Tutorial
Writing Research Papers in Engineering and Science
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While many undergraduate courses on technical writing do a good job of teaching students to write a technical report, research papers require a different organization and understanding of audience expectations. This webpage presents a tutorial on the style of research papers in engineering and science. For a perspective on the process of writing a research paper, please read the four-page article by the chemist Professor George Whitesides [1].
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Tutorial Films (about 25 minutes)
Research papers are organized differently from technical reports. In particular, audiences in engineering and science expect particular information to reside in certain parts of research papers. Films 1 and 2 explain the major expectations for the organization of research papers. In addition to expectations for the organization of research papers, expectations exist for the style of sentences. Films 3-6 discuss the traits that distinguish the style of sentences in science and engineering [1] Complementing Film 5 is our handout on sentence openers. Provided in the captions are page references for more information in The Craft of Scientific Writing [2], which is abbreviated here as CSW.
Research papers are organized differently from technical reports. In particular, audiences in engineering and science expect particular information to reside in certain parts of research papers. Films 1 and 2 explain the major expectations for the organization of research papers. In addition to expectations for the organization of research papers, expectations exist for the style of sentences. Films 3-6 discuss the traits that distinguish the style of sentences in science and engineering [1] Complementing Film 5 is our handout on sentence openers. Provided in the captions are page references for more information in The Craft of Scientific Writing [2], which is abbreviated here as CSW.
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Film 1. Organizing a Research Paper: Overview. For more information, see CSW (Lesson 7). Film 3. Being Precise and Clear. For more information, see CSW (Lesson 2). Film 5. Connecting Your Ideas Within Paragraphs. For more information, see CSW, Lesson 5. |
Film 2. Introductions of Research Papers. For more information, see CSW (pages 114-121). Film 4. Avoiding Ambiguities. For more information, see CSW (Lesson 3). Film 6. Incorporating Illustrations and Equations. For more information, see CSW, pages 25-30, 86-92, and 105-107. |
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Quiz Yourself:
Fifteen Questions about Writing Research Papers |
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Appendix A: Using Artificial Intelligence to Assist in Your Research Writing
This appendix links to two pages to give you ideas on how to use artificial intelligence (AI) to help you with your research writing. The first webpage, represented by Figure A-1, presents strong examples of how experienced researchers have used AI in their professional writing. The second, represented in Figure A-2, presents telltale signs that indicate the writing has been done by AI rather than by a person. As a researcher considering whether to use AI to help write a paper, you should follow the two guidelines of Nature: (1) be accountable for what is in the paper, and (2) be transparent on your use of AI.
This appendix links to two pages to give you ideas on how to use artificial intelligence (AI) to help you with your research writing. The first webpage, represented by Figure A-1, presents strong examples of how experienced researchers have used AI in their professional writing. The second, represented in Figure A-2, presents telltale signs that indicate the writing has been done by AI rather than by a person. As a researcher considering whether to use AI to help write a paper, you should follow the two guidelines of Nature: (1) be accountable for what is in the paper, and (2) be transparent on your use of AI.
Figure A-1. Strong examples of AI writing in engineering and science.
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Figure A-2. Tutorial on telltale signs of AI writing.
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Appendix B: Additional Films
This appendix contains four films that address additional perspectives of research writing. Film B-1 discusses the importance of considering reviewers when analyzing audience. Discussed in Film B-2 is the controversial stylistic issue of when to incorporate the first person (I or we). Films B-3 and B-4 discuss two issues of usage: selecting verb tense and expressing numbers.
This appendix contains four films that address additional perspectives of research writing. Film B-1 discusses the importance of considering reviewers when analyzing audience. Discussed in Film B-2 is the controversial stylistic issue of when to incorporate the first person (I or we). Films B-3 and B-4 discuss two issues of usage: selecting verb tense and expressing numbers.
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Film B-1. Audience: Considering reviewers. |
Film B-2. Using I or we. For more information, see CSW, pages 55-58. |
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Film B-3. Verb Tense in Reports. For more information, see CSW, p. 263. |
Film B-4. Expressing Numbers. For more information, see CSW, pages 279-280. |
References
- George Whitesides, "Whitesides' Group: Writing a Paper," Advanced Materials, vol. 16., no. 4 (2004), pp. 1375-78.
- Michael Alley, The Craft of Scientific Writing, 4th ed. (New York: Springer, 2018).