A student handbook for writing in biology

Chapter 1: The Scientific Method

An Introduction to the Scientific Method

Ask a Question

Look for Answers to Your Questions

Turn Your Question Into a Hypothesis

Design an Experiment to Test Your Hypothesis

Record Data

Summarize Numerical Data

Analyze the Data

Try to Explain the Results

Revise Original Hypotheses to Take New Findings Into Account

Share Findings With Other Scientists

Chapter 2: Developing a Literature Search Strategy

Databases and Search Engines for Scientific Information

Comparison of Databases

Database Search Strategies

Understand Your Topic

Define Your Research Goals

Subdivide Your Topic Into Concepts

Choose Effective Keywords

Connect Keywords With the Operators And, Or, or Not

Use Truncation Symbols for Multiple Word Endings

Search Exact Phrase

Use the Same Keyword in a Different Database or Search Engine

Evaluating Search Results

Finding Related Articles

Obtaining Full-Text Articles

Managing References (Citations)

RefWorks

Chapter 3: Reading and Writing Scientific Papers

Types of Scientific Writing

Hallmarks of Scientific Writing

Scientific Paper Format

Styles for Documenting References

Strategies for Reading Journal Articles

Strategies for Reading Your Textbook

Study Groups

Plagiarism

Information That Does Not Have to Be Acknowledged

Information That Has to Be Acknowledged

Paraphrasing the Source Text

The Benefits of Learning to Write Scientific Papers

Credibility and Reputation

Model Papers

Chapter 4: Step-by-Step Instructions for Preparing a Laboratory Report or Scientific Paper

Timetable

Format Your Report Correctly

Computer Savvy

Getting Started

Reread the Laboratory Exercise

Audience and Tone

Start With the Materials and Methods Section

Writing Style

Details: To Include or Not to Include?

Do the Results Section Next

Writing the Body of the Results Section

Preparing Visuals

Organizing Your Data

Think Ahead to the Discussion

Equations

Make Connections

Write the Discussion

Write the Introduction

Effective Advertising

Write the Abstract

Write the Title

Documenting Sources

The Name-Year System

The Citation-Sequence System

Unpublished Laboratory Exercise

Personal Communication

Internet Sources

Journal Articles

Databases

Homepages

E-mails and Discussion Lists

Chapter 5: Revision

Getting Ready to Revise

Take a Break

Look at the Big Picture

Get Feedback

Revise Again

Conventions in Biology

Numbers

Standard Abbreviations

Punctuation

Clarity

Grammar

Word Usage

Spelling

Global Revision

The Biology Lab Report Checklist

Chapter 6: A Good Sample Student Laboratory Report

Laboratory Report Mistakes

Chapter 7: Poster Presentations

Why Posters?

Poster Format

Layout

Appearance

Font (Type Size and Appearance)

Nuts and Bolts

Making a Poster in Microsoft PowerPoint 2007

Page Setup

Adding Text, Images, and Graphs

Aligning Objects

Proofread Your Work

Final Printing

Poster Content

Title Banner

Introduction

Materials and Methods

Results

Discussion or Conclusions

Literature Citations

Acknowledgements

Presenting Your Poster

Evaluation Form for Poster Presentations

Sample Posters

Chapter 8: Oral Presentations

Organization

Plan Ahead

Write the Text

Prepare the Visuals

Rehearsal

Delivery

Presentation Style

Integrating Visuals

Interacting With the Audience

Group Presentations

Fielding Listener Questions

Feedback

Appendix 1: Word Processing in Microsoft Word 2007

Appendix 2: Making Graphs in Microsoft Excel 2007

Appendix 3: Preparing Oral Presentations with Microsoft PowerPoint 2007

The scientific method

Finding information about topics in science

Reading and writing about science

Documenting sources

Step-by-step instructions for preparing a scientific paper

Data analysis using statistics

Revision

Sample student laboratory reports

Poster presentations

Oral presentations

Appendix 1 : Word processing in Microsoft Word

Appendix 2 : Making graphs in Microsoft Excel

Appendix 3 : Preparing oral presentations with Microsoft PowerPoint.

The scientific method

Developing a literature search strategy

Reading and writing scientific papers

Step-by-step instructions for preparing a laboratory report or scientific paper

Revision

A "good" sample student laboratory report

Poster presentations

Oral presentations.