Wildlife 448
Fall 2011
Be Succinct
 Be direct . . . to the point . . . without “fluff”
 Keep it simple (sentences, tables, etc.)
 Keep overall length to minimum
 Rules
1. Never tell me anything I don’t need to know
2. Never fail to tell me anything I need to know....
. . . to repeat the study
. . . to understand the study/results
3. Never tell me something more than once (except
maybe in discussion for emphasis)
Guidelines
 Follow JWM guidelines (see website)
 Write in first person, past tense (active voice)
 Maintain similar order/headings throughout each section
 List topic sentences for each paragraph to maintain flow
and avoid repetition
Detailed Outline
 Title and author(s)
 Look at JWM cover page as to how to format
 Abstract
 Only include header as part of outline (fill this in after
completing manuscript)
 Introduction
 Identify knowledge gaps (i.e., identify problem)
 Review current knowledge base (i.e., literature review)
 State goal (primary question) and objectives (knock me
over the head)
Detailed Outline (continued)
 Study Area
 Where was research conducted?
 List of pertinent quantitative and qualitative metrics
 Study area map (if relevant)
 Methods
 Data collection methods

If the data was collected by someone else, you need to find out
how they did it.
 Data analysis methods
 This part you shouldn’t have to rely on anyone else because
you are doing the work
Detailed Outline (continued)
 Results
 Potential figures and tables

Can be as a list
 Anticipated or Actual sample sizes
 Possible outcomes
 Discussion
 Anticipated conclusions
 Note studies that might be used for comparison
 Likely management implications
 Suggestions for future research
 Literature Cited
 Maintain as outline and manuscript are developed
 Follow formatting guidelines
Problem Set
Next week, turn in a complete and detailed outline for your class project
manuscript including….
All sections (Authors/Title abstract, intro, study area, methods, etc.) and
subsections (your own) headings. (2 points)
At least 2 topic sentences or sentence fragments under each section or
subsection heading. Think of these as items to be addressed in each
section/subsection. (7 points)
Introductory paragraph that includes a problem statement. (6points)
1.
2.
3.
1.
4.
5.
Goal or primary question to be addressed. (1 point)
Data description and/or data source information for methods section. (1
point)
Literature cited—minimum of 5 references properly formatted that will
likely be used. (3 points)
NOTE: The only complete paragraph that you are required to write for this assignment is the
introductory paragraph containing a problem statement (item 3, above). Literature
cited should be in JWM format. All other material may be complete sentence; sentence
fragments in traditional outline or bulleted formats.
NOTE: If you turn in more than the minimum required information (as listed above), please
highlight the portions identified above to be sure that you get credit for all of them.
Exercise
 Get in assigned groups
 Each person gets to discuss their project and you fill
out the form and provide feedback.
 You can LEAVE only after
 You discuss your project with ME
 You have discussed projects and filled out form with at
least 2 people.