paper, it will help the reader form an opinion of your work.

3.      You will find writing and rewriting will help you produce a good short summary of your project in the required form.

4.      The physical form of the abstract is as follows:

q Typed single-spaced

q Limit the abstract to about 200 words or less

q Limit the abstract to
Purpose
Procedure
Conclusion

5.      Use the Abstract Form (only the front side of the form may be used).

  1. The SAFETY SHEET - all safety hazards must be identified. If no safety hazards exist, a statement to that effect must be made. Use the form.

  2. The ENDORSEMENTS - when humans as test subjects or non-human vertebrates are used, endorsement sheets are required. Use the form.

  3. TITLE PAGE - your title should be concise and clear.

  4. TABLE OF CONTENTS - include page numbers.

  5. The ACKNOWLEDGMENTS should give credit to those who have helped you in your investigations for guidance, materials, and/or use of facilities.

  6. The PURPOSE AND HYPOTHESIS - should state precisely the question you are attempting to investigate. Include your hypothesis or the expected outcome of your test.

  7. The REVIEW OF LITERATURE is to report to the reader any background information and/or work done in the past that pertains to your project. These references should be properly documented and listed in the section "Reference List". Traditional footnotes are not to be used for citing references. The correct citation style to use is discussed in detail in the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, Fifth Edition or later.

    Examples:
    A direct quote in the text should be in the form:
    — as Doe (1988, p.10) demonstrated.

    A direct quote from an Internet source or CD-ROM should be in the forms:

    — . . . (Doe, 1988, [Online]). or . . . (Doe, 1988, [CD-ROM]).

    A paraphrasing of the text should be in the form:
    — as Doe (1988) demonstrated ...
    — . . . (Doe, 1988).

    FOR FORMAT and EXAMPLES SEE FORMAT FOR REFERENCE PAGE.

  8. The MATERIALS AND METHODS OF PROCEDURE should be a simple chronological account of what was done. The explanation of what was done must be clear and detailed enough so that the reader can duplicate the work. The apparatus and materials used should be listed - explain the workings of any apparatus you constructed or used. Drawings, diagrams that are clearly labeled, and photographs are appropriate if they enhance and clarify your explanation - do not use them as filler.

  9. The RESULTS should be organized in tables and/or charts with graphic presentations, when applicable. Choosing the appropriate graph is important. The graphs should be presented so that they are easily read by someone not familiar with the work. If quantitative data are not involved, a day-by-day log may be used in place of the tables and charts. In either case, care should be taken to insure accuracy and clarity.

    Reliability of Data

    There are several ways to increase the reliability of an experiment, here are two examples:
            • Do the experiment multiple times
            • Have a large sample size

    A discussion section should follow the data section to include your evaluation and interpretation of the data and/or results of your investigation.

  10. The CONCLUSION should be a concise evaluation and interpretation of the data and/or results. The conclusion should be limited to the results of the investigation and should refer to the stated purpose and hypothesis. Experimental error should be estimated and considered when drawing the conclusion.

  11. The REFERENCE LIST is a list of published articles, books, and other communications actually cited in the paper. Sources should be current. The Reference List section is arranged alphabetically according to the author/editor's last name when it is known or the first significant work in the title if the author/editor is not known. The correct style to use for citing references in the Reference List section is discussed in detail in the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, Fifth Edition or later.

    FOR FORMAT AND EXAMPLES SEE FORMAT FOR REFERENCE PAGE.

 

DESIRED QUALITIES OF SCIENTIFIC WRITING

 

The following points should help you to write your paper in an acceptable scientific style:

 

  1. When writing the first draft, do not start until you have clearly thought out your paper; the desired final result is a clear and understandable paper.

  2. The tone of the paper should be established as one of calmness and objectivity.

  3. Learn to use the technical words that save space or that convey meaning better than common words; by all means avoid the use of vague terms.

  4. The use of the 1st person "I" or "We" should be avoided whenever possible. Terms such as "The research experiment" or "The exhibitor" are examples of 3rd person usage.

  5. After you have written your first draft, reread, revise, and rewrite it. Put yourself in someone else's mental shoes and read it slowly and thoughtfully. Have you omitted any steps? Are the steps in the proper order? Do your sentences say what you want them to say? If possible, have someone else read it; if not, put it away for a few days, and then reread it yourself. Your paper must be an accurate report of what you have done - check and recheck your calculations, references, spelling, and grammar.

 

Technical Points of Scientific Writing

 

In preparing the paper the author should be concerned with the following mechanics:

 

  1. The paper must be typed, doubled spaced and have at least one-inch margins.

  2. Use only one side of the page.

  3. The font style and size must be appropriate for a scientific paper.

  4. The paper must be neat and legible.

  5. There is no limit on the number of pages permitted in the project session of the Fair; however, any entry into the paper session may not exceed 30 pages between staples. 

  6. Type the last name of the student listed on the first line of the abstract at the top of each page.

  7. Tabular information should be kept to a minimum.  Each table, chart, or drawing should not be more than one page in length and tabular data should not be duplicated in the text.  Headings for tables and columns should be brief.  Tables, charts, and drawings should be done on standard 8 1/2 x 11" paper.

  8. Graphs should be suitably titled and have both axes correctly labeled.  Do not forget to include the correct units of measurement for any numbers.

  9. Photographs should be of good quality and contrast, and should have captions typed under them.