2/24 /2011

Writing in Science

Formatting

We use exact same approach required for submitting to actual professional journals. Not made-up rules.

Same font, homogenous format, Citations always go at the END of sentences

Grammar Tense, spelling, difference between ‘weather’ and ‘whether’… Future tense is used in predictions and experiments not done

yet to be super clear what is real authentic and what isn’t yet. Always past tense in Methods, final manuscript all past tense

Professional journals just send manuscript back.

Hypothesis vs. Prediction

Hypothesis vs. Prediction

Hypothesis vs. Prediction

“We predict (what; e.g. ‘we’ll see a band of 1205 bp’)

…. because (rationale; e.g. ‘primers 1 & 2 5’ end are designed to bind precisely at base 120345 and 121550’)

…(citation, e.g. ‘Jensen et al, 2010’)”

No predictions in final draft

Hypothesis vs. Prediction

Hypothesis vs. Prediction

“Under ideal conditions etc, the primers will anneal and PCR will work”–not a well developed hypothesis

Hypothesis is mental model of what is being tested.

What is original about your project? PCR, gels?

Introduction

Include supporting studies Prior assays that give good support to your project

Factually accurate and fair, including recognizing objections. What does that mean? Need to present another argument and defend your

findings

Talk as a scientist not like high school student

“Through these experiments, we will drastically improve our understanding of PCR”

“This study will allow us to improve our diagnostic technique”

“We performed this to practice and learn how to do PCR.” Your instructors know this already! These are unnecessary sentences They also would be disturbing in a professional

publication (“Ummm so these folks don’t even know how to do PCR?”)

Results

Include numerous actual findings (observations, data, numbers, distances, brightness of gel bands) do not just say equivalent of “Gel worked (Figure 1).”

Include what statistics you used to analyze your data Must also include how you analyzed/interpreted your 30 day

approach. 30 Days worth 1/3 the grade.Don’t use lingo that would be confusing in a professional

publication, e.g. “red zone” “30 Days” “DIY” “LAs”We expect groups to make intelligent efforts with wtDNA

but acquiring mtDNA or perfect band is not required. If research goes well, do get mutant DNA (positive control) to work,

may submit manuscript to ReCUR for resume building material

Figures

PCR results from lambda and E. coli only used if made relevant. No predicted figures in final draft.

Figure legends– same page as figureCrop your gel photos, label extensively.

Versus

Discussion

Discuss future research plans, special separate “Future Directions” section.

The Discussion is NOT just another version of the introduction

Need to analyze, interpret, and thoroughly discuss your results section (What does it mean, why?)

Connect your new assay to the larger picture of the field.

Once again no websites, no anonymous, no course packet citations anywhere in this professional paper.