Writing in the Sciences

WRITING IN THE SCIENCESThe Burton Center Writing Workshop Series

Statement of Purpose/Problem

?Why are the trees dying along the roadside?

Trees along highways in the northwest Blue Ridge Mountains have seen considerable die off in the last decade. This epidemic could be the result of several issues.

WHAT

BRO

AD P

ICTU

RE

IS C

REAT

ED

BY

JOIN

ING TH

E

CONCL

USIONS

OF THE L

ITERA

TURE

?

Literature Review

Hypothesis

h0 ha

One-tailed Hypothesis

h0

ha

Null hypothesis: As a result of the new feeding system for the Spruce Pine Fishery, there will either be no significant difference in Oncorhynchus mykiss lifespan or there will be a significant increase in lifespan.

Alternative hypothesis: As a result of the new feeding system for the Spruce Pine Fishery, there will be a significant decrease in Oncorhynchus mykiss lifespan .

Two-tailed Hypothesis

h0

ha

Null hypothesis: The addition of ergonomic chairs in the classrooms of Lees-McRae College will not increase students’ test scores.

Alternative hypothesis: The addition of ergonomic chairs in the classrooms of Lees-McRae College will increase students’ test scores.

Precision: Measurability

First, add the solution to the flask.

Precision: Measurability

The results of your test should be able to be duplicated in order to be valid. First, .2 ml of the sodium

chloride solution was mixed with 200 ml of

water in an Erlenmeyer flask.

Precision: Concrete Nouns

Pronouns create confusion.

When Group A was introduced to Group B, they ate them.

Group A

Group B

When Group A was introduced to Group

B, Group B ate Group A.

Practice in Introductions

Find a partner.

Together, think of a problem that can be measured.

Write an introduction with 1. the statement of purpose and problem, 2. a “hypothetical” literature review, and 3. a hypothesis.

Possible Future Workshops

Writing better in the sections of:

Methodology Results

Abstract

Discussion Literature Cited (Citation Styles)