A GUIDE TO WRITING A SCIENTIFIC PAPER

Scientific experiments are very interesting and exciting. The results of these
experiments must be communicated to others. A scientific paper is a method of
communication, an attempt to communicate to others about specific data that have
gathered. The rules of writing a scientific paper are rigid and are different from those
that apply in writing an English theme or a library research paper.

Title Page. This includes the title of the study, name of author(s), the laboratory section,
date of submission and the footnote.

Abstract. An abstract is a one paragraph summary of the entire paper. This should
briefly describe the objective of the study, the methods used, the results obtained, and
the conclusions. Although it is located at the beginning of the paper, it is easiest to write
the abstract after the paper is completed.

Introduction. The introduction should include the background and the objectives of the
study. This will establish the context of the work being studied. Introduction should
include the relevant primary research literature (with citations) and summarizing the
current understanding of the problem being investigated. It

Materials and Methods. This section should concisely describe what was done in the
study. It should include description of the techniques used. The details of a published
protocol do not need to be reproduced or included in the text but there should be an
appropriate citation. Any changes from the published protocol should be described. It is
not appropriate to indicate volumes of solutions added – instead indicate the relevant
information about the experiment such as final concentrations used.

Results and Discussion. This section presents the summarized data in tables and
figures of the study. The data must be accompanied by a narrative text. Also included in
this section is the interpretation of the data in terms of any patterns or relationships
observed among experimental variables that are important. The author should include
any explanations of how the results differed from the hypothesis. Negative results also
need to be explain.

Summary and Conclusion. This section states the overall main point or points that the
writer wants the reader to remember. The conclusion should not repeat information from
the discussion section but restate the main conclusions in a new concise way for the
readers.

Literature Cited. This section includes the alphabetical listing of the references cited in
the scientific paper.
Characteristics of a GOOD SCIENTIFIC PAPER

A. It must be clear

The readers must be able to understand the study. For specialized readers,
technical terms are preferred but for more common readers, technical terms are
avoided or defined when used. In either case, the terms used must always be precise,
not ambiguous or subject to misinterpretation.

Materials included must be carefully chosen to be clear. All unnecessary and

irrelevant materials are to be eliminated. On the other hand, no necessary step should
be removed especially in describing processes. Graphs, tables or illustrations help
clarify when properly used.

Clarity also means it must be easily readable. The language must be clear and
effective properly following rules of grammar, punctuation and paragraphing. The writer
may have his draft edited by a language professional.

B. It must be carefully written

Cramming never helps in making a good scientific paper. A good scientific paper
results from careful, unhurried writing passing through different stages. The writer must
first make an outline which provides good logical organization. Then the writer makes a
preliminary draft where he writes as if just ordinarily speaking, concentrating on the
subject matter than the form.

Before submitting the final draft, try to answer the following assessment questions.
1. Is the material logically arranged?
2. Is the information truly complete?
3. Is the discussion clear?
4. Do graphs, drawings and illustrations help understanding?
5. Have all unnecessary words and irrelevant statements been eliminated?
6. Are there errors in grammar, punctuation or spelling?
7. Is the format right?
Organization and form of a Scientific Paper

The parts of a scientific paper with their corresponding contents and relevant
information are tabulated below (Villegas, M.T. et.al.General Biology 1: An Investigative
Approach):

PART CONTENTS REMARKS

Title Page • Title of the study • well spaced and balance
• Name of author(s) symmetrically about vertical axis
• Laboratory section • title should not be too long but
• Footnote adequate enough to indicate scope
of the study
Abstract • problem or • serves as an overview of the whole
hypothesis of study study
• short description of • should indicate points to be give
procedure emphasis in reading the paper
• major results • should be concise but complete
• significant (max of 250 words)
conclusions • in past tense (except for
hypothesis and conclusion)
• single-spaced and with proper
margin (2” left; 1.5” right)
Introduction • background • provides background of the study
information • the hypothesis is an educated
(definitions, related guess based on previous
information & observations, the validity of which
previous studies) is being tested in the experiment
• hypothesis and how • may have citations
it was arrived at • double-spaced and with proper
• objectives of the margins (1.5” left, 1” right
study
Materials and • step by step • materials not enumerated
Methods discussion of the separately but incorporated while
procedure the procedures is being discussed
• describe clearly any special
equipment, instrument or material
used
• specify amounts, concentration
and measurements used
• procedure should be reproducible
• in past tense and passive voice
Results and • Organized results • Tables are used to put results in
Discussion (includes tables, organized form; they are labeled
graphs, charts and with numbers and titles at the top
illustrations) • Graphs and charts are used to
 show relationship between factors
being studied; they are labelled
with figure numbers and titles at
the bottom
• Illustrations are used for
observations that need to be
drawn to be clear (microscopic
observation). These are labelled
with figure numbers and titles at
the bottom
• Present results neatly and
completely
• In the discussion, the results
should be analyzed in relation to
the hypothesis being tested
• Tables, graphs, charts and
illustrations are place near their
respective discussion
• For statements directly or indirectly
derived from another author and
the date of publication is cited
• Full bibliographic entries of
publications where citations were
taken are place in the Literature
Cited
• Recommendations for
improvement or procedure or
equipment may also be included.
Summary • Hypothesis • Serves as a review if results and
and • Short description of discussion
Conclusion procedure • Results and discussion presented
• Major results in more detail than abstract
• Significant
conclusions
• Important
recommendations
Literature • Bibliographical • Entries are arranged alphabetically
cited entries of according to author’s name
publications from • Double space between entries
which citations were • Follow correct format of a
made bibliographic entry (note indention)
 For books:

Author. Year of publication. Title of

book. Place of publication:
publisher. page (s).

For journal

Author. Year of publication. Title of

article. Name of journal. Vol:
page (s).

For internet source

Author. Year of publication. Title of

article. Retrieved from (URL)

Article title. Year of publication.

Retrieved from (URL)

REFERENCES:

Villegas, M.T., Diaz, M.G.Q & Duka, I.M.A. (1997). Biology I Laboratory Manual: An
Investigative Approach 5th edition. Genetics and Molecular Biology Division, Institute of
Biological Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, University of the Philippines Los
Baños.

How to write a paper in scientific journal style and format (2002). Retrieved from:
http://abacus.bates.edu/~ganderso/biology/resources/writing/HTWsections.html

A guide to writing scientific papers. (n.d.). Retrieved from:

https://www.colby.edu/biology/BI17x/writing_papers.html

Writing a scientific paper. (n.d.). Retrieved from: http://www.excellent-proofreading-and-

writing.com/scientific-paper-4.html#axzz49on3ulic