A Scientific Report

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A Scientific Report
Introduction
Backgroundneeded so the reader can understand
the context of the problem
Purposewhy did you conducting the study? What
gap in knowledge are you trying to fill? WHAT
SPATIAL QUESTION ARE YOU TRYING TO ANSWER?
Objectives (and hypotheses if you are actually
testing)what specifically were you trying to
accomplishnumbered lists are useful here 1.
locate lakes above 1000m elevation in the
U.S. 2. Identify streams which feed into these
lakes 3. etc.
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Study Area
1. A brief but necessary look at the specific
area(s) used for the studyWhere is it? What are
its major attributes (soils, precip, elev,
landuse etc.)dont need everything but be sure
to include information relevant to study.
2. INCLUDE a map locating these areas
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Methods
1. A general description of what you did so that
a reader can understand and duplicate. 2. Does
NOT need to be a step by step (go to file, Add
Data.) set of instructions. 3. Figures, tables
etc. are helpful if many complicated steps.
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Results

1. Maps, Tables, Figures etc. (WITH CAPTIONS)
   showing the results of the methods you used.

2. Text briefly describing these results. NOT
explaining why or why not but simply what you
found from your analysis.
3. Figures should be able to stand alone but the
text is essential for making sure the reader
understands what happened
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Discussion
1. Text explaining what your results mean.
a. Why did you get these results?
b. How do they fit into the background
information from the intro?
c. How might these results be useful? What is the
bigger picture?
d. Any next steps, problems etc?
2. VERY important section and should include
citations from the literature.
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Literature Citedfollow the format of any JOURNAL
in your field but BE CONSISTENT
Alaback, P. B. 1982. Dynamics of understory
biomass in Sitka spruce-western hemlock forests
of southeast Alaska. Ecology 63 19221948.
Baily, J. D., C. Mayrsohn, P. S. Doescher, E.
St. Pierre, and J. C. Tappeiner. 1998.
Understory vegetation in old and young
Douglas-fir forests of western Oregon. Forest
Ecology and Management 112289302. Bender
L.C., D. L. Minnis, and J. B. Haufler. 1997.
Wildlife responses to thinning red pine.
Northern Journal of Applied Forestry 14141146.
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Format

• Introduction (needs citations!, include
  purpose/objectives)
• Study area (include a map)
• Methods
• Results (include a table and/or a chart)
• Discussion (needs citations!)
• Management steps (need a table/list)
• Literature cited

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Some Thoughts on Scientific/Technical Writing

• Conciseavoid wordiness
• Precise No flowery descriptions of the weather
  or the scenery
• ClearNeeds to allow someone to understand what
  you did clearly enough to replicate it if needed.
• Specificneeds to relate to specific objectives
  (NOT an opinion piece).