How to Write A Scientific Paper
Kwan Hee Lee, Ph.D.
School of Bio & Food Science Handong University
Scientific paper is a major document, which reports original research
results, theories, and experimental procedures replicable by other
scientists. It includes new and
significant science with references to other work in the field.
Definition of Scientific Paper
Publicize data, concepts, and results through journals.
Report a new scientific finding or a new theory
Purpose of Scientific Paper
Is it new?
What journal shall I send it to?
Check the subject (Is it suitable for the journal?)
Check the guidelines for the journal (size of letter, character, length etc)
Things to consider before writing
It will be reviewed by reviewers (editors), so you have to ask yourselves the following questions.
1) What is the significance of your work to the field?
2) How clear are the results?
3) Do the results support the author’s conclusions?
4) How well is the paper written? Does it meet the standards of journals?
Things to consider before writing
Scientific writing must be consistent,
logical, systematic and empirically true.
You must see the scientific facts, not what you think.
Think what you are going to write before you start to write.
What do you want to say in the article.
You must use scientific terms.
Must use third person.
Things to consider to write
Spell check: professional writing.
Must contain title, authors, abstract,
introduction, methods, results, discussion and references.
When you submit the paper, a cover letter
should be accompanied. So that you can write something you did not put in the paper, the significance of the paper and/or the reason why you submit the paper.
Things to consider to write
Clarity
Reproducibility
Structure: easy to follow
Readability
Focus on readers or audience (experts)
Requirements to be a good paper
Common reasons for Rejecting
Compare and contrast
1) Real and ideal
2) Predicted results to the actual results
3) Theory w/ experimental evidence
4) Your finding w/ others’
5) Your methods w/ others’
6) Problems and hypothesis
Contents
Title
Authors
Abstract
Key words
Introduction
Materials and Method
Results
Discussion
Conclusion
References
