Exploring the Future Potential of AI-Enabled Smartphone Processors
Writing for a scientific audience
1. Writing for
a Scientific
Audience
How to Write An
Effective Scientific
Research
Article, Proposal, an
d Paper
Kirsten Kung, Ph.D.
Sophia J. Tsai, Ph.D.
July 1, 2013
AEP Summer Research Program
2. Abstract? Proposal? Paper?
Proposal
Outlines the research
project to be done
Written in future
tense
Focus on literature
review, specific
aims, and methods
May include
preliminary results
Paper
Describes the
research project and
what has been
accomplished
Written in past tense
Focus on results and
discussion
3. Abstract – Four Basic Elements
Research focus
Research methods
Results
Main conclusions
Usually 100-200 words
Summarizes key points
Typically can be viewed as stand-
alone, enough to understand the basic
concept
4. Proposal – Six Basic Elements
Abstract
Background & Significance
Literature Review
Materials & Methods
Specific Aims/Hypotheses & Expected
Results
Preliminary Results
References
5. Background & Significance
Overview of literature relevant to your
study questions
Establish context
States the purpose of the work
Explains rationale & potential outcomes
Active voice
Inverted Triangle
6. Inverted Triangle
Start general
A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away…
General aspects of the topic
It is a period of civil war. Rebel
spaceships, striking from a hidden
base, have won their first victory against the
evil Galactic Empire.
7. Inverted Triangle
Narrow toward the more specific topical
information that provides context
During the battle, Rebel spies managed to
steal secret plans to the Empire's ultimate
weapon, the Death Star, an armored space
station with enough power to destroy an
entire planet.
8. Inverted Triangle
Finally arriving at your statement of
purpose and rationale
Pursued by the Empire's sinister
agents, Princess Leia races home aboard
her starship, custodian of the stolen plans
that can save her people and restore
freedom to the galaxy....
9. Materials & Methods
Organism(s) studied
Specific experimental or sampling design
Protocol for collecting data
How the data was analyzed
Including how statistics were carried out
Past tense
10. Specific Aims
Starts with brief problem statement and
introduces your research question.
Why is your work important?
Usually 2-3 main ideas to test your
hypothesis
Goals are specific, measurable, and
realistic
Not inter-dependent, but support one
another
11. Paper - Six Basic Elements
Abstract
Introduction
Materials & Methods
Results
Discussion/Conclusion
References
12. Additional Elements
Acknowledgements
Mention any funding sources, look into how
certain grants like to be acknowledged
This research was supported by the National Institutes of
Health under Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research
Service Award (number) from the (name of NIH IC).
Tables & Figures
13. Order of Operations
Develop an outline/list of major points
Do a balanced literature review
Both primary articles as well as review articles
Write Introduction
Give context for why this research is important
through background information and citing relevant
literature
Design & conduct the experiment
Write the Materials & Methods section once your
experiments are completed
14. Order of Operations
Analyze & interpret results
Summarize data, lay out figures and tables
Write figure & table legends – each should have 1-2
key points
Write the Results section
Use the figures and tables to guide the reader
through your key results
No interpretation of results. “Just the facts, ma’am.”
Write the Discussion
Interpretation of results, including how it fits in with the
context of what was known before.
Connect back to introduction
15. Order of Operations
Write the Abstract & Title
Intended to be a summary, so best written last
Clear statement of aims, brief descriptions of
methods, key findings, and interpretation of key
results.
Self-revise the paper
Look for logical flow; rearrange if necessary
Shorten long sentences for clarity
Grammar, punctuation, other basic editing
Are tables and figures able to stand on their own?
16. Order of Operations
Peer review
Have knowledgeable people critically look at your
writing
Check data over with collaborators and other
contributing authors
Prepare final draft
Look for proper citations according to requirements
Check formatting
