Writing A Scientific Research Article: Format For The Paper Edit Your Paper! Useful Books

WRITING A SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH ARTICLE http://www.columbia.edu/cu/biology/ug/research/paper.
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WRITING A SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH ARTICLE
| Format for the paper | Edit your paper! | Useful books |
FORMAT FOR THE PAPER
Scientific research articles provide a method for scientists to communicate with other scientists about the results of
their research. A standard format is used for these articles, in which the author presents the research in an orderly,
logical manner. This doesn't necessarily reflect the order in which you did or thought about the work. This format is:
| Title | Authors | Introduction | Materials and Methods | Results (with Tables and Figures) | Discussion | Acknowledgments | Literature Cited |
TITLE
1. Make your title specific enough to describe the contents of the paper, but not so technical that only specialists
will understand. The title should be appropriate for the intended audience.
2. The title usually describes the subject matter of the article: Effect of Smoking on Academic Performance"
3. Sometimes a title that summarizes the results is more effective: Students Who Smoke Get Lower Grades"
AUTHORS
1. The person who did the work and wrote the paper is generally listed as the first author of a research paper.
2. For published articles, other people who made substantial contributions to the work are also listed as authors. Ask
your mentor's permission before including his/her name as co-author.
ABSTRACT
1. An abstract, or summary, is published together with a research article, giving the reader a "preview" of what's to
come. Such abstracts may also be published separately in bibliographical sources, such as Biologic al Abstracts. They
allow other scientists to quickly scan the large scientific literature, and decide which articles they want to read in depth.
The abstract should be a little less technical than the article itself; you don't want to dissuade your potent ial audience
from reading your paper.
2. Your abstract should be one paragraph, of 100-250 words, which summarizes the purpose, methods, results and
conclusions of the paper.
3. It is not easy to include all this information in just a few words. Start by writing a summary that includes whatever
you think is important, and then gradually prune it down to size by removing unnecessary words, while still retaini ng
the necessary concepts.
3. Don't use abbreviations or citations in the abstract. It should be able to stand alone without any footnotes.
INTRODUCTION
What question did you ask in your experiment? Why is it interesting? The introduction summarizes the relevant
literature so that the reader will understand why you were interested in the question you asked. One to fo ur paragraphs
should be enough. End with a sentence explaining the specific question you asked in this experiment.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
1. How did you answer this question? There should be enough information here to allow another scientist to repeat your
experiment. Look at other papers that have been published in your field to get some idea of what is included in this
section.
2. If you had a complicated protocol, it may helpful to include a diagram, table or flowchart to explain the methods you
used.
3. Do not put results in this section. You may, however, include preliminary results that were used to design the main
experiment that you are reporting on. ("In a preliminary study, I observed the owls for one week, and found that 73 %
of their locomotor activity occurred during the night, and so I conducted all subsequent experiments between 11 pm
and 6 am.")
4. Mention relevant ethical considerations. If you used human subjects, did they consent to participate. If you used
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WRITING A SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH ARTICLE http://www.columbia.edu/cu/biology/ug/research/paper.html
animals, what measures did you take to minimize pain?
RESULTS
1. This is where you present the results you've gotten. Use graphs and tables if appropriate, but also summarize your
main findings in the text. Do NOT discuss the results or speculate as to why something happened; t hat goes in th e
Discussion.
2. You don't necessarily have to include all the data you've gotten during the semester. This isn't a diary.
3. Use appropriate methods of showing data. Don't try to manipulate the data to make it look like you did more than
you actually did.
"The drug cured 1/3 of the infected mice, another 1/3 were not affected, and the third mouse got away."
TABLES AND GRAPHS
1. If you present your data in a table or graph, include a title describing what's in the table ("Enzyme activity at various
temperatures", not "My results".) For graphs, you should also label the x and y axes.
2. Don't use a table or graph just to be "fancy". If you can summarize the information in one sentence, then a table or
graph is not necessary.
DISCUSSION
1. Highlight the most significant results, but don't just repeat what you've written in the Results section. How do these
results relate to the original question? Do the data support your hypothesis? Are your results consistent with what other
investigators have reported? If your results were unexpected, try to explain why. Is there another way to interpret your
results? What further research would be necessary to answer the questions raised by your results? How do y our results
fit into the big picture?
2. End with a one-sentence summary of your conclusion, emphasizing why it is relevant.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This section is optional. You can thank those who either helped with the experiments, or made other important
contributions, such as discussing the protocol, commenting on the manuscript, or buying you pizza.
REFERENCES (LITERATURE CITED)
There are several possible ways to organize this section. Here is one commonly used way:
1. In the text, cite the literature in the appropriate places:
Scarlet (1990) thought that the gene was present only in yeast, but it has since been identified in the platypus (Indigo
and Mauve, 1994) and wombat (Magenta, et al., 1995).
2. In the References section list citations in alphabetical order.
Indigo, A. C., and Mauve, B. E. 1994. Queer place for qwerty: gene isolation from the platypus. Science 275,
1213-1214.
Magenta, S. T., Sepia, X., and Turquoise, U. 1995. Wombat genetics. In: Widiculous Wombats, Violet, Q., ed. New
York: Columbia University Press. p 123-145.
Scarlet, S.L. 1990. Isolation of qwerty gene from S. cerevisae. Journal of Unusual Results 36, 26-31.
EDIT YOUR PAPER!!!
"In my writing, I average about ten pages a day. Unfortunately, they're all the same page."
Michael Alley, The Craft of Scientific Writing
A major part of any writing assignment consists of re-writing.
Write accurately
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1. Scientific writing must be accurate. Although writing instructors may tell you not to use the same word twice in
a sentence, it's okay for scientific writing, which must be accurate. (A student who tried not to repeat the word
"hamster" produced this confusing sentence: "When I put the hamster in a cage with the other animals, the little
mammals began to play.")
2. Make sure you say what you mean.
Instead of: The rats were injected with the drug. (sounds like a syringe was filled with drug and
ground-up rats and both were injected together)
Write: I injected the drug into the rat.
3. Be careful with commonly confused words:
Temperature has an effect on the reaction.

