Guide to Science Writing: Research Manuscripts and Review Articles

The Scientific Manuscript This is a basic overview of a scientific manuscript. In the sections to follow, we will break down each section in detail. Structure of a Research Article The structure of a research article usually depends on the journal to which the article is being submitted. Many journals have page limits, figure limits, or specific article divisions to which authors must adhere. These are the basic structure guidelines that USJ will follow: Abstract Just about every journal out there requires an abstract. An abstract is a single paragraph of about 250 words or less. In the abstract, the author must summarize why the research was conducted, how it was conducted, and what the major results and conclusions were. References are typically not cited in the Abstract, since the reader expects a more full discussion in the body of the article. Introduction Every scientific report needs an introduction, though it is sometimes broken down into different components. The length of an introduction depends on the journal and the paper; however, the structure and content should be similar. In the introduction, the author must present the problem his or her research will address, why this problem is significant, and how it applies to the larger field of research. The author must clearly state his or her hypothesis, and quickly summarize the methods used to investigate that hypothesis. The author should address relevant studies by other researchers; however, a full history of the topic is not needed. The introduction should contain all the background information a reader needs to understand the rest of the author's paper. This means that all important concepts should be explained and all important terms defined. The author needs to know who will be reading this paper, and make sure that all the concepts in the paper are accessible to them. Remember, USJ caters to an audience of professionals and undergraduates. In a paper submitted to USJ, background information should be extensive enough for an undergraduate science major to understand, but not so detailed as to bog down a professional reader. For example, an author need not define an " electron " ; however, a " Cooper paired electron " does require a definition. Methods In this section, several key points do need to be addressed. You should thoroughly describe the methods you used to investigate the problem, and should briefly describe why these methods were used. …