Learning laboratory

Papers:
They are to be written in old scientific format (avoid using “my”, “our”, “I”, or “we”).

Abstract
Write a few sentences of the introduction, methods, results, and discussion. If you get information from other authors, you must cite them. You cite them by writing their last name followed by a comma and the year of publication in parentheses.
Introduction
Start by giving the background of the topic and end by stating the purpose of the study.

Materials and Methods (written in past tense)
Explain how you did the study. As you explain how you did the study, include the materials that you used in paragraph form. No lists.

Results
Start by saying what you found and end by showing what you found. You show the reader what you found by referring to tables or figures (graphs or diagrams). You refer to them by number (like Table 1 or Fig. 1). You must number your tables and figures. For tables or figures you must provide a key or legend to explain the meaning of any signs or symbols that you use. For graphs you must also label the x axis and the y axis and state the units (moles or grams, #, or %).

Discussion
Start by briefly telling the reader what you found and end by telling them what you think the results mean and why. If the study did not turn out as you thought it should, state the reasons why. How do you think these reasons gave you the results that you got? You can include your mistakes here but you must explain how you think these mistakes gave you the results that you got. At the very end of this section you should conclude by making a statement about whether the purpose of this study was accomplished or not, and what it means in a general sense.

Hints for writing papers
1. Keep a detailed record of what you used to do the study and how you did the study
2. Write the materials and methods section using this information
3. Look at your tables and figures and state what you got
4. Write the results section using these data
5. Decide what you think the results mean and why
6. Write the discussion using these ideas, conclude (general) by relating to the purpose
7. Decide what information the reader needs to know to understand the discussion
8. Write the introduction using this information, state study purpose, and write abstract.