Temperature affects the reaction.
I used solutions in various concentrations. (The solutions were 5 mg/ml, 10 mg/ml, and
15 mg/ml)
I used solutions in varying concentrations. (The concentrations I used changed;
sometimes they were 5 mg/ml, other times they were 15 mg/ml.)
Less food (can't count numbers of food)

Fewer animals (can count numbers of animals)
A large amount of food (can't count them)

A large number of animals (can count them)
The erythrocytes, which are in the blood, contain hemoglobin.

The erythrocytes that are in the blood contain hemoglobin. (Wrong. This sentence
implies that there are erythrocytes elsewhere that don't contain hemoglobin.)
Write clearly
1. Write at a level that's appropriate for your audience.
"Like a pigeon, something to admire as long as it isn't over your head." Anonymous
2. Use the active voice. It's clearer and more concise than the passive voice.
Instead of: An increased appetite was manifested by the rats and an increase in body weight was
measured.
Write: The rats ate more and gained weight.
3. Use the first person.
Instead of: It is thought

Write: I think
Instead of: The samples were analyzed

Write: I analyzed the samples
4. Avoid dangling participles.
"After incubating at 30 degrees C, we examined the petri plates." (You must've been pretty warm in there.)
Write succinctly
1. Use verbs instead of abstract nouns
Instead of: take into consideration

Write: consider
2. Use strong verbs instead of "to be"
Instead of: The enzyme was found to be the active agent in catalyzing...
Write: The enzyme catalyzed...
3. Use short words.
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"I would never use a long word where a short one would answer the purpose. I know there are professors
in this country who 'ligate' arteries. Other surgeons tie them, and it stops the bleeding just as well."
Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr .
Instead of: Write:
possess have
sufficient enough
utilize use
demonstrate show
assistance help
terminate end
4. Use concise terms.
Instead of: Write:

prior to before
due to the fact that because
in a considerable number of cases often
the vast majority of most
during the time that when
in close proximity to near
it has long been known that I'm too lazy to look up the
reference
5. Use short sentences. A sentence made of more than 40 words should probably be rewritten as two sentences.
"The conjunction 'and' commonly serves to indicate that the writer's mind still functions even when no signs of the
phenomenon are noticeable." Rudolf Virchow, 1928
Check your grammar, spelling and punctuation
1. Use a spellchecker, but be aware that they don't catch all mistakes.
"When we consider the animal as a hole,..." Student's paper
2. Your spellchecker may not recognize scientific terms. For the correct spelling, try Biotech's Life Science Dictionary
or one of the technical dictionaries on the reference shelf in the Biology or Health Sciences libraries.
3. Don't, use, unnecessary, commas.
4. Proofread carefully to see if you any words out.
USEFUL BOOKS
Victoria E. McMillan, Writing Papers in the Biological Sciences, Bedford Books, Boston, 1997
The best. On sale for about $18 at Labyrinth Books, 112th Street. On reserve in Biology Library
Jan A. Pechenik, A Short Guide to Writing About Biology, Boston: Little, Brown, 1987
Harrison W. Ambrose, III & Katharine Peckham Ambrose, A Handbook of Biological Investigation, 4th edition,
Hunter Textbooks Inc, Winston-Salem, 1987
Particularly useful if you need to use statistics to analyze your data. Copy on Reference shelf in Biology Library.
Robert S. Day, How to Write and Publish a Scientific Paper, 4th edition, Oryx Press, Phoenix, 1994.
Earlier editions also good. A bit more advanced, intended for those writing papers for publication. Fun to read. Several
copies available in Columbia libraries.
William Strunk, Jr. and E. B. White, The Elements of Style, 3rd ed. Macmillan, New York, 1987.
Several copies available in Columbia libraries. Strunk's first edition is available on-line.
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How to Write a Scientific Review Article - Enago Academy https://www.enago.com/academy/how-to-write-a-scientific-review-article/
How to Write a Scienti�c Review

