Tutorial
Writing