Chapter 1: The Scientific Method -- An Introduction to the Scientific Method -- Ask a Question -- Look for Answers to Your Questions -- Turn Your Question Into a Hypothesis -- Design an Experiment to Test Your Hypothesis -- Record Data -- Summarize Numerical Data -- Analyze the Data -- Try to Explain the Results -- Revise Original Hypotheses to Take New Findings Into Account -- Share Findings With Other Scientists -- Chapter 2: Developing a Literature Search Strategy -- Databases and Search Engines for Scientific Information -- Comparison of Databases -- Database Search Strategies -- Understand Your Topic -- Define Your Research Goals -- Subdivide Your Topic Into Concepts -- Choose Effective Keywords -- Connect Keywords With the Operators And, Or, or Not -- Use Truncation Symbols for Multiple Word Endings -- Search Exact Phrase -- Use the Same Keyword in a Different Database or Search Engine -- Evaluating Search Results -- Finding Related Articles -- Obtaining Full-Text Articles -- Managing References (Citations) -- RefWorks -- Chapter 3: Reading and Writing Scientific Papers -- Types of Scientific Writing -- Hallmarks of Scientific Writing -- Scientific Paper Format -- Styles for Documenting References -- Strategies for Reading Journal Articles -- Strategies for Reading Your Textbook -- Study Groups -- Plagiarism -- Information That Does Not Have to Be Acknowledged -- Information That Has to Be Acknowledged -- Paraphrasing the Source Text -- The Benefits of Learning to Write Scientific Papers -- Credibility and Reputation -- Model Papers -- Chapter 4: Step-by-Step Instructions for Preparing a Laboratory Report or Scientific Paper -- Timetable -- Format Your Report Correctly -- Computer Savvy -- Getting Started -- Reread the Laboratory Exercise -- Audience and Tone -- Start With the Materials and Methods Section -- Writing Style -- Details: To Include or Not to Include? -- Do the Results Section Next -- Writing the Body of the Results Section -- Preparing Visuals -- Organizing Your Data -- Think Ahead to the Discussion -- Equations -- Make Connections -- Write the Discussion -- Write the Introduction -- Effective Advertising -- Write the Abstract -- Write the Title -- Documenting Sources -- The Name-Year System -- The Citation-Sequence System -- Unpublished Laboratory Exercise -- Personal Communication -- Internet Sources -- Journal Articles -- Databases -- Homepages -- E-mails and Discussion Lists -- Chapter 5: Revision -- Getting Ready to Revise -- Take a Break -- Look at the Big Picture -- Get Feedback -- Revise Again -- Conventions in Biology -- Numbers -- Standard Abbreviations -- Punctuation -- Clarity -- Grammar -- Word Usage -- Spelling -- Global Revision -- The Biology Lab Report Checklist -- Chapter 6: A Good Sample Student Laboratory Report -- Laboratory Report Mistakes -- Chapter 7: Poster Presentations -- Why Posters? -- Poster Format -- Layout -- Appearance -- Font (Type Size and Appearance) -- Nuts and Bolts -- Making a Poster in Microsoft PowerPoint 2007 -- Page Setup -- Adding Text, Images, and Graphs -- Aligning Objects -- Proofread Your Work -- Final Printing -- Poster Content -- Title Banner -- Introduction -- Materials and Methods -- Results -- Discussion or Conclusions -- Literature Citations -- Acknowledgements -- Presenting Your Poster -- Evaluation Form for Poster Presentations -- Sample Posters -- Chapter 8: Oral Presentations -- Organization -- Plan Ahead -- Write the Text -- Prepare the Visuals -- Rehearsal -- Delivery -- Presentation Style -- Integrating Visuals -- Interacting With the Audience -- Group Presentations -- Fielding Listener Questions -- Feedback -- Appendix 1: Word Processing in Microsoft Word 2007 -- Appendix 2: Making Graphs in Microsoft Excel 2007 -- Appendix 3: Preparing Oral Presentations with Microsoft PowerPoint 2007

Providing practical advice to students on how to write for biology, this book shows how to write for a particular audience, self evaluate drafts, and paraphrase for improved comprehension