Article
VIEWS PUBLISHED ON READING TIME
By Enago Academy
뀧 52,376  Oct 25, 2021  4 Minutes
In the biosciences, review articles written by researchers are valuable

tools for those looking for a synopsis of several research studies in one
place without having to spend time �nding the research and results
themselves. A well-presented review paper provides the reader with
unbiased information on studies within the discipline and presents why
the results of some research studies are or are not valid. In addition,
institutions that fund research tend to use review articles to help them
decide whether further research is necessary; however, their value is only
as good as the objectives achieved and how the results are
communicated.
How would you rate your


experience on the Enago
Academy website?
Researchers Poll
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How to Write a Scientific Review Article - Enago Academy https://www.enago.com/academy/how-to-write-a-scientific-review-article/
The objective of a review should be “to achieve an organization and

synthesis of past work around the chosen theme in order to accelerate
the accumulation and assimilation of recent knowledge into the existing
body of knowledge.” Importantly, a review should present results clearly
and accurately—good writing is essential and must follow a strict set of
rules.
In 1996, Quality of Reporting of Meta-analyses (QUOROM), which focused

on meta-analyses of randomized controlled studies, was created during a
conference involving a group of scientists, clinicians, and statisticians. The
QUOROM statement, checklist, and �ow diagram were introduced to
researchers to help them better organize their reviews and ensure that
speci�c criteria were followed. QUOROM was later updated and renamed
Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses
(PRISMA) with the same values and criteria.
Types of Review Articles

A review article is not an original study. It examines previous studies and
compiles their data and evidence.
Based on their structure and formulation, literature reviews are broadly

classi�ed as-
How would you rate your
1.
 Narrative or Traditional Literature Reviews
experience on the Enago
Academy website?
– This is the classic literature reviewResearchers Poll

that summarizes the collated
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How to write a superb literature review https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-03422-x
CAREER FEATURE 04 December 2020 Correction 09 December 2020
How to write a superb literature

review
Nature speaks to old hands and first timers about the work they did to make their
reviews sing.
Andy Tay
Find a new job
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Credit: Getty
Literature reviews are important resources for scientists. They provide historical
context for a field while offering opinions on its future trajectory. Creating them can
provide inspiration for one’s own research, as well as some practice in writing. But
few scientists are trained in how to write a review — or in what constitutes an
excellent one. Even picking the appropriate software to use can be an involved
decision (see ‘Tools and techniques’). So Nature asked editors and working scientists
with well-cited reviews for their tips.
WENTING ZHAO: Be focused and avoid jargon

Assistant professor of chemical and biomedical engineering, Nanyang Technological
University, Singapore.
When I was a research student, review writing improved my understanding of the

history of my field. I also learnt about unmet challenges in the field that triggered
ideas.
For example, while writing my first review1 as a PhD student, I was frustrated by how
poorly we understood how cells actively sense, interact with and adapt to
nanoparticles used in drug delivery. This experience motivated me to study how the
surface properties of nanoparticles can be modified to enhance biological sensing.
When I transitioned to my postdoctoral research, this question led me to discover
the role of cell-membrane curvature, which led to publications and my current
research focus. I wouldn’t have started in this area without writing that review.
RELATED
A common problem for students writing their first
reviews is being overly ambitious. When I wrote mine, I
imagined producing a comprehensive summary of
every single type of nanomaterial used in biological
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applications. It ended up becoming a colossal piece of

Collection: Careers toolkit
work, with too many papers discussed and without a
clear way to categorize them. We published the work in
the end, but decided to limit the discussion strictly to nanoparticles for biological
sensing, rather than covering how different nanomaterials are used in biology.
My advice to students is to accept that a review is unlike a textbook: it should offer a

more focused discussion, and it’s OK to skip some topics so that you do not distract
your readers. Students should also consider editorial deadlines, especially for
invited reviews: make sure that the review’s scope is not so extensive that it delays
the writing.
A good review should also avoid jargon and explain the basic concepts for someone
who is new to the field. Although I trained as an engineer, I’m interested in biology,
and my research is about developing nanomaterials to manipulate proteins at the
cell membrane and how this can affect ageing and cancer. As an ‘outsider’, the
reviews that I find most useful for these biological topics are those that speak to me
in accessible scientific language.
A man in glasses looking at the camera.
Bozhi Tian likes to get a variety of perspectives into a review. Credit: Aleksander Prominski
BOZHI TIAN: Have a process and develop your style

Associate professor of chemistry, University of Chicago, Illinois.
In my lab, we start by asking: what is the purpose of this review? My reasons for
writing one can include the chance to contribute insights to the scientific
community and identify opportunities for my research. I also see review writing as a
way to train early-career researchers in soft skills such as project management and
leadership. This is especially true for lead authors, because they will learn to work
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Tips for writing your first scientific literature review article https://www.asbmb.org/asbmb-today/careers/120111/writing-a-scientific-l...
(/am-toda)
 HOW-TO
Tip for writing our �rt
cienti�c literature review
article
 mil Crawford
Dec. 1, 2011
W
hen I undertook the tak of writing a cienti�c literature review article lat
ear, I had hoped that a Google earch would reveal a handful of how-to
page thoughtfull created  veteran of thi particular writing proce. I
found nothing of the ort, o I plowed ahead on m own, inventing technique for melf.
I’m now o�ering thi piece for other oung cientit who �nd themelve in imilar
ituation. What ou’re reading now i aicall a cae tor with an N of one, ut it i the
ort of ea I wih had een availale to me when I tarted.
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Preparing your manuscript - Publishing in the Sciences - Research Guides... https://guides.lib.umich.edu/c.php?g=283300&p=1886922
Research Guides
University of Michigan Library / Research Guides / Publishing in the Sciences / Preparing your manuscript
Publishing in the Sciences Search
Key steps and resources for publishing research articles in Science areas.
Getting Started Authorship
Choosing a
• Authorship and the allocation of credit
journal
Chapter from "On Being a Scientist: A Guide to Responsible Conduct in
Preparing your Research", Third Edition (2009), National Academic Press
manuscript
Who gets to be an author? Decisions of who deserves authorship on an
Submission journal article differ depending on journals/publishers, disciplines, and even
individual research groups. Generally, however, authors should make a
Peer review
substantial intellectual contribution to the article. Some journals require the
After acceptance contributions of each author to be explicitly stated.
Who gets to be the first or last author? The first and last author positions


are often considered to be the most important, but, again, this differs
depending on discipline. In many scientific disciplines, the principle investigator
is the last author, and the graduate student or postdoc who did most of the
work is the first author.
Who is the corresponding author? The corresponding author is the point-of-

contact for the journal editor and readers who have questions about the
manuscript. Usually, but not always, the last author is also the corresponding
author.
Further reading:
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• Authorship: Who's on first?

