Author: Sayema Khan // Editor: Poppy Dunn

Writing a scientific research paper can be daunting. This is a general guideline for writing an original research article, most suitable for first-time paper writers. This guideline is not fixed for the word count, which is very much dependent on the paper guidelines. Also, keep in mind there can never be one template for all papers, but this guide will serve as a starting point to refine your thoughts and prepare a solid first draft of the paper.

Steps to Start Writing

1. Select a Journal (or Two): Before you begin writing, scope through journals that are most appropriate for your research. Read articles previously published in the journal to understand the style and standards expected. Consider the journal’s scope and impact factor.
2. Identify the Overall Aim: Think of the take-home message of your paper. This will be a proposed tentative title. Consider: Who is this paper for? What is this paper addressing? Think of the storyline for the paper. What is the main result that you will be delivering in the paper?
3. Organise Your Paper into Sections: Before you start writing, divide the paper into these commonly defined sections: Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion/Future Work. Tip: Instead of starting with a Word document, you can also use PowerPoint for initial drafting.
4. Insert Available Information: Insert all the figures, add figure legends, and figure titles. See if the results make a cohesive, chronological storyline that addresses your take-home message.
5. Outline Your Thoughts: Start with bullet points for each section to outline what you want to convey. These simple structured points will form the backbone and serve as a roadmap to cover all necessary information per your storyline.
6. Expand and Refine: Turn bullet points into full sentences and then refine them into scientific language. Utilise previously published papers as a reference for the writing style. Tip: The University of Manchester’s academic phrase bank is also immensely useful for this purpose.
7. Reference Management: Save all papers you cite or plan to cite in a dedicated folder for easy access. Tip: Use a reference manager like Endnote or Mendeley, especially one that has a web-based browser attachment that can sync to your desktop.

Section-By-Section Guide

Start writing the materials and methods section first as you’ll be most familiar with it after completing the experiments. Link it closely with the Results section so you ensure every result explained has the relevant material and methods section.

Materials and Methods

This is often the easiest section to write, as it describes the experiments you have already completed and are an expert on now!

• Chronological Order: Use sections and subsections, and follow a chronological order that is consistent with the order of the results so you can cite the relevant section in the results section.
• Consistent Terminology: Be consistent with units, terminology, and formatting (e.g., ml, °C, g, min) and formatting requirements. Use g instead of RPM for centrifugation as this will help maintain consistency, except in the case of a microfuge where RPM is fine. RPM only works if you also specify the centrifuge and the rotor.
• Formulas and Supplementary Information: Use the formulas tab for equations to make it neat and allow formatting. If you have too much information, add it to the supplementary materials and you can also assign it to tables in the supplementary section.

Results

• Figures First: Insert your figures first and then structure the section around them. Ensure figures are clear, labelled, and legible. The axes must be labelled, and units entered. Make it clear what you would like to bring attention to by assigning it in bold or a different colour. Tip: Have a higher-quality version in PowerPoint or Adobe that you will need to submit separately to the publisher.
• Headings and Subheadings: Organise results under clear, concise, and specific headings based on your storyline. Do not give vague or assumed results as titles. Start each result with the hypothesis considered. Each result section must have a final take-home conclusion line in the final statement of the section.
• Report, Don’t Discuss: This section is ONLY to report the results as they were observed. Refer to the figures to report results, ensure you have reported everything that the figure conveys and vice versa. Report your findings without interpretation or comparison to other literature—save that for the discussion. Only report your results and not results from previously published results unless citing a method.
• Transparency: Present your data accurately and honestly without manipulating results and statistics to fit your hypothesis.
• Figure Legends: The figure legends should be comprehensive, explaining the figures independently of the main text. Don’t forget to include P-values, method of analysis etc.
• Data Clarity: Have keys or different data point shapes to identify the different groups. Ensure data points are visible, P-values are clear, and figures are accessible to colour-blind readers.

Introduction

This is where you set the scene of the story you wish to convey and describe the very important requirement for the research to be conducted.

• Broad to Specific: The introduction should funnel from a broad background and narrow down to the specific aim of your paper.
• Set the Scene: Describe why the research is necessary. The reader should have just enough background information to understand the results without having to search for more information.
• Background Knowledge and Review Literature: Avoid discussing the literature in detail here; instead, review critical papers that are directly relevant to your study, aim and results. Tip: You can use AI maps which gives an overview of all papers connected to your research.
• One Message per Paragraph: Be clear in your writing style, and simple enough for a researcher in your field to understand. Do not cram too much text and too long sentences.
• Identify Gaps: Identify and highlight gaps in the literature that your research addresses which should conclude this section and lead into the final paragraph on your project aims.
• Project Aims: End with a clear statement of your research aims that the paper will address.

Discussion

This is the heart of your paper where you showcase your critical thinking. You can be critical and judgemental of your results and previously published results, within reason, sticking to the facts and not assumptions.
Your discussion will be the most interesting part of your paper and readers will look into your soul of the research and YOUR perspective. DO NOT RESTATE THE RESULTS HERE!

• Broad Discussion: Do not discuss every result reported in the paper. Do not get bogged down by details, you should discuss the final takeaways from the paper you want the reader to learn.
• Critical Analysis: Discuss only the key points that advance the field, structured in a logical order. Don’t forget to list any limitations and how they can be overcome.
• Bullet Points to Paragraphs: Compare your findings with previous research, highlight the significance of your results, and discuss any limitations and future directions.
• Engaging Content: Be engaging and critically assess both your results and existing literature, almost like a devil’s advocate of your research and the available literature. Make sure your citations are consistent and accurate.
• Future Work: Include potential future work and other avenues that can be explored.
• Conclusion: Conclude by summarising how your research addresses the aims outlined in the introduction.

Abstract

It is best to write the abstract last after you have a clear understanding of all aspects of your paper. Keep it as a short summary of your paper. Most publishers request a word limit between 150-250 words. Divide it into sections of two lines each as per the layout of your paper: background, aims, key methods, major findings with descriptions, key outcome, and implication.

Final Steps and Additional Tips

Celebrate completing your first draft!

• Catchy Title: The title is the first element that readers encounter, so it must capture their attention and provide a clear indication of the study’s content.
• Review and Refine: Understand that the first draft is a work in progress and will benefit from further input. Submit to your co-authors for feedback, using tracked changes.
• References: Ensure all your work is original, and the citations are accurate and correctly formatted. Plagiarism can result in severe consequences, including rejection of your paper and damage to your reputation. The citations must be the primary paper, not the paper where you found the information (such as a literature review). Ensure that you properly cite all sources.
• Active Voice: Maintain an active voice throughout and avoid switching tones. Do not write in the first person.
• Paper Guidelines: Always refer to the paper guidelines to confirm formatting, word count, font size and style requirements. Each journal usually has different criteria. Some journals may request to combine results and discussion into one section.
• Read, Read, and Read: For inspiration, refer to examples of stellar papers in your field.