Scientific Writing

1. Proposals
2. Reports
3. Scientific Articles, Theses, Dissertations, etc.

1. Proposals
   
   1. Check on the format required.
      
   2. Find out if there is an example document available.
      
   3. Input the specified outline into your word processor exactly as given to you.
      
   4. If there is no guidance available, consider the following outline:
      
      1. Introduction:
         
         1. Make clear what you're proposing and why
            
         2. Provide background information on the current state of knowledge, including literature citations
            
      2. Methods
         
         1. State how you will meet your objective.
            
         2. Describe any new methods you plan to develop
            
         3. List any materials needed
            
      3. Significance of expected results
         
         1. State the application of your findings.
            
         2. Show how you will contribute significantly to your field or the state of knowledge
            
      4. Budget
         
         1. Salary requirements
            
         2. Fringe benefits
            
         3. Overhead
            
         4. Equipment and materials
            
         5. Travel
            
2. Reports
   
   1. Check on the format required
      
   2. Find out if there is an example document available.
      
   3. Input the specified outline into your word processor exactly as given to you.
      
   4. If there is no guidance available, consider the following format (IMRAD):
      
      1. Executive Summary
         
         1. State your major findings
            
         2. If further work is required, briefly summarize it
            
         3. If recommendations are appropriate, state them.
            
      2. Introduction
         
         1. State the objectives of the work
            
         2. Describe the state of knowledge at the beginning of the work, including references
            
      3. Methods
         
         1. Describe the methods you used to meet your objective
            
         2. Derive in detail any theory or techniques you developed
            
      4. Results
         
         1. Provide tables and graphs of data you generated
            
         2. Give sufficient information about the data to allow the reader to develop his or her own interpretation
            
      5. Discussion
         
         1. Give your interpretation of your results
            
         2. Indicate the significance of your findings
            
3. Scientific Articles, Theses, Dissertations, etc.
   
   1. Generally, guidance documents will be available for these types of writing
      
   2. Write the publisher, talk to the graduate school, etc., before beginning final writing of the text.
      
   3. Work with a good editor.