Amber Dance, Nature (2012)
• It is time for full disclosure of author contributions
Sebastian Frische, Nature (2012)
Manuscript and citation style
Publishers and journals has their own requirements for manuscript and citation
style. You may find these requirements on the journal's Instructions to Authors
page, and you can follow examples of articles published in the journal.
However, the required manuscript style may be different from the style of the
published article in a journal.
Browse a list of general style guides for different science disciplines.
To help you format your manuscript and bibliography quickly and easily, you
can use a citation management software. For information, visit this Manage
Citations with Zotero, Mendeley, and EndNote guide.
A couple of general style guide/manual are listed below.
• The manual of scientific style : a guide for authors, editors, and

researchers / edited by Harold Rabinowitz and Suzanne Vogel


• Scientific style and format : the CSE manual for authors, editors, and
publishers Council of Science Editors. Style Manual Committee, 2014
• The ACS style guide : effective communication of scientific
information by Coghill, Anne M. Garson, Lorrin R. American Chemical
Society. 2006
Re-use materials from other publications? - Get permission
If you need to re-use materials such as diagrams, figures, tables, or data from
previous publications (including your own and others' work) in a review
article, your dissertation, or the introduction part of your research article, it is
likely that you will need permissions from the publisher, who is the copyright
holder.
• To request permission to re-use objects (figures, diagrams or table)
Most publishers provide easy ways to request permission if you are
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• To request permission to re-use data
Copyright does not apply to facts, data, or ideas (see U-M

Library's Copyright Office page for details). Therefore, if you have
permission to use data from the original authors, you may re-plot the
data in a new figure and use them in your article without asking for
permission from the publisher. Even publishers like ACS clearly state
this in their FAQs (see item #19 on the ACS FAQ page).
• Always cite the original work properly
Scientific Writing Resources



Scientific writing poses special challenges to authors because authors need to

explain complicated observations or reasoning in a simple and direct way. You
may seek for help from the Sweetland Writing Center. Also, your writing skills
will improve with practice and publication experience. Here are a few helpful
resources.
• Sweetland Center for Writing - Writing Support

A series of detailed guides on crucial steps of your writing.
• On Being a Scientist: A Guide to Responsible Conduct in Research
Find discussions and guidance on ethics issues and plagiarism issues in
publishing practices.
• The Science of Scientific Writing, American Scientist Online
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By Schultz, D. M. (2009) Boston, Mass.: American Meteorological Society

• Find more books on communication in science
Link to U-M Library Catalog Search for other books on Communication in
Sciences in U-M Library collection
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Subjects: Science
Tags: publishing
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Library Privacy Statement
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Except where otherwise noted, this work is subject to a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. For details and exceptions, see the
Library Copyright Policy. ©2018, Regents of the University of Michigan 
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Choosing a journal - Publishing in the Sciences - Research Guides at Uni... https://guides.lib.umich.edu/c.php?g=283300&p=1886921
Research Guides
University of Michigan Library / Research Guides / Publishing in the Sciences / Choosing a journal
Getting Started Factors to consider
Choosing a
When deciding where to submit your manuscript, choose a journal where your
journal
article can make the highest impact. Here are factors you should consider:
Preparing your
• Journal scope
manuscript
Submission • Journal impact and reputation
Peer review
• Journal policies
After acceptance
• Accessibility of journal articles
Types of articles
Primary research results can be published though one of the following types of
articles:
• Letters or Brief Communications - for timely release of import

research results in a brief format. Usually a full research article would
follow.
• Full Article - a regular, comprehensive report of a research project.
• Conference Proceedings - for partially finished or ongoing research.

Usually associated with oral presentations or posters at a professional
conference.
Open access journals
Open access (OA) journals provide readers with free and unrestricted access
to articles online. Choosing to publish your article in an OA journal ensures that
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Directory of Open Access Journals provides a complete list of OA

journals.
OA journals often charge authors an article processing or publication fee,

which usually ranges between $1000 to $3000. Some journals, such as PLoS
journals, may reduce or wave this fee for authors who cannot pay the full
amount.
More information on OA journals, including discounts on article

processing/publication fees for University of Michigan authors, can be found in
the Scholarly Publishing guide.
Beware of predatory OA journals!
Some OA journals exist only to extract article processing/publication fees and

do not provide any "value-added" services in return (e.g., rigorous peer review,
professional formatting, indexing in major databases, etc.). A list of suspicious
journals is kept up-to-date by a librarian at the University of Colorado Denver.
Some warning signs of predatory OA journals:
• The name of the journal appears incompatible with its scope.

