Ask yourself important questions? Choosing your topic is the first and most significant step in your research paper project. It is necessary to keep a few questions in mind: Is there enough research available on this topic? Is the topic unique and new enough that I can provide fresh opinions? Pick some thing you are interesting.  Choose a topic that you have interest about. Writing about something you enjoy surely shows in the final product. 

1. ABBOTTABAD UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
ASIF NAWAZ
MPhil Microbiology AUST

2. Choosing Your Topic
Ask yourself important questions?
Choosing your topic is the first and most significant step in your research paper project.
It is necessary to keep a few questions in mind:
 Is there enough research available on this topic?
 Is the topic unique and new enough that I can provide fresh opinions?
 Pick some thing you are interesting.
Choose a topic that you have interest about. Writing about something you
enjoy surely shows in the final product.

3.  Get Advice:
If you are confused with a topic that feels “just right,” then get advice from
your professor or coworkers/classmates.
 Don’t be afraid to change your topic.
If you select a topic, start researching, and realize that it isn’t the right decision for you
for some reason, don’t afraid!

4. Structure of a scientific paper
Title
Abstract
Results
Discussion
Conclusions
Acknowledgments
References
Supporting Information

5. Title
Compose a title that is simple, attractive and accurately reflects the
investigation
-Phrases to avoid: Investigation, Study, Novel, Facile etc.
- Avoid Acronyms that are known only to specialized community
Which of these two titles make you read the paper?

6. Keep it simple and informative
Abstract
First couple of sentences should focus on what the study is about. Include major findings
in a style that a general readership can read and understand (i.e., avoid detailed
experimental procedures and data.)
- Keep it short and effective.
- Be creative in generating curiosity

7. Introduction
• Start the section with a general background of the topic.
• Add 2-3 paragraphs that discuss previous work.
• Point out issues that are being addressed in the present work.
Structure of a scientific paper

8. Experimental Section
• Divide this section into Materials & Methods, Characterization, Measurements and Data
analysis Data is everything. Data talks.
Results
 Data is everything. Data talks.
 Look at your methods section: for every paragraph in the methods, write 1 -2 paragraphs of
results to say what you got!
 Re-check – did you leave anything? Add it to both results and methods.
 All of your figures and tables should go in the results.
 Explain / summarise each figure or table in the text: if it isn’t explained it can be included.
 Every table or figure needs a detailed caption in addition to be explained in the text of the
paper.

9. Discussion
 The discussion section is the body of your paper. The discussion section
contains information that develops and supports your article.
 While there is no particular form that a discussion section must take there are
several considerations that a writer must follow when building a discussion.
 Stay focused.
 Organize your points.
 Relate the discussion to your article

10. Conclusions
Include major findings followed by brief discussion on future perspectives and/or
application of present work to other disciplines.
Important: Do not rewrite the abstract.
Statements with “Investigated” or “Studied” are not conclusions!

11. Acknowledgments
Remember to thank the funding agency and Colleagues/scientists/technicians who might
have provided assistance
References
The styles vary for different journals. (Use ENDNOTE, RefWorks) Some journals
require complete titles of the cited references Please check for the accuracy of all
citations
Supporting Information
Include methods, analysis, blank experiments, additional data.