In this guide we will provide you with lots of useful information on how to write a short guide and a journal article of a scientific nature, illustrating the guidelines and structure of this type of content.
The laws of a research paper follow the precise logics and rules: if they are not respected in the drafting phase, there is the risk of producing content that is far from what it should represent.
Concentration, accuracy and a quiet library in London are excellent allies to get you into this genre of writing.
If you don’t know where to start, don’t worry: here are some tips on how to write a scientific article in English.
Tips and secrets for writing a scientific paper
From text examples to the golden rules for building text, here’s how to put your technical skills on paper.
Before you start: why write?
If your question has come to write a scientific article, the first aspect to be addressed refers precisely to the choice of the topic to be treated.
The first question you have to ask is: “is my research complete and interesting enough to be published?” This step is important, because it helps you understand if you are really ready to write an article about your research work.
The parameters that determine the goodness of a research job are different. Here are some:
o Scientifically relevant;
o Approved by the ethics committee;
o Well planned and structured;
o Great topic;
o Well conducted and with careful analysis behind.
Then there are different types of scientific articles, which are based on the subject and the objective to be achieved. We must distinguish:
o Reviews, or criticisms of material already treated or published. This type of content is useful for clarifying a specific problem, suggesting alternative solutions to the reader and informing them about scientific progress on a specific topic;
o Letters to publishers, which reflect an issue already discussed previously in the same scientific journal;
o Clinical case, very common in the medical field, consisting of the description of clinical cases;
o Original articles, or original content to be published in a scientific journal.
In this guide we will see, dry, come to write an original article, analyzing all the particular aspects in the structure and style.
What is a research paper?
Before giving you some tips on how to write a research paper, let’s define in detail what it is and what are the characteristics of this resource.
There is no universally accepted definition of a scientific article. What I would say, however, is that this category includes all those articles that deal with a particular scientific or technical aspect, from a discovery of physics to the creation of an electrical circuit.
By its very nature, which is good to inform readers and possibly help them solve certain problems.
Construction of the paper structure
If you want to know how to write a research paper, know that there are rules to follow to build the structure of the text.
Now let’s see how a scientific theme is treated and written, starting from the morphology of the text:
Front page: this part of a sheet must contain the author’s name and surname
(or authors), academic affiliation, title of the essay, summary, acknowledgments and an address for correspondence;
- The title: this is briefly the content. Choose a title that is not too generic, otherwise you risk not circumscribing the topic. However, however, do not abuse too technical titles, because it could be considered the least knowledgeable reader on the subject;
- The summary: if your question is how to write an abstract, you should know that it is a sort of summary of the topic covered, with its conclusions that you have reached. Scientific journals usually set a maximum of words for the abstract, which is around 100 words;
- The thanks: in this part I think, if you want, to thank the people who have contributed most to the drafting of your article;
Introduction: here you will find the content of your essay, specifying the different sections from which it is composed. Furthermore, beyond the scope of your work, the methodology and the approach, the results obtained. Research by other authoritative colleagues in the field is also very useful;
Body of the paper: in this part, of course, respect the premises made during the introduction. Try not to weigh down the notes with too much content and don’t abuse the notes and appendices;
Conclusion: in the final part of your case, in the course of work, speaking also of any logical, empirical or methodological limits of the solutions you have proposed, also mentioning possible future developments;
Bibliographic notes: this space is useful for reporting to the reader paper, articles or documents mentioned in the article.
Now that we’ve seen a research paper come from the structure, let’s see some advice regarding the writing style to be adopted.