• You receive spam-like emails from the journal requesting article
submissions.
• The promised submission-to-publication delay seems too short for
sufficient peer review.
• The editor or editorial board members are not clearly identified or do not
have scholarly affiliations.
• The journal website looks unprofessional.
• Article processing/publication fees are not mentioned until after the
article has been accepted.
Open Access Explained!
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Journal scope - Choose a journal that publishes similar articles
It is important to choose a journal that publishes articles on similar topics as

yours because these are the journals that are read most heavily by
researchers with similar interests. Here are some ways to find potential
journals:
• Make note of journals that are highly cited by your manuscript and
related articles.
• View a list of journals in your discipline from U-M Library Search
• Search general scientific databases like Web of Science and Scopus to

identify journals that publishing articles on your topic. See a list of
databases or Research Guides for your discipline for more specific
databases.
• Search Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, which provides

bibliographic and publisher information on more than 300,000 periodicals
of all types.
• Scan online lists of journals within specific disciplines (e.g., a

comprehensive Chemistry Journal list from a researcher at the
University of Cambridge).
• Check the list of references you have been reading for your research
and identify the journals where your peer resarchers publish articles on
the interested topic.
Once you have identified several potential journals, read their ABOUT page
and browse through their articles to understand their scope.
Some organizations/publishers also provide Journal Selectors, which

are semantics-based tools, for you to choose an appropriate journal by
entering your title/abstract and other information. However, these tools usually
are limited to journals from a specific publisher or a specific discipline. For
example,
• Journal/Author Name Estimator (JANE) - for journals included in
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Journal Citation Reports can be used to determine the impact factor (IF)
of a journal and how the journal is ranked among other journals in the
same discipline.
• Eigenfactor.org - A free and searchable database, Eigenfactor covers

the natural and social sciences.
You may find more ways of ranking journals from the Citation Analysis Guide
page (Journal Ranking tab).
Read more on journal impact...
• Garfield, E., The history and meaning of the journal impact factor.
JAMA-Journal of the American Medical Association 2006, 295 (1), 90-93.
doi:10.1001/jama.295.1.90
• Craig, I. D.; Plume, A. M.; McVeigh, M. E.; Pringle, J.; Amin, M., Do
open access articles have greater citation impact? A critical review
of the literature. Journal of Informetrics 2007, 1 (3), 239-248.
doi:10.1016/j.joi.2007.04.001
• Piwowar, H. A.; Day, R. S.; Fridsma, D. B., Sharing Detailed Research
Data Is Associated with Increased Citation Rate. Plos One 2007, 2
(3). doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0000308
• Piwowar HA, Vision TJ. (2013) Data reuse and the open data citation
advantage. PeerJ 1:e175 doi:10.7717/peerj.175
Policies of a journal
Read the journal's Instructions for Authors for information about its policies.
Here are a few things to consider.
• Acceptance rate
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Peer review can be either single-blinded or double-blinded; find out by

looking at the journal's ABOUT or FAQs page. Sometimes, a journal
may ask reviewers to judge the soundness of the methodology and
not the perceived importance of the work (e.g. PLoS ONE).
• Self-archiving
Find out if a journal allows you to deposit a version of your manuscript

into an institutional repository (e.g., Deep Blue) or a repository
designated by your funding agency (e.g., PubMed Central by NIH).
This information is usually located on the journal's Author's Rights
page.

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Subjects: Science
Tags: publishing
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How to Write a Scientific Literature Review - Publishing in the Sciences ... https://guides.lib.umich.edu/c.php?g=283300&p=2915110
Research Guides
University of Michigan Library / Research Guides / Publishing in the Sciences

/ How to Write a Scientific Literature Review
Getting Started What You'll Find on this Page
Choosing a
This page features a discussion of each of the following components of writing
journal
a scientific review article:
Preparing your
• Choosing a topic and finding articles
manuscript
• What questions to answer in your review
Submission • Which sections to include and tips for writing them
Peer review Other tips and tricks are featured underneath this box.
After acceptance
Tips on Forming a Thesis
• Make sure your thesis is specific and addresses a question/problem in

the field
• Make sure it is relevant to all of the articles you include
• Be certain that it is clearly stated in the abstract, introduction, and
conclusion
Tips for Writing Review Articles
• Tips for Writing Your First Scientific Literature Review Article

This page, written by a grad student, gives first-hand advice about how to
go about writing a review article for the first time. It is a quick, easy read that
will help you find your footing as you begin!
A note on reviews
Reviews are usually published by experts in the field. Being familiar with the
structure and purpose of reviews will help you navigate scientific literature
1 of 4 03-01-2022, 15:52
Choosing a Topic
If you need to write a review article but don't know where to start, keep some of
these tips in mind.
• Choose a topic that is not too broad and not too narrow for the type of
review you would like to write. If you want to write a shorter review, pick
a narrower topic. But if you are going to be writing a longer review or
you'd like to explore a more general area of interest, choose a topic that
is wide enough so that you will be able to find enough articles to discuss.
• Pick something you're interested in and that you have experience
researching. A review is meant to be a survey of the current state of a
field - and the less you know about a field or topic at the outset, the more
work you're going to have to do in order to have an authoritative voice
that can provide insight about the research that has been done.
• Choose a topic that will be interesting to others whether it's currently
receiving a lot of attention, it's a controversial topic, or it's in a well-
established field. You want to contribute to the knowledge base and
understanding of other scientists so make sure it centers around a topic
2 of 4 03-01-2022, 15:52
• What is the thesis or problem being addressed in this paper?

