Take the University Challenge: Writing in the Sciences

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?www.icts.uiowa.edu

How?Scientific Method

QUESTIONWhat is the problem or observation?

HYPOTHESISWhat do you think will happen?

EXPERIMENT or STUDYCollect data to test your hypothesis

ANALYSISSummarize the results of your experiment or study

INTERPRETDo your results support the hypothesis?

COMPAREHow do your results compare to those of other studies?

WHAT’S NEXT?What’s the next question to be answered?

RESEARCHLearn about the topic – what have others found out?

Sections of Lab Reports

IntroductionMethodsResultsDiscussion

TitleAbstractConclusionsAppendicesReferences

Basic sections “IMRAD”

Additional and optional sections

Sections of a Lab Report

REASEARCHLearn about the topic – what have others found out?








Introduction

MethodsResults

Discussion


• Frame research within broad context

• Present relevant background information

• State hypotheses, predictions, and rationale

Introduction

Methods

Results

Discussion


• 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


• 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


• 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

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 StyleVoice

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 StyleTense

• 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 ReportsPlan 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 ReportsPlan 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

REASEARCHLearn about the topic – what have others found out?








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 ReportsFollow 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 ReportsTables 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 ReportsReferencing

• 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 ReportsReferencing

• 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. 6

10-minute drop-in appointments (first come-first served)Academic Skills CentreChamplain College 206

9am-4pm

Take the University Challenge: Writing in the Sciences

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