Biology Student Writing Guide
Preface
Table of Contents
For Instructors
How to Modify the Resource Guide
- Adapting the Guide to Your Students’ Needs
- Editing the Guide Itself
Contributors
I How Scientific Literature Works
1 What Do We Mean By Scientific Writing?
2 Reading Scientific Literature
3 Practicing Scientific Literature Reading
II Hypotheses and Experimental Design
4 What IS a Hypothesis?
5 Step by Step Guide to Experimental Design
6 Variables
- 6.1 Types of Variables
- 6.2 Instructors’ Supplement
  - 6.2.1 Adapting Your Guide
7 Controls & Replicates
III PARTS OF AN ARTICLE OR REPORT
8 How Articles Are Organized
- 8.1 Good Articles & Reports Are Shaped Like An Hourglass
- 8.2 Other Orders and Formats
9 Title and Abstract
- 9.1 Title
- 9.2 Abstract
  - 9.2.1 Examples of Poorly Written Titles & Abstracts
  - 9.2.2 Examples of Well-Written Titles & Abstracts
10 Introduction
11 Methods
12 Results
13 Discussion
IV Summarizing and Analyzing Data
14 Reporting Your Data
15 Bar Charts, Scatter Plots, Box Plots
- 15.1 Common Types of Graphs
16 Figure Legends
17 Photos, Diagrams, and Illustrations
- 17.1 Examples of Poor Photos and Diagrams
- 17.2 Examples of Well-Chosen Photos and Diagrams
18 Data Tables
19 Summarizing and Analyzing Your Data With Statistics
- 19.1 Where to Learn More
- 19.2 Instructors’ Supplement
  - 19.2.1 Adapting Your Guide
20 Summary or Descriptive Statistics
21 Comparing Two Groups Using T-Tests
22 Comparing Three or More Groups Using ANOVA
23 Comparing Groups Using Chi Squared Tests
24 Statistical Models
V Using Sources
25 Citing Literature
- 25.1 Why Do You Need Sources to Support Your Arguments With Sources?
  - 25.1.1 Not All Sources of External Evidence Are Equal
- 25.2 How Many Sources Does a Lab Report Need?
26 How to Paraphrase a Source
- 26.1 The Source Materials
- 26.2 Exercise 1. Key Features of Paraphrasing
27 Paraphrasing 2. Picking the Main Points
28 Paraphrasing 3. Checking Context
29 Citing Your Sources
30 Avoiding Mistakes When Citing Sources
31 Using Zotero to Manage References
VI Your Writer’s Toolbox
32 What’s In Your Toolbox?
33 Strategies for Writing
- 33.1 Option 1: Writing to an Outline
- 33.2 Option 2: Writing From the Middle
34 How to Construct a Good Argument
35 Peer Reviewing Lab Reports
36 Checklist for Success
VII Instructor Resources
37 The Instructor Toolbox
38 Bins Scoring
39 Commenting on Reports
40 Training Teaching Assistants
41 Annotated Bibliography
VIII Appendices
Overview
- Using the Model Data and Reports
42 Appendix A: Ecology Topic
43 Lower Quality Sample Ecology Reports
- Example Report #1
- Example Report #2
44 Higher Quality Sample Ecology Report
- Example Report #1
45 Appendix B: Physiology Topic
46 Lower Quality Sample Physiology Reports
- Example Report #1
- Example Report #2
47 Higher Quality Sample Physiology Report
- Example Report #1
48 Appendix C: Cell Biology Topic
49 Lower Quality Sample Cell Biology Reports
- Example Report #1
- Example Report #2
50 Higher Quality Sample Cell Biology Reports
- Example Report #1
- Example Report #2
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Biology Student Writing Guide

Table of Contents

The links take you to specific chapters. If you get lost, the Table of Contents always is on the left side of the screen.

Part 1: How Scientific Literature Works
Part 2: Hypothesis Testing & Experimental Design
Part 3: Pieces of an Article or Report
Part 4: Summarizing, Analyzing, and Displaying Data
Part 5: Using Sources
Part 6: Your Writing Toolbox
Part 7: Resources for Instructors
Practice Experiments & Example Reports