• What are the strengths and limitations of the study? Is there a better
way to answer the research question?
• How does the author approach the study - from a theoretical,
experimental, interpretive, or clinical (etc.) standpoint? Did they choose
the best approach?
• Is the author using an assumed theoretical framework such as, for
example, psychoanalytic or developmental? How does this affect the
conclusions they draw?
• How does the author engage with other literature in the field? Is literature
that both contradicts and supports his/her findings mentioned?
• Did the researchers choose appropriate methods of experimentation and
data analysis for the research question?
• Do you think that the conclusions they draw based upon the data they
present are valid and reasonable? Or are there gaps in the logic or
assumptions being made?
• Does this particular research study contribute to the knowledge base of
the field around which you're centering your review? Is it worth including
in your discussion, and does it fit your main thesis?
Adapted from the UCLA Undergraduate Science Journal.
Structure of Your Review
Your review should follow the following structure:
• Abstract
◦ Write this last
◦ A summary of your main thesis and the studies you examine in
your review
• Introduction
◦ Introduce your topic
◦ Outline what you will discuss throughout the review
◦ Frame the paper with your thesis
◦ Tell your audience why it is important that you reviewed the
literature in your topic area
3 of 4 03-01-2022, 15:52
◦ Make sure your references are formatted correctly and all present
◦ This paper is all about the references! Cite everything that you
discuss. For tips on when and how to cite, visit the next page on
the drop-down menu under "Writing in the Sciences!"
Adapted from the UCLA Undergraduate Science Journal.

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 Tips for writing a literature review
Tips for writing a literature review

In this post, winner of the ‘Materials Science & Technology Literature Review Prize’ in Materials Science and Technology
(https://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?show=aimsScope&journalCode=ymst20) shares tips for writing a litera‐
ture review (https://authorservices.taylorandfrancis.com/publishing-your-research/writing-your-paper/how-to-write-review-
article/).
From Diptak Bhattacharya, researcher
Writing a literature review paper (https://authorservices.taylorandfrancis.com

/publishing-your-research/writing-your-paper/how-to-write-review-article/) offers a
unique opportunity to critically analyze and organize current literature. If you’re a grad‐
uate student, this will help you understand your field before you start writing your own
research.
Here are some suggestions for how to turn this journey into a grand adventure.
Simplify the literature – present the broad picture to the reader

There is a vast array of scientific literature available and it sometimes feels overwhelm‐
ing to study it systematically. As an author of a review paper, present the literature in
an organized way so that your review acts as a handy ‘guidebook’ of the literature.
Developing schematic maps and classifications can help the reader visualize the
chronology of developments in a field, and also locate particular papers of interest.
Develop an interesting storyline to engage the reader

A review paper should have a strong plot. Introduce the topic using an interesting problem statement that plants a seed of sus‐
pense in the reader’s mind. Then, take the reader on a journey that slowly unfolds the origin of the stated problem. Always ex‐
plain the theory right from the basics. Illustrate concepts through graphics alongside text. Schematic charts and diagrams help
demonstrate theories that are complicated to interpret from texts alone, therefore you can use them to keep the reader engaged
and help them grasp the theory.
Critically analyze the literature

As a scientific person, it is imperative to assimilate data from different research, and understand its broader implications. Often,
you discover hidden scientific trails only through comparing and contrasting research. These trends are not obvious from any
stand-alone investigation. An effective literature review paper identifies and interprets these subtle trends and builds ideas and
hypotheses for future research in the field.
Be confident to highlight gaps in the literature

A literature review is not merely an exercise to summarize published research, because every research is different and the find‐
ings and interpretations may vary. Rather, a review paper is an excellent place to identify the gaps or inconsistencies in the litera‐
ture. Therefore, you should aim to write a review that leaves a clear impression of what is ‘well understood’, and what still re‐
mains a ‘mystery’ to be solved.
Want more tips on writing a scientific literature review? Read posts from last year’s winner Syed Ghazi Sarwat (https://authorser‐
vices.taylorandfrancis.com/writing-a-scientific-literature-review/), and runner-up Angus Crake (https://authorservices.taylorand‐
francis.com/how-do-you-write-a-prize-winning-literature-review/).
Plus, view our handy infographic (https://authorservices.taylorandfrancis.com/publishing-your-research/writing-your-paper/how-

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Diptak Bhattacharya is currently undertaking his PhD at the Advanced Steel Processing and Products Research Center in
Colorado School of Mines, USA. His PhD research focuses on developing appropriate joining strategies for successfully imple‐
menting 3rd Gen. advanced steels in lightweight automotive manufacturing. Before his PhD, Diptak worked as a product tech‐
nologist in the Flat Product Technology Group of Tata Steel Limited, India. He is a core metallurgist, and hopes to actively con‐
tribute to industries through his research. Follow his research on ResearchGate (https://www.researchgate.net/profile
/Diptak_Bhattacharya).
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 How do you write a prize-winning literature review?
How do you write a prize-winning literature review?

