Writing the Paper

"A paper on a scientific or technical subject necessarily consists of (a) a report of facts, (b) an interpretation of facts, or (c) a combination of a report and an interpretation.

"A scientific paper is intended to be studied and used as a reference; it is not merely to be read. Hence literary devices should be subordinated if they interfere with clearness. The plan should be self-evident throughout the composition."

The materials and methods will need to be able to provide details that enable future researchers to repeat the methodology.

Title (brevity and comprehensiveness)

Abstract (a brief condensation of the whole paper)

Introduction
A) Nature of the problem; its state at the beginning of the investigation
B) Purpose, scope, and method of the investigation.
C) Most significant outcome of the investigation; the state of t he problem at the end of the investigation.

Materials and Methods
A) Description of the equipment and materials employed.
B) Explanation of the way in which the work was done. (Give sufficient detail to enable a competent worker to repeat your experiments. Emphasize the features that are new.)

Experiments and results
A) Description of the experiments.
B) Description of the results. (If possible, these should be shown in tables and graphs.)

Discussion of results
A)Main principles, causal relations, or generalizations that are shown by the results. (Choose one or several main conclusions that your evidence tends to prove.)
B) Evidence (as shown by the data) for each of the main conclusions.
C) Exceptions and opposing theories, and explanation of these.
D) Comparison of your results and interpretations with those of other workers.

From: How to Write Scientific and Technical Papers by Sam F. Trelease (1958) The M. I. T. Press