How to read a scientific paper: pre-reading questions by alex

Try to answer the following questions about the way to read a scientific paper.

Task 1: Basic Structure
1 What is the main purpose of a scientific paper?
2 What do you think is the missing word?
Scientific papers usually follow a __________  format?
3 So what does the sentence in question 2 mean?
4 Put the following sections in the order that they appear in a scientific paper.
a) Results, b) Materials and Methods, c) Acknowledgements, d) Introduction, e) Abstract, f) Discussion, g) References
i) _____ ii) _____ iii) _____ iv) _____ v) _____ vi) _____ vii) _____

Compare your answers with your group members.

Task 2: Expression
Now, in your own words describe the function of each section.

Task 3: Details of the sections of a scientific paper?
1 In what way do the Abstract and the Introduction differ?
2 What are two purposes of the Discussion section?
3 Who might be mentioned in the Acknowledgements?
4 If the author of a paper is testing a hypothesis, what does he/she do? Where does he/she do this?
5 What is a ‘legend’? Can you think of a synonym for legend?
6 There are two types of legend. How are they different?
7 Why are Results and Discussion sometimes combined?
8 Where might we see a Summary?
9 Where are questions posed in the Introduction usually answered?

Compare your answers with your group members.

Task 4: Other formats
1 In what way do articles in the journals Nature and Science differ from normal scientific papers? Why is this?
2 How many sections are there in a Nature or Science article?

Compare your answers with your group members.