Discipline-Specific Writing
Discipline-specific writing is challenging, especially when you are new to the field. This section of the guide provides helpful writing tips specific to your EMS major.
The scientific process is reflected in the convention of typical sections of technical papers. The general structure is the following: Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion (IMRaD).
| Section | Scientific Method | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Introduction | States hypothesis | States research problem, objectives, context & why reader should care |
| Methods | Details how hypothesis was tested | Description of experimental procedure (e.g., explain materials used, how they were prepared, how measurements were made and what calculations were performed) |
| Results | Provides data (not interpreted) | Expresses data in relevant forms (e.g., tables, figures) |
| Discussion | Interprets data | Explores practical and theoretical implications, analyzes patterns and relationships, explains limitations of experimental design |
Online resources for general information on technical writing
- IMRaD cheat sheetCarnegie Mellon University Global Communication Center) Provides a brief reference with examples of IMRaD
- How to write a paper in scientific journal style and format(Greg Anderson, Bates College)
- Writing in the disciplines: chemistry(University of Richmond Writing Center) Reviews the basic format of a chemistry lab report.
- Sentence structure of technical writing(MIT, Nicole Kelley using materials from The Craft of Scientific Writing, Michael Alley and The Science of Scientific Writing, George Gopen and Judith Swan)
Beyond the body of the work: titles, abstracts and more
Writing an effective title and an abstract are crucial to whether or not your paper will ever see the light of day. And by the way, don't use figurative language such as this expression in your technical documents. Concentrate on precision and concision.
- Title(Sacred Heart University Library) Choosing a Title
- Abstract(University of North Carolina Chapel Hill) Abstracts
- Precision(University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Writing Center) Tools and tips for precision in scientific writing
- ConcisionClear, concise sentences; Active/passive, wordy phrases, expletive constructions, etc.
- Formatting Science Reports(The Writing Center, University of Wisconsin - Madison)
Peer review and other feedback
Peer-review is an essential element of the transfer of experiment into shared information for the scientific community. Manuscripts are critically read by other scientists. These peer-reviewers then suggest whether the manuscript be accepted, rejected, or revised and improved before it is published.
- Credo Video: Peer Review(2:41)
Visualizing data: tables, charts and maps
- Visualizing data(Carnegie Mellon University Global Communication Center) Examples to illustrate how to create effective tables.
- Figures and charts(University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill) Handout describes how to use figures and tables to present complicated information in an accessible way.
- Effective tables and graphs in official statistics(UK Government Statistical Service) Guidance for designing graphs and tables that are clear.
- Graphs, tables, and figures in scientific publications: the good, the bad, and how not to be the latter(Lauren Franzblau & Keven Chung, 2012,The Journal of Hand Surgery)
