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[ Table of Contents ] | General | Title | Abstract | Introduction | Methods | Results | Tables and Figures | Discussion | | In-text references and Literature Cited | Appendices | Latin Names | Numbers and writing -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- GENERAL FAQs How do I write species names (i.e., Latin names - binomial nomenclature)? How do I write and place the main section headings? Subheadings? How do I write numbers in the text? What if I start a sentence with a number? TITLE FAQs Where is the Title placed? What should be capitalized in a the Title? What key words are used in Titles? Should the Title be underlined? ABSTRACT SECTION FAQs What is the structure of the Abstract? Should I give detailed Methods in the Abstract? What results should be reported in the Abstract? How do I know when I have enough information in my Abstract? How long should my Abstract be? When should the Abstract be written? INTRODUCTION SECTION FAQs What is the general structure of the Introduction? With what level of information should I begin my Introduction? Where should I state the purpose of my research? How do I cite outside references in the text? METHODS SECTION FAQs Do I have to say where and when I did my research? How should the Methods be organized? When should I use subheadings? What should be the style of my presentation? What kinds of Methods details should I include? What are the quantitative details of the Methods that should be included? How do I identify treatments and controls? What kinds of information should I include to describe my data analysis? RESULTS SECTION FAQs What are key results? Should I use both Tables and Figures to present the same data? What data should I report in the text? How do I write numbers in the text? Should I report negative results? TABLE AND FIGURE FAQs When should I use a Figure vs a Table to show a result? How do I number Tables and Figures? When should I abbreviate the the word Figure? How do I format Tables and Figures? Where does the Table legend go? Figure legend? What information should appear in my legends? Should I include a title with my figures? Where should I place my Tables and Figures in the manuscript? How do I refer to Tables and Figures from the text? How do I decide on symbols, lines and bar fills to represent different variables? DISCUSSION SECTION FAQs What is the function of the Discussion? What is the writing style I should use in the Discussion? How should I approach organizing the Discussion? How much of the Results should be reiterated in the Discussion? Should any new results be given in the Discussion? How does the Discussion connect to the Introduction? How is the work of others used in my Discussion? How do I cite outside references in the Discussion? REFERENCES AND LITERATURE CITED SECTION FAQs How do I cite literature in the body of the paper (Intro/Discussion) for: general examples in context single author articles two author articles 3 or more author articles unknown author a reference found only as a citation in another article WWW sources several articles are cited together in a sentence HELP! This guide doesn't show the citation format I need! Information derived via personal communication Where does the period go - before or after the reference? How do I do complete citations in the Literature Cited for: journal articles books articles in books theses personal communications WWW Do I indent the citation? How do I sequence the citations in the Literature Cited list? What about multiple authors - do I list all of them in the full citation? What if I have two or more papers by the same author - how do I sequence them in the Literature Cited? What if I cite the same author(s) for two or more papers published in the same year? What if my source does not name an author? APPENDICES FAQs What kinds of information belongs in an Appendix? How do I number the Figures and Tables in the Appendix? How do I label appendices? ACKNOWLEDGMENTS FAQs Who must I acknowledge in my paper? Where do the acknowledgments go in my paper? WRITING AND NUMBERS Writing Numbers: Whether to enter numerals or words for a number is often confusing. In different situations, this will vary, but probably a fair generality is that a numeral is shorter than a word, so use a numeral, with the following exceptions: You cannot begin a sentence with a numeral. The number "1,256,781" must be entered at the beginning of a sentence as "One million, two hundred fifty-six thousand, seven hundred and eighty-one," as ridiculous as it seems. If the number involves a unit of measure, the unit must be likewise spelled out as a word in most cases (pH would be one exception). Work the sentence so you don't have to begin it with the number! When not speaking of data or experimental groupings, use words instead of numerals for small numbers: "two centuries ago," "For well over fifty years..", "Of the many millions of fish released..." Numbers are generally written as numerals when a specific value is named, and always when associated with a unit of measure: "270 centuries ago," "59 people...", "...47.8 g dry weight...". |