Scientific Writing Quiz

Writing a Scientific Report

• A scientific report is typically made up of three main divisions: preliminary material, body, and supplementary material.
• Each section contains a different kind of content, and it is essential to carefully read the course information details to ensure compliance with the lecturer's/tutor's stipulations.

Steps for Writing a Scientific Report

• STEP 1: Analyze the Task
  • Analyze the assignment task by reading the course information book carefully.
  • Ask questions such as: What is the purpose of the report? Who is the audience? What is the word limit? What is the topic of the report?
• STEP 2: Develop a Rough Plan
  • Use the section headings to assist with the rough plan.
  • Write a statement that clarifies the overall purpose of the report.
  • Write down anything already known about the topic in the relevant sections.
• STEP 3: Do the Research
  • Use steps 1 and 2 to guide the research.
  • Report on other research or conduct own research.
  • Keep track of bibliographic details for all material used.

Structure of the Report

• Introduction
  • State the purpose of the report.
  • Provide background information and a brief review of the literature.
  • Outline the structure of the report.
• Literature Review
  • Discuss research from earliest to latest.
  • State how the research fits into the field.
  • May be merged with the introduction or separated from it.
• Methodology
  • Clearly outline the methodology used.
  • Write in a passive voice.
  • Clearly reference any material used from other sources.
  • Label and number diagrams, charts, and graphs.
• Results
  • Indicate the findings of the research.
  • Do not interpret the results.
• Discussion
  • Discuss the relevance of the results and how they fit with other research.
  • Relate back to the literature review and introductory statement.
• Conclusion
  • Summarize the most significant results/findings.
  • Do not include new material.
  • Indicate areas where further research is needed.
• Recommendations
  • Provide suggestions for what needs to be done as a result of the findings.
  • List recommendations in order of priority.

Supplementary Material

• References or Bibliography
  • Include all references used in the report or referred to for background information.
  • Use the referencing convention specified by the lecturer/tutor.
• Appendices
  • Add extra information to the report.
  • Must be referred to in the body of the report and have a clear purpose.

Preliminary Material

• Title of Report
  • Make sure the title is clear and indicates what is being researched.
• Table of Contents
  • List all sections, subheadings, tables, graphs, and appendices.
  • Provide page numbers for each.
• Abstract/Synopsis
  • Provide a brief overview of the report in a condensed form.

Writing a Research Proposal

• Main Characteristics of a Research Proposal
  • A formal plan that outlines the objectives for a research project.
  • Common in every academic field.
  • Often leads to grants that allow for conducting research.
• Why Do I Need a Research Proposal?
  • Helps define and formulate the research question.
  • Narrows down the study to a manageable form.
  • Structures the development of the writing.
  • Avoids wasting time in the literature search and data collection stages.

Structure of a Research Proposal

• Title Page
  • Include the title of the proposal.
• Introduction
  • Provide the necessary background for the research problem.
  • Begin with a general statement of the problem area.
  • Focus on a specific research problem.
  • Be followed by the rationale or justification for the proposed study.
• Review of Literature
  • Describe and analyze the published studies related to the topic.
  • Integrate the literature into the material.
  • Conclude with a brief summary of the literature and its implications.
• Methodology
  • Describe the research sample, data collection method, measurement instruments, and data analysis procedures.
• Gantt Chart
  • Include a timeline for the project.
• References
  • List all sources used in writing the report.
  • Use the APA style for referencing.
• Tabulated Budget
  • Include a detailed budget for the project.