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Course Project How to Write Scientifically

Course Project How to Write Scientifically. Wildlife 448 Fall 2010. Swim against the current. In direct opposition to almost everything your high school teacher and college English professor taught you… We’re simply conveying information Be direct . . . to the point . . . without “fluff”

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Course Project How to Write Scientifically

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  1. Course ProjectHow to Write Scientifically Wildlife 448 Fall 2010

  2. Swim against the current • In direct opposition to almost everything your high school teacher and college English professor taught you… • We’re simply conveying information • Be direct . . . to the point . . . without “fluff” • Shorter is better! • Succinct sentences, tables, etc. • Keep overall length to minimum

  3. Before You Write • Know your stuff • Be completely familiar with problem, possible solutions, methods, analyses, and implications • Know the “story” (plan what you will write) • Where does it begin (problem, possible solution)? • What goes on in the middle (try out the solution)? • How does it end (did the solution work)? • Know your audience • Different journals require different styles

  4. Start Writing – Kind of… • Detailed outline • Determine goals and objectives • List topic sentences for each paragraph—should summarize an idea and the content of paragraph • Review topic sentences for logical structure • Do the topic sentences follow the story line? • REALITY:Often this checking is done after you’ve written the manuscript…but it must be done!!

  5. Write like you’ve never written before! • Be “clear, simple, concise, and organized” (JWM Guidelines: Chamberlain and Johnson 2008:15) • Rules 1. Never tell me anything I don’t need to know 2. Never fail to tell me anything I need to know.... . . . to repeat the study . . . to understand the study/results 3. Never tell me something more than once (except maybe in discussion for emphasis)

  6. Manuscript Guidelines • Follow JWM or NAJFM guidelines • Format as you would for a submitted manuscript • Guidelines downloadable from course website (from Lab Outline page)

  7. Introduction • “Set up” problem • Summarize current knowledge and state any gaps (this is what you will be addressing) • Have an obvious “knock me over the head with it” problem statement (what is needed) • State goal or hypothesis (general statement) • Should directly address problem statement • State specific objectives • Numbered objectives are always good • Answers/results from objectives should achieve goal or test hypothesis

  8. Study Area • Where was research conducted? • Scale is relative to scope of study • Be specific where relevant • Use past tense (e.g., “Mean temperatures were…”) • Figure showing study area at the state level (if appropriate)

  9. Study Area Example

  10. Methods • First person, past tense (active voice) • Organize in order of objectives • For each objective have an obvious method. • “To determine density, I followed …” • “To estimate survival, we used …” • If the method/analysis is new, describe in detail • If the method/analysis has been used before, describe briefly and cite those responsible for originally describing • “We collected stomach contents of fishes by gastric lavage (Light et al. 1983).” • 2 Parts 1) Data collection -- Who, WHY, when, where, how -- Do not describe anything that is not used in an analysis 2) Data analyses -- Origin of data for each analysis should be clear

  11. Data Analysis(within Methods) • State analyses explicitly do not leave anything open to interpretation • Important for repeatability • Again follow order of objectives • Make sure there is an analysis for each objective • Make sure there is not an analysis that is not presented as an objective

  12. Results • Present sample sizes • Arrange according to objectives • These can be very short at times (don’t worry) • Use tables and figures to present information more concisely • Highlight pertinent information from table in text • Reference Tables/Figures correctly (see guidelines) • Do not include extraneous information • Extraneous – not needed for replication or understanding • Past tense • Avoid “discussing” results until Discussion

  13. Discussion • Do not repeat information in results section • Use this section to convince me whether you solved the problem (or not!) • What have others said about your results? • Compare your results to other similar studies • Should contain numerous citations • Should we do anything else to clarify the problem? • Did the results create any new/interesting questions or result in management implications?

  14. Abstract • Write after finishing report • Include problem studied or hypothesis tested • Enumerate and list only most pertinent findings (positive or negative) • List implications for research or management • Minimize methods....unless it is a methods paper

  15. Literature Cited Check! Journal!! Guidelines!!! (see links on website)

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