Primary vs Secondary Sources Primary sources Describe original

Primary vs. Secondary Sources • Primary sources – Describe original research conducted by the authors of the article. – Methods are described – Data are presented. – Generally have introduction, materials & methods, results, discussion, and literature cited sections. » • Secondary sources – Summarize the results of primary research articles. – A review article.

Introduction section • Background information necessary to understand the research topic • Justification of the necessity of the research • The research objectives, or purpose, at the end of the introduction section.

Answer the following for the Introduction section 1. What do you think is the most important reason given for why the research is necessary? 2. What do you feel are the 3 most important pieces of background information given, and why? 3. Did others at your table choose similar or different pieces of information? 4. Where do you find the research objectives? Summarize the research objectives.

Examples of research objective statements • Hofmann writing guide: “In this study, we expressed the sea urchin protein bindin in E. coli in order to isolate it in large amounts for functional studies. The expression vector developed to accomplish this could also be used for future site-directed mutagenesis experiments. ” • Classmate: “In this study, we investigated the effects of phosphorus level in the presence and absence of buckthorn. ”

Methods section • Description of the methods, so that – readers understand how the research objectives were tested – someone else could repeat the research. • In an ecological paper, the methods section always begins with a “Study site description. ”

Answer the following for the Methods section 5. List three important pieces of information provided about the study sites(s). Do you think that anything important is left out, or not? 6. For the second paragraph… § § § Name two materials or pieces of equipment used. Is there a separate section to list “materials” or are materials and equipment simply mentioned within the text? How much detail is included? Is it more or less detail than you typically include in a lab notebook entry? Write a few sentences that summarize the methods for your study, taking care to avoid including unnecessary information.

Results section • Presents the research results – without discussing what the results mean • Data is presented in table and/or graph format – Headings appear above tables. – Captions appear below figures. • Content of each table and/or graph is summarized in the text, – so that the “main gist” of the data could be understood without referring to that table or graph.

For Fig. 1 7. Write text that describes the important aspects of the data. • • Imagine that the figure is displayed on a screen and that you are explaining the data orally, using a pointer. Your written text should transcribe what you would say orally.

% mass of leaf litter remaining Fig. 1 Oak Cottonwood Cherry Mixed Buckthorn Days from start of experiment Heneghan et al. 2002

Fig. 1, cont. 8. Now, find the part of the results section where the authors explain the data in Fig. 1. • • How does what you wrote compare to what they wrote? Did they include something you omitted, or vice-versa?

Discussion section • Gives a scientific explanation for the data. • Compares the data to previously published research. • Discusses the implications of the results. • Might also give suggestions for future research studies, based upon a trend in the data that needs further examination.

Discussion 9. The discussion should be the longest sectionit is the section to which readers pay the most attention. – What scientific explanations are given for the data? Summarize three points given by the authors. – Choose one citation in the discussion and summarize the importance of what the authors write about those data. – Note: Are there any vague statements such as, “Further sampling or analysis is needed? ”

Acknowledgements section • Authors thank those who – provided equipment or facilities, access to sample sites, etc. – helped with planning the research, collecting samples or data, etc. – read drafts of the article and made suggestions for improvement – Paid for the research!

Acknowledgements 10. Who paid for this research?

Literature Cited • Use correct format – When you cite sources throughout the text of your paper. – In the literature cited section. – Use CSE (name-year) style, as described in Mc. Millan, Chapter 6.

Citations 11. Within text of paper a. How are single-author papers cited? b. How are papers with 2 authors cited? c. How are papers with 3 or more authors cited? 12. Use correct format to write the full citation for Panzer & Schwartz (2000). Use CSE style or copy the style of a journal article cited at the end of Panzer & Swartz (2000).

Abstract • Short summary of the research paper. Must summarize most important information from the following 4 sections. – Introduction – Methods – Results – Discussion • Even though it appears at the beginning of a research paper, it is written last!

Abstract example 1 2 4 3 5 6 7

Assignment: write an abstract for Heneghan et al. (2002): 300 words maximum Due: Mon. Mar, 27 (post on D 2 L) • Content: Summarize the most important aspects of introduction, methods, results, and discussion (5 pts) – – Contains 1 -2 sentences summarizing introduction Contains 1 -2 sentences summarizing methods Contains 2 -4 sentences summarizing results Contains 1 -2 sentences summarizing discussion • Quality of writing (3 pts) – Adequate flow from one section to the next – Grammatical mistakes are absent; sentences are structured correctly – Text is clear; ideas flow logically

Abstract guidelines • Includes ideas from all the sections, including the introduction, methods, results, and discussion sections • The abstract should flow smoothly and tell the main story of the whole paper in 300 words or less • Although it appears first, it is written last. It cannot be written until the whole paper is finished • Remember to include the common and scientific name (properly written) of the study organism/s.