The Structure of a Scientific Research Paper For Research Through Technology class at the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts
Jun 29, 2015
The Structure of a Scientific Research Paper
For Research Through Technology class at the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts
Objectives
To learn the format for reporting scientific resultsYou will use this format for: RTT projects Your FIRM paper All lab reports at ASMSA
Grammar & Usage
Past tensePassive voice – “… the water was boiled”Third person – no I, we, you pronounsFormal 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
Structure
IntroductionProceduresData & ResultsDiscussionReferences
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
Procedures
Make a materials list for rough draft In order of usage Complete Detailed
Manufacturers names & model numbersConcentrations & volumes of chemicals
Dosages of drugs
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)
Procedures
Procedures
In a narrative, never as a listChronologically orderedUse signal phrases as transitions Next, after, then, first, second, etc.
Past tense, passive voice, third person
Procedures
Detailed enough for trained outsiderDo not write it as instructions thoughTell how data were analyzed too
Data & Results
Data in tables, graphsNo raw dataProperly format tables, graphsDescribe tables & graphs in textFinish by showing calculations & giving results
Discussion
Summarize three previous sectionsExplain meaning/significance of resultsEvaluate success/failure of hypothesis or design goal Never say “…the hypothesis was proven…”
Discuss sources of error Discuss implications & possible improvements
References
All works used in the paper must be listed on a separate References pageUse APA format for citationsAll quotes, unique facts, & paraphrased passages must be immediately followed by a parenthetical citation.Failure to cite = plagiarism (more later)
Teamwork
Work in teams to collect dataBUT … Do your own calculations Write your own paper
Examples of Plagiarism*
Failing to list the source of a quote, unique fact, or paraphraseCopying from classmate’s or previous year’s paperCopying from a published source w/o quoting & citingCopying & pasting or retyping from an electronic sourceFabricating sourcesBuying a paper
* Not a comprehensive list
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 marksMake a parenthetical citation immediately afterwardsInclude the source on Works Cited page
Turnitin.com
You will be required to submit all your RTT papers to this plagiarism detection serviceYour instructor will show you how to subscribe before Project 1 is due
Penalties
1.Zero on the assignment2.Zero + 5 day suspension3.Academic withdrawal
Offenses are cumulative over all classes and both years