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Elements of Scientific Writing

The document outlines the essential elements of scientific writing, specifically focusing on the Materials and Methods section of a scientific paper. It emphasizes the importance of clarity, precision, and sufficient detail to allow for reproducibility of experiments, along with guidelines for tense and grammar usage. Additionally, it provides examples for each component of the methodology, including research design, data collection, and limitations.

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14 views2 pages

Elements of Scientific Writing

The document outlines the essential elements of scientific writing, specifically focusing on the Materials and Methods section of a scientific paper. It emphasizes the importance of clarity, precision, and sufficient detail to allow for reproducibility of experiments, along with guidelines for tense and grammar usage. Additionally, it provides examples for each component of the methodology, including research design, data collection, and limitations.

Uploaded by

Science Sans Frontières
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Elements of Scientific Writing (Material & Methods)

The basic format of a scientific paper:


1. Title
2. Abstract
3. Introduction
4. Materials and Methods
5. Results
6. Discussion
7. References
The Materials and Methods (Methodology) should:
✓ State the methods in chronological order; however, related methods
can be described together.
✓ When possible, have subheadings that “match” those in Results.
✓ Be precise. Answer “how” and “how much”.
✓ Give sufficient details so that a competent worker can repeat the
experiment. If the method is new (unpublished), needed details
should be provided. If the method is published in a popular journal,
just give literature reference
Tense and Grammar Considerations: (Using Past Participle Tense):
The past participle tense often appears in passive constructions or as part of perfect
tenses. It helps emphasize actions that have been completed in relation to the study.
✓ Formation: The past participle is typically formed by adding -ed to regular
verbs (e.g., "conducted," "analyzed"). Irregular verbs have unique forms (e.g.,
"chosen," "written").
Elements of methodology writing with examples
1. Introduction to the Methodology:

Introduce the overall approach of your study.

Example: "This methodology has been formulated (designed / conducted / used etc…) to
investigate the impacts of water quality on fish growth in aquaculture systems."

1
2. Research Design:

Describe the type of research conducted.

Example: "A quantitative approach has been adopted to assess the relationship between
water parameters and fish growth rates."

3. Participants/Sample:

Discuss the species and the number of individuals used in your study.

Example: "A total of 200 tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) have been selected for this
experiment, which were sourced from a local hatchery."

4. Data Collection Methods:

Detail the methods used for data collection.

Example: "Water samples have been collected weekly to monitor parameters such as pH,
dissolved oxygen, and nutrient levels."

5. Data Analysis Procedures:


Outline the analytical methods used.

Example: "The growth rates of fish have been analyzed using (by using) statistical
software to determine the significance of water quality variations."

6. Limitations:

Acknowledge potential limitations in your methodology.


Example: "The study has been limited by the variability of environmental conditions,
which may affect the reproducibility of the results."

7. Conclusion of the Methodology:

Summarize the key points of your methodology.

Example: "This methodology has been designed to provide a comprehensive understanding


of how water quality influences fish growth in aquaculture."

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