Gauthier ET AL. "Quantitative PCR Assay for Mycobacterium pseudoshottsii and Mycobacterium shottsii and Application to Environmental Samples and Fishes from the Chesapeake Bay." Applied and Enviormental Microbiology 76.18 (2010): 6171-6179. Print.
Research articles are the main method of knowledge sharing within the hard sciences. They are the foundations of every written scientific text. Nothing is ever written without a previous journal article to support cause. As such, structure is highly important; structure of these documents allows for fast interpretation of ideas the ideas presented.
The purpose of this specific article is to examine the applications of PCR assay when researching specific species of bacteria. This is a very good look at how important and structured an article must be due to the fact that this article serves to validate a laboratory technique. Without validation of a laboratory technique it is unable to be used to discover new ideas. Simply, you cannot prove something exists before you prove the way you found it. This article was published very recently to validate the research being done in my lab right now.
The audience is limited, but can be considered the broadest audience written for within the sciences. It is the only writing that is designed to reach an audience outside a specific topic.
When writing these documents outlines are superfluous because variation is nonexistent.
I. Abstract
II. Introduction
III. Methods
IV. Results
V. Discussion
VI. Acknowledgments
VII. References
That is the only possible outline for a scientific journal article and any form of variation will result in an inability to publish your finding(s). However, let’s take a look at what those word mean.
The abstract is the primary text you see but must be the last text written. It covers a brief overview of the introduction, methods, and discussion. The idea is to state the all finding, how, and why for a project in less than 200 words.
The introduction is often the last text written of the body; due to the fact that an introduction must give cause for the investigation. These components may not always be apparent at the beginning. Validation is also mandated to be brief generally around 200-300 words.
Methods are by far the easiest to write component of a scientific article. All one must do to write out their methods is to summarize their lab notebook. Thus, as mentioned before a good lab notebook is essential.
Results and Discussion are best always kept together. Many persons not yet well disciplined in the study are unaware of a distinction. Results are the raw data, charts, and figures that allow for interpretations. Discussion is the meaning and interpretations of the data collected. The discussion will also contain a conclusion paragraph or couplet to finalize the overall argument.
Acknowledgments and References are again always coupled. The acknowledgements are a listing of all the people who helped in brain storming and developing the paper but not significantly involved in the composition of the article. References are always other journal articles used in supporting methods and cause for the study.
Once structure is mastered it is then possible to start learning the argumentative nature and fine points of a journal article.
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