KN4e_FM.qxd
12/10/12
4:01 PM
Page iii
A STUDENT HANDBOOK FOR
WRITING IN BIOLOGY
FOURTH EDITION
Karin Knisely
Bucknell University
SINAUER ASSOCIATES, INC.
MACMILLAN
© Sinauer Associates, Inc. This material cannot be copied, reproduced, manufactured
or disseminated in any form without express written permission from the publisher.
KN4e_FM.qxd
12/10/12
4:01 PM
Page vii
CONTENTS
Preface
xiv
CHAPTER 1 The Scientific Method
1
An Introduction to the Scientific Method 1
Ask a question 2
Look for answers to your question 2
Turn your question into a hypothesis 2
Design an experiment to test your hypothesis 3
Record data 5
Summarize numerical data 6
Analyze the data 7
Try to explain the results 7
Revise original hypotheses to take new findings into account
Share findings with other scientists 8
CHAPTER 2 Developing a Literature Search Strategy
8
9
Databases and Search Engines for Scientific Information 12
Comparison of databases 12
Database Search Strategies 15
Understand your topic 15
Define your research goals 15
Subdivide your topic into concepts 16
Choose effective keywords 17
Connect keywords with the operators and, or, or not 18
Use truncation symbols for multiple word endings 19
Search exact phrase 19
Use the same keywords in a different database or search engine 19
Evaluating Search Results 19
Finding related articles 23
Obtaining full-text articles 23
Managing References (Citations) 24
RefWorks 25
© Sinauer Associates, Inc. This material cannot be copied, reproduced, manufactured
or disseminated in any form without express written permission from the publisher.
KN4e_FM.qxd
12/10/12
4:01 PM
Page viii
viii Contents
CHAPTER 3 Reading and Writing Scientific Papers
31
Types of Scientific Writing 31
Hallmarks of Scientific Writing 32
Scientific Paper Format 32
Styles for Documenting References 34
Strategies for Reading Journal Articles 35
Strategies for Reading Your Textbook 37
Study Groups 39
Plagiarism 40
Information that does not have to be acknowledged 40
Information that has to be acknowledged 40
Paraphrasing the source text 41
The Benefits of Learning to Write Scientific Papers 42
Credibility and Reputation 42
Model Papers 42
CHAPTER 4 Step-by-Step Instructions for Preparing a
Laboratory Report or Scientific Paper 45
Timetable 45
Format your report correctly 46
Computer savvy 47
Getting Started 49
Reread the laboratory exercise 49
Organization 49
Audience 50
Writing style 50
Start with the Materials and Methods Section
Tense 51
Voice 51
Level of detail 52
Do the Results Section Next 55
Writing the body of the Results section 57
Equations 59
Preparing visuals 61
Tables 62
Line graphs (XY graphs) and scatterplots 65
Bar graphs 71
Pie graphs 72
Organizing your data 72
Make Connections 76
Write the discussion 76
51
© Sinauer Associates, Inc. This material cannot be copied, reproduced, manufactured
or disseminated in any form without express written permission from the publisher.
KN4e_FM.qxd
12/10/12
4:01 PM
Page ix
Contents
Write the introduction 78
Effective Advertising 79
Write the abstract 79
Write the title 80
Documenting Sources 81
The Name-Year system 82
The Citation-Sequence system 83
The Citation-Name system 85
Unpublished laboratory exercise 85
Personal communication 85
Internet sources 88
Journal articles 88
Databases 90
Homepages 92
Emails and discussion lists 94
CHAPTER 5 Revision
95
Getting Ready to Revise 95
Take a break 95
Slow down and concentrate 96
Think of your audience 96
Editing 96
Evaluate the overall structure 96
Do the math at least twice 97
Organize each section 98
Make coherent paragraphs 98
Write meaningful sentences 98
Choose your words carefully 102
Construct memorable visuals 111
Proofreading: The Home Stretch 111
Make subjects and verbs agree 111
Write in complete sentences 112
Revise run-on sentences 113
Spelling 115
Punctuation 115
Abbreviations 120
Numbers 120
Format 123
Get Feedback 124
Tips for being a good peer reviewer 124
Have an informal discussion with your peer reviewer
Biology Lab Report Checklist 127
125
© Sinauer Associates, Inc. This material cannot be copied, reproduced, manufactured
or disseminated in any form without express written permission from the publisher.
