Title, Abstract, References

Title:
Style
Contains key words associated with the content
Lengthno more than a sentence, but usually a fragment, no more than 25 words
Informative or Descriptiveverb or outcome keyword is associated with type of
research, remembers audience
Authors included in alpha order
Includes the school and the place where the research was performed

Abstract:
Brief, doesnt add stylistic flourishes, defines terms used in the paper, utilizes the
key words for database cross-referencing, 250 words or less, written after research
is done.
Format
Starts with background infopast study on topic
Details on experimentation question, hypothesis, research plan/methods, and
overall conclusions.

References:
CSE*--numbered list at the bottom, superscript number corresponding
Direct quotes are considered plagiarism, paraphrase is paramount
Not necessarily in alpha orderusually in order of appearance.

Introduction:
Identify the problem and the justification for its importstyle is rhetorical
Include prior research influencing your workreference heavy
Overtly state your hypothesis(es)
Dont give the conclusion
Should be about 15-20% of whole paper length

Assume that the reader has previous knowledge of topicdont need to explain
basic common
knowledge of that field.
Introduction of variables
End with an overt statement of hypothesis.

Methods:
Introduces the procedure of how you answered your research question
Should have research plan and data analysis subsection and other subsections
appropriate to your research
Provide sufficient detail for replication, but avoid redundancy and superfluous info.
Includes WHY choices are madethe justification for methods and materials
Elements
Study designtype and how collected data
Setting (details about environment for test)
Subjects (how you chose your population)
Data Collectionwhat was investigated, how collected, properties of the
measurements
Data Analysisstatistical techniques, name and description
Research plandependent and independent, Covariates/Influences (how will you
mitigate your potential influences), include what to do if you have missing data

Results:
Past tense
Report the experimental group findings before the control group findings
Graphical displays designed with reader in mind (clearly labeled, captions, titles,
etc)
Address figures, tables, graphs and images in the narrative section
Primary, secondary, and ancillary analyses are included
Dont---write in first person, use passive voice
---dont analyze or interpret the results

---dont merely use p values---not helpful

----dont assume graphs will be in color.
---dont include raw data.
Dont include specific resultsdone in next section.

Discussion/Conclusion:
Inverted funnelbrief description and interpretation of main findings, address the
strengths and limitations of your results, widens to implications and connection to
past work,
Comparison of findings to other researchers workespecially if attempting to
replicate results.
Address outliers and influences on findings (errors, bias)
Include how research plan could have been improved.
Address theoretical and practical applications of outcomes
What does data add to existing body of evidence?
Use words that are less sure in assertionsmay, might, could; avoid words like
prove