Advice from Angus Crake, Materials Science & Technology Literature Review Prize runner-up
From best papers to scholarships, travel grants to society awards, Taylor & Francis offers hundreds of
awards and prizes for researchers, collaborating with journals, institutions, and societies to provide sup‐
port and recognition.
Angus Crake, PhD researcher in Chemical Engineering, was recently runner-up of the Materials Science &
Technology Literature Review Prize, which aims to encourage the preparation of definitive, critical re‐
views of the literature by students as an essential part of study for a higher degree in the materials field.
So how do you write a prize-winning literature review (https://authorservices.taylorandfrancis.com

/publishing-your-research/writing-your-paper/how-to-write-review-article/)? What do you need to con‐
sider before you start writing? Angus shares his advice.
Practical tips
• For collation of articles, use multiple search engines/databases so you don’t miss any important ones.
• Be organized and use referencing software from the start.
Pre-writing
• Define the scope of your review so that it is manageable, not too large or small; it may be necessary to focus on recent
advances if the field is well established.
• Gather research for your introduction, making it broad enough to reach out to a large audience of non-specialists.
• Before writing the core review section, define key points you wish to collate and compare. Divide the review into sections of
a suitable length – this allows trends to be identified more easily.
Writing
• Be concise and only include relevant information that highlights the key findings (readers can always find further details in
the referenced articles).
• Be critical, highlighting where good advances have been made, and also areas that have been overlooked.
• Once you have the core review section written, take a step back and look for common trends that emerge. Highlight key
advances that have been made and areas where more focused research may lead to high impact. These are crucial to show
where the field is heading, and any common pitfalls people have struggled with. (At this stage, you may want to broaden
your scope and look at other relevant fields with common problems and where similar lessons could be learned).
• Write an outlook that is positive and bold to encourage and inspire more research in the area.
• Once you have your draft, put it aside for some time before final proof reading so that you can look at it again with a fresh
mind.
Want further tips on writing a review article? Download our infographic. (https://authorservices.taylorandfrancis.com/publishing-
your-research/writing-your-paper/how-to-write-review-article/)
Angus Crake is a PhD student in the Chemical Engineering department at Imperial College London. His research, which he
started in 2014, focuses on multifunctional nanomaterials for photocatalytic carbon dioxide conversion, supervised by Senior
Lecturer Dr. Camille Petit. Angus received his MEng degree from the same department in 2014. He has reported his most recent
findings in a research paper (App. Cat. B. 210, 131-140) and at conferences such as the Gordon Research Conference on CCUS
(2017), AiChE Annual Conference (2016), and the Faraday Discussion on CCS (2016). Twitter: @AngusCrake (https://twitter.com
/anguscrake?lang=en), @Petit_Group (https://twitter.com/petit_group?lang=en)
Further reading
Writing a review article (https://authorservices.taylorandfrancis.com/publishing-your-research/writing-your-paper/how-to-
write-review-article/)
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How to publish your research (https://authorservices.taylorandfrancis.com/publishing-your-research/) 
Writing your paper (https://authorservices.taylorandfrancis.com/publishing-your-research/writing-your-paper/)  What is a review article?
What is a review article?
 Back to Writing your paper (https://authorservices.taylorandfrancis.com/?page_id=12404)
A review article, also called a literature review, is a survey of previously published research on a topic. It should give an
overview of current thinking on the theme and, unlike an original research article, won’t present new experimental re‐
sults.
The objective of a literature review is to provide a critical evaluation of the data available from existing studies. Review arti‐
cles can identify potential research areas to explore next, and sometimes they will draw new conclusions from the existing
data.
What do review articles do?

• Provide a comprehensive foundation on a topic
• Explain the current state of knowledge
• Identify gaps in existing studies for potential future research
• Highlight the main methodologies and research techniques
Did you know…
There are some journals that only publish review articles,

and others that do not accept them. Make sure you check
the aims and scope (https://authorservices.taylorandfran‐
cis.com/publishing-your-research/choosing-a-journal/how-
to-use-a-journals-aims-and-scope/) of the journal you’d like
to publish in to find out if it’s the right place for your re‐
view article.
What is the difference between a research article and a review article?
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Research article Review article
Viewpoint Presents the viewpoint of the author Critiques the viewpoint of other authors on a particular
topic
Content New content Assessing already published content
Length Depends on the word limit provided by the Tends to be shorter than a research article, but will still
journal you submit to need to adhere to word limits
How to write an authoritative review article

Here are 8 key things to consider when writing a review article:
1. Check the journal’s aims and scope
Make sure you have read the aims and scope for the journal you are submitting to and follow them closely. Different jour‐
nals accept different types of articles and not all will accept review articles, so it’s important to check this before you start
writing.
2. Define your scope
Define the scope of your review article and the research question you’ll be answering, making sure your article contributes
something new to the field.
As award-winning author Angus Crake told us (https://authorservices.taylorandfrancis.com/how-do-you-write-a-prize-

