The Structure of a Scientific Research Paper

1
The Structure of a Scientific Research Paper

• For Research Through Technology class at the
  Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and
  the Arts

2
Objectives

• To learn the format for reporting scientific
  results
• You will use this format for
• RTT projects
• Your FIRM paper
• All lab reports at ASMSA

3
Grammar Usage

• Past tense
• Passive voice the water was boiled
• Third person no I, we, you pronouns
• Formal language
• Avoid slang, contractions, etc.
• Citations
• Cite all quotes, paraphrases, etc. as shown in
  composition class
• See the style handbook and websites supplied in
  JEC for examples

4
Structure

• Introduction
• Procedures
• Data Results
• Discussion
• References

5
Introduction

• State problem or question under investigation
• Justify why this question is worthy of
  investigation
• Background research
• Relevant previous work by yourself and others
• Library internet research
• Hypothesis/Design Goal/Theorem
• State it clearly
• Phrase it as a definite prediction in terms of
  what was measured
• The hypothesis of this investigation was that
  the current through the resistor would be
  directly proportional to the potential
  difference.
• Briefly discuss how it was tested

6
Procedures

• Make a materials list for rough draft
• In order of usage
• Complete
• Detailed
• Manufacturers names model numbers
• Concentrations volumes of chemicals
• Dosages of drugs

7
Procedures

• Integrate list into narrative in final draft
• 250 mL of 1.0 M HCl were added and stirred
• Measurements should be given as numbers, not
  text, with SI units (use standard abbreviations )
• Use leading zeroes for numbers less than 1 ( 0.25
  g)

8
Procedures

• In a narrative, never as a list
• Chronologically ordered
• Use signal phrases as transitions
• Next, after, then, first, second, etc.
• Past tense, passive voice, third person

9
Procedures

• Detailed enough for trained outsider
• Do not write it as instructions though
• Tell how data were analyzed too

10
Data Results

• Data in tables, graphs
• No raw data
• Properly format tables, graphs
• Describe tables graphs in text
• Finish by showing calculations giving results

11
Discussion

• Summarize three previous sections
• Explain meaning/significance of results
• Evaluate success/failure of hypothesis or design
  goal
• Never say the hypothesis was proven
• Discuss sources of error
• Discuss implications possible improvements

12
References

• All works used in the paper must be listed on a
  separate References page
• Use APA format for citations
• All quotes, unique facts, paraphrased passages
  must be immediately followed by a parenthetical
  citation.
• Failure to cite plagiarism (more later)

13
Teamwork

• Work in teams to collect data
• BUT
• Do your own calculations
• Write your own paper

14
Examples of Plagiarism

• Failing to list the source of a quote, unique
  fact, or paraphrase
• Copying from classmates or previous years paper
• Copying from a published source w/o quoting
  citing
• Copying pasting or retyping from an electronic
  source
• Fabricating sources
• Buying a paper
• Not a comprehensive list

15
Three Word Rule

• If you pull three or more consecutive words from
  a source, it must be treated as a quotation and
  not as a paraphrase.
• Put it in quotation marks
• Make a parenthetical citation immediately
  afterwards
• Include the source on Works Cited page

16
Turnitin.com

• You will be required to submit all your RTT
  papers to this plagiarism detection service
• Your instructor will show you how to subscribe
  before Project 1 is due

17
Penalties

• Zero on the assignment
• Zero 5 day suspension
• Academic withdrawal
• Offenses are cumulative over all classes and both
  years