How to write a scientific paper

 http://abacus.bates.edu/~ganderso/biology/resources/writing/HTWtoc.html

Almost Everything You Wanted to Know About

Making Tables and Figures

Once your statistical analyses are complete, you will need to summarize the data and results for

presentation to your readers. Data summaries may take one of 3 forms: text, Tables and Figures.

Text: contrary to what you may have heard, not all analyses or results warrant a Table or

Figure. Some simple results are best stated in a single sentence, with data summarized

parenthetically:

“Seed production was higher for plants in the full-sun treatment (52.3 +/-6.8 seeds)

than for those receiving filtered light (14.7 ± 3.2 seeds, t=11.8, df=55, p<0.001.)”

Tables: Tables present lists of numbers or text in columns, each column having a title or label.

Do not use a table when you wish to show a trend or a pattern of relationship between sets of

values - these are better presented in a Figure.

Figures: Figures are visual presentations of results, including graphs, diagrams, photos,

drawings, schematics, maps, etc. Graphs are the most common type of figure and will be

discussed in detail; examples of other types of figures are included at the end of this section.

Graphs show trends or patterns of relationship.

How to Cite Other Sources in Your Paper

Throughout the body of your paper, whenever you refer to outside sources of information, you must cite the sources from which you drew information. The simplest way to do this is to parenthetically give the author's last name and the year of publication, e.g., (Clarke 2001).

• Typically, only the last name of the author(s) and the year of publication are given,e.g., Bugjuice 1970. Your Literature Cited section will contain the complete reference, and the reader can look it up there.
• Notice that the reference to the book has a page number (Gumwad 1952:209). This is to facilitate a reader's finding the reference in a long publication such as a book (not done for journal articles). The paper by Bugjuice (1970) is short, and if readers want to find the referenced information, they would not have as much trouble.
• For two author papers, give both authors' last names (e.g., Click and Clack 1974). Articles with more than two authors are cited by the first authors last name followed "and others" or "et al.", and then the year.
• When a book, paper, or article has no identifiable author, cite it as Anon. Year, e.g., (Anon. 1996) (Anon. is the abbreviation for anonymous). See Full Citation.
• If you want reference a paper found in another article, do so as follows: (Driblick 1923, in Oobleck 1978).
• A string of citations should be separated by semicolons, e.g., (Gumwad 1952:209; Bugjuice 1970; Bruhahauser et al 1973).
• Finally, you should note the placement of the period AFTER the parenthetical citation - the citation, too, is part of a sentence,e.g., "...courtship behavior (Gumwad 1952:209; Bugjuice 1970)."

Thesis: Theses and dissertations should be cited as follows:
Mortimer, R. 1975. A study of hormonal regulation of body temperature and consequences for reproductive success in the common house mouse (Mus musculus) in Nome, Alaska. Masters Thesis, University of Alaska, Anchorage. 83 p.
World Wide Web/Internet source citations: WWW citation should be done with caution since so much is posted without peer review. When necessary, report the complete URL in the text including the site author's name:
 Internet sources should be included in your Literature Cited section.
Some basic rules applicable to all formats indexed by author name(s):

• All citation entries are listed in alphabetical order based the first author's last name;
• If the same author(s) are cited for more than one paper having the same order of authors' names, the papers should be listed in chronological sequence by year of publication.
• Authors' names MUST be listed in the citation in the same order as in the article.

Bugjuice, B., Timm, T. and R. Cratchet. 1990. The role of estrogen in mouse
xxxxcourtship behavior changes as mice age. J Physiol 62(6):1130-1142.
Cratchet, R., Bugjuice, B.and T. Timm. 1994. Estrogen, schmestrogen!: Mouse
xxxx(Mus musculus) as a dietary alternative for humans. J Nutrition 33(6):113 -114.
Bugjuice, B. 1970b. Physiological effects of estrogen analogs: Insincere courtship
xxxxbehavior in female mice. J Physiol 40(8):1240-1247.