winning-literature-review/), you’ll also need to “define the scope of your review so that it is manageable, not too large or
small; it may be necessary to focus on recent advances if the field is well established.”
3. Finding sources to evaluate
When finding sources to evaluate, Angus Crake says it’s critical that you “use multiple search engines/databases so you
don’t miss any important ones.”
For finding studies for a systematic review in medical sciences, read advice from NCBI (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
/pmc/articles/PMC4548566/).
4. Writing your title, abstract and keywords
Spend time writing an effective title, abstract and keywords. This will help maximize the visibility of your article online, en‐
suring the right readers find your research. Your title and abstract should be clear, concise, accurate, and informative.
For more information and guidance on getting these right, read our guide to writing a good abstract and title (https://au‐
thorservices.taylorandfrancis.com/publishing-your-research/writing-your-paper/using-keywords-to-write-title-and-
abstract/) and our researcher’s guide to search engine optimization (https://authorservices.taylorandfrancis.com/research-
impact/search-engine-optimization-for-academic-articles/).
5. Introduce the topic
Start with an overview of the topic and give some context, explaining why a review of the topic is necessary. Gather re‐
search to inform your introduction and make it broad enough to reach out to a large audience of non-specialists. This will
help maximize its wider relevance and impact.
Don’t make your introduction too long. Divide the review into sections of a suitable length to allow key points to be identi‐
fied more easily.
6. Include critical discussion
Make sure you present a critical discussion, not just a descriptive summary of the topic. If there is contradictory research
in your area of focus, make sure to include an element of debate and present both sides of the argument. You can also
use your review paper to resolve conflict between contradictory studies.
close 
2 of 4 03-01-2022, 15:23
“Once you have the core review section written, take a

step back and look for common trends that emerge.
Highlight key advances that have been made and areas
where more focused research may lead to high impact.
These are crucial to show where the field is heading, and
any common pitfalls people have struggled with.”
– Angus Crake (https://authorservices.taylorandfrancis.com/how-do-you-write-a-prize-winning-literature-review/),
researcher
7. Sum it up
“You should aim to write a review that leaves a clear im‐

pression of what is ‘well understood’, and what still re‐
mains a ‘mystery’ to be solved.”
– Diptak Bhattacharya (https://authorservices.taylorandfrancis.com/tips-for-writing-a-literature-review/),
researcher
This can include making suggestions for future research on the topic as part of your conclusion.
8. Use a critical friend
One last check. Always perform a final spell and grammar check of your article before submission.
You may want to ask a critical friend or colleague to give their feedback before you submit. If English is not your first lan‐
guage, think about using a language-polishing service. Find out more about the Taylor & Francis Editing Services
(http://tandfeditingservices.com/).
To get the latest news, insights, tips and more straight to your inbox, sign up for the Taylor & Francis Insights newsletter
(https://taylorandfrancis.formstack.com/forms/insights1).
Review article checklist

Complete this checklist before you submit your review article:
• Have you checked the journal’s aims and scope?

• Have you defined the scope of your article?
• Did you use multiple search engines to find sources to evaluate?
• Have you written a descriptive title and abstract using keywords?
• Did you start with an overview of the topic?
• Have you presented a critical discussion?
• Have you included future suggestions for research in your conclusion?
• Have you asked a friend to do a final spell and grammar check?
Further resources
For more advice on writing a review article, read author-to-author tips in the blog posts below…
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WRITING A SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH ARTICLE http://www.columbia.edu/cu/biology/ug/research/paper.

WRITING A SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH ARTICLE

| Format for the paper | Edit your paper! | Useful books |

FORMAT FOR THE PAPER

MATERIALS AND METHODS

animals, what measures did you take to minimize pain?

TABLES AND GRAPHS

2. End with a one-sentence summary of your conclusion, emphasizing why it is relevant.

REFERENCES (LITERATURE CITED)

1. In the text, cite the literature in the appropriate places:

2. In the References section list citations in alphabetical order.

EDIT YOUR PAPER!!!

A major part of any writing assignment consists of re-writing.

3. Be careful with commonly confused words:

Temperature has an effect on the reaction.

Less food (can't count numbers of food)

A large amount of food (can't count them)

The erythrocytes, which are in the blood, contain hemoglobin.

1. Write at a level that's appropriate for your audience.

3. Use the first person.

Instead of: It is thought

Instead of: The samples were analyzed

4. Avoid dangling participles.

1. Use verbs instead of abstract nouns

Instead of: take into consideration

2. Use strong verbs instead of "to be"

3. Use short words.

Instead of: Write:

4. Use concise terms.

Instead of: Write:

Check your grammar, spelling and punctuation

"When we consider the animal as a hole,..." Student's paper

3. Don't, use, unnecessary, commas.

4. Proofread carefully to see if you any words out.

How to Write a Scienti�c Review

In the biosciences, review articles written by researchers are valuable

The objective of a review should be “to achieve an organization and

In 1996, Quality of Reporting of Meta-analyses (QUOROM), which focused

Types of Review Articles

Based on their structure and formulation, literature reviews are broadly

– This is the classic literature reviewResearchers Poll

CAREER FEATURE 04 December 2020 Correction 09 December 2020

How to write a superb literature

Find a new job

WENTING ZHAO: Be focused and avoid jargon

When I was a research student, review writing improved my understanding of the

applications. It ended up becoming a colossal piece of

My advice to students is to accept that a review is unlike a textbook: it should oﬀer a

A man in glasses looking at the camera.

BOZHI TIAN: Have a process and develop your style

Publishing in the Sciences Search

Getting Started Authorship

Who is the corresponding author? The corresponding author is the point-of-

• Authorship: Who's on first?

Manuscript and citation style

Browse a list of general style guides for different science disciplines.

A couple of general style guide/manual are listed below.

• The manual of scientific style : a guide for authors, editors, and

Re-use materials from other publications? - Get permission

• To request permission to re-use objects (figures, diagrams or table)

Most publishers provide easy ways to request permission if you are

• To request permission to re-use data

Copyright does not apply to facts, data, or ideas (see U-M