ix
KN4e_FM.qxd
12/10/12
4:01 PM
Page x
x Contents
CHAPTER 6 A “Good” Sample Student Laboratory Report
Laboratory Report Mistakes
CHAPTER 7
129
138
Poster Presentations
143
Why Posters? 143
Poster Format 143
Layout 144
Appearance 144
Font (type size and appearance) 144
Nuts and bolts 145
Making a Poster in Microsoft PowerPoint 2010 145
Page setup 146
Adding text, images, and graphs 146
Aligning objects 147
Proofread your work 148
Final printing 148
Poster Content 148
Title banner 149
Introduction 149
Materials and methods 149
Results 149
Discussion or conclusions 150
Literature citations 151
Acknowledgments 151
Presenting Your Poster 151
Evaluation Form for Poster Presentations 152
Sample Posters 152
CHAPTER 8 Oral Presentations
153
Organization 153
Plan Ahead 154
Write the Text 155
Preparing Visuals 155
Rehearsal 158
Delivery 159
Presentation style 159
Integrating visuals 159
Interacting with the audience 160
Group presentations 161
Fielding listener questions 161
Feedback 161
© Sinauer Associates, Inc. This material cannot be copied, reproduced, manufactured
or disseminated in any form without express written permission from the publisher.
KN4e_FM.qxd
12/10/12
4:01 PM
Page xi
Contents
APPENDIX 1 Word Processing in Microsoft Word 2010
163
Introduction 163
Increasing Your Word Processing Efficiency 165
Navigation 165
Navigation pane 165
Text selection 166
Commands in Word 2010 167
Unfurling the Ribbon 172
The File tab 172
The Home tab 176
The Insert tab 180
The Page Layout tab 188
The References tab 188
The Review tab 190
The View tab 193
Proofreading Your Documents 193
Spelling and grammar 193
Format 194
Document inspector 196
Finally, print a hard copy 196
Good Housekeeping 196
Organizing your files in folders 196
Accessing files and folders quickly 197
Naming your files 197
Saving your documents 198
Backing up your files 198
Working with previous versions of MS Word 200
APPENDIX 2 Making Graphs in Microsoft Excel 2010 and Excel
for Mac 2011 203
Introduction 203
Handling computer files 204
Commands in Excel 2010 204
Formulas in Excel 207
Writing formulas 207
Copying formulas using the fill handle 212
Copying cell values, but not the formula 212
Unfurling the Ribbon 213
The File tab 213
The Home tab 214
The Insert tab 216
© Sinauer Associates, Inc. This material cannot be copied, reproduced, manufactured
or disseminated in any form without express written permission from the publisher.
xi
KN4e_FM.qxd
12/10/12
4:01 PM
Page xii
xii Contents
The Page Layout tab 217
The View tab 217
More tabs below 218
Excel Terminology 219
Goodbye Chart Wizard, Hello Insert Charts 219
Plotting XY Graphs (Scatter Charts) 220
Entering data in worksheet 220
Creating the scatter chart 221
Save chart formatting 232
Adding Data after Graph Has Been Formatted 232
To incorporate additional data points in the same series 232
To incorporate additional lines on the same graph 233
To change the legend titles 233
Multiple Lines on an XY Graph 233
Entering data in worksheet 235
Creating the scatter chart 235
Trendlines 235
Linear trendline—A standard curve for a protein assay 237
Plotting Bar Graphs 242
Column charts 242
Clustered column charts 246
Bar charts 246
Pie Graphs 248
Entering data in worksheet 248
Creating the pie chart 250
Error Bars and Variability 252
Adding error bars about the means 253
Data analysis with error bars 256
Making Chart Templates 257
APPENDIX 3 Preparing Oral Presentations with Microsoft
PowerPoint 2010 261
Introduction 261
Handling Computer Files 263
Commands in PowerPoint 2010 264
Designs for New Presentations 264
Views for Organizing and Writing Your Presentation
268
© Sinauer Associates, Inc. This material cannot be copied, reproduced, manufactured
or disseminated in any form without express written permission from the publisher.
KN4e_FM.qxd
12/10/12
4:01 PM
Page xiii
Contents
Slide Layouts 270
Title slide 270
Adding slides 270
Deleting slides 272
The last slide 273
Navigating among Slides in Normal View 273
Formatting Text 273
Sample Presentation 274
Visuals 276
Tables 276
Pictures 278
Line drawings 279
SmartArt Graphics 282
Graphs (Charts) 283
Hyperlinks 283
Multimedia files 286
Saving and Printing Presentations 287
Revising and Polishing Presentations 290
Moving slides 290
Adding and deleting slides 291
Copying slides 291
Spell check 291
Applying a theme 292
Animations and slide transitions 292
Tweaking Slide, Handout, and Notes Masters 293
Text, bullets, and illustrations 294
Headers and footers 294
Handouts and notes pages 296
Delivering Presentations 296
Resources in the presentation room 296
Navigating among slides during a slide show 298
Bibliography
Index 307
301
© Sinauer Associates, Inc. This material cannot be copied, reproduced, manufactured
or disseminated in any form without express written permission from the publisher.
xiii