Manuscript format

The research paper must be typed (12 point font double spaced text) with 1-inch margins
and page numbers.
Every statement that refers to previous observations/results should include a reference,
which can be a journal article or book chapter (NOT web sources). The style of the
references should follow APA http://www.apastyle.org/elecref.html
Page numbering: Title page is the first page, but is unnumbered. The rest of the pages are
lower case roman numbered at the page bottom (center or on the right side). Word
processors will do this automatically.
Figures: All figures must be numbered in the order in which they are mentioned in the
paper. You may insert figures within the text, or you may group them all at end of the
manuscript. All figures need a figure legend that states the content of the figure but does
not provide interpretation for the result.

The basic organization of a scientific paper includes the following

sections:
Title page
Title of your manuscript
Your name and your affiliation, the month and year of the paper
The purpose of the paper (fulfillment of the research requirement for master
degree in)
Course number and title
The name and contact information for your faculty advisor(s).
Abstract: Between 150 and 250-word summary of the manuscript. I recommend writing
it after finishing the other sections. It should state the necessary background information
of the project, the problem, the significance of the problem, the methods to be used, a
summary of the results, and a discussion that shows where these results might lead in
future.
Introduction: The Introduction explains what the paper is about, the nature and
importance of the study and where it fits into the state of scientific knowledge at the time
of writing. This is where you explain the reason you did the research and wrote the
manuscript.
An Introduction should also capture the imagination of the reader and make them want to
read the paper; it should explain why and how this study is important for science. In the
end you should be able to defend each sentence if I ask, "Why did you include this
information?"

Materials and Methods All the methods, techniques, experiments, equipment you used,
described in such details that that another scientist could repeat your experiment from
your descriptions ALONE. Basically answer the questions where, when, and how. Be as
specific and as concise as possible.
One of the hallmarks of scientific knowledge is its repeatability; the idea that someone
else could run the same experiment and get the same results. For example, describe
statistical methods with enough detail to enable a knowledgeable reader with access to
the original data to verify the reported results.
Results: Here you describe all your experimental results in a very objective way. The
data should be laid out clearly and fully enough that it does not require the reader to
interpret data from figures and tables. Generally, results include only summarized data
and observations obtained in the study and most importantly, it should be free of
interpretation of the data.
Discussion: Here you discuss the results of your research, how it fits in with other related
research, and its implications for future research. It is as important in this section as in
other sections of the paper to be objective, but this is where you finally get a chance to
explain your results.
Start by summarizing your results in a short paragraph. Explain then what your data
means, how it all fits together, and how interpretations logically follow from the data.
You have to be very objective here. You have to explain the significance of your results
so that scientist from different fields can understand, but at the same time so that experts
in the field can gather new information from your project.
Next explain how your research fits with related research in the field. Explain how your
results can be compared with similar studies. Show where it agrees with other studies,
and if some of your results do not agree with published data, provide a potential
explanation why. This section should show that you know the literature in the field, and
you understand the significance of your data.
At the end discuss the implications of the research. This is where you finally make the
transition from the researcher (gatherer of data, runner of experiments, and interpreter) to
the scientist. This part of the discussion is where you make personal comments about the
topic you researched. You can form unique opinions about the results here. Always finish
the discussion with a strong significance statement that includes the future research
direction of your study.
Acknowledgments: Give credit to those who helped in your research through advice,
work, permission, technical advice, monetary support, etc.
References: References should be listed either alphabetically by author or by date for
each author, or in the order of appearance in the manuscript. It should follow the style of
the journal you have chosen to follow for your manuscript.

If the reference you are referencing has a lot of authors (3 or more), you may reference
the paper with the first author, followed by "et. al." ("and others"), and the rest of the
citation. Again it depends on the style of the journal you have chosen.
Here is one example for a journal reference style:
Stanley ER, Berg KL, Einstein DB et al. Biology and action of colony-stimulating
factor-1. Mol Reprod Dev 46:410, 1997.
Tables and Figures: Tables should be labeled "Table," given an Arabic numeral, and
captioned (with those words flush to the left-hand margin). Other material such as
photographs, images, charts, and line drawings should be labeled "Figure" and be
properly numbered and captioned.
If a figure can be used to show the data, use the figure (e.g. a graph) instead of a table.
Most people understand graphs more quickly than tables. Don't present the same data in
several ways, choose the one best way. While tables are good for presenting some kinds
of data, consider the options. Do not present tables in text form! Both tables and figures
should be clearly labeled Figure 1 or Table 1, in order of being referred to in the text, and
should include a descriptive caption so they "stand alone" without needing reference to
the text of the results section. Table captions are always above a table, while figure
captions are placed below a graph, picture, or sketch.
Figure legends: Each figure legend should have a brief, separate title that describes the
entire figure without citing specific panels. Figure legends should explain the content of
the figure without interpreting the data.
Abbreviations: Use only standard abbreviations. Avoid abbreviations in the title and
abstract. The full term for which an abbreviation stands should precede its first use in the
text unless it is a standard unit of measurement

III. Final approval of your manuscript

Manuscripts (as with most pieces of written work) usually need to go through several
drafts. Show your internal or external advisors a draft early enough so that you can
incorporate their feedback into a revised draft before submission deadline.
Further info on how to write scientific papers:
Books:
1.Victoria E. McMillan, Writing Papers in the Biological Sciences, Bedford Books,
Boston, 1997.
2. Robert S. Day, How to Write and Publish a Scientific Paper, 4th edition, Oryx Press,
Phoenix, 1994.

Websites:
http://www.ecu.edu/BSOMacaddev/Writing%20Service/Contents%20of%20a%20
Medical%20Article.htm
http://www.richmond.edu/~ggilfoyl/intermediate/writing.pdf
http://www.columbia.edu/cu/biology/ug/research/paper.html#edit