Lab Report and Research Paper Guidelines and Expectations



Lab Report and Research Paper Guidelines and Expectations

Written in scientific journal style, see attached comment sheet, and also review the data-based journal articles we read in class as models of scientific writing.

Lab reports: smaller more simplistic versions; 3 pages of text maximum (typed, single spaced 12 point font, includes all text and 3 or more references, but not figures or tables); still requires all elements (title, abstract, introduction, methods, results, discussion, references).

Research paper: full journal article; 8-10 pages text (typed, single spaced 12 point font, includes all text and 8 or more references, but not figures or tables). As much as possible write in the first person active voice, “I did this, I did that” etc.

Title: short, concise, informative

Abstract: Typically 1-2 sentences about each main element of the paper: intro, methods, results, discussion.

Introduction: MUST first identify and introduce the ideas, theory, and relevant literature to set the context of your study. THEN introduce your study system, organism, specific hypotheses/predictions.

Methods: written in the past tense, what you did in sufficient detail that someone else could replicate your work.

Results: MUST have written description of the results and statistical treatment as well as figures and/or tables of supporting information.

Discussion: Interpretation of your results in the context of the ideas that you introduced in the introduction of the paper; also additional relevant literature.

References: MUST be peer-reviewed scientific journal articles or academic books NOT webpages, wikipedia, etc. Try GoogleScholar: . If you work from a campus IP address you will likely have free access to thousands of articles as .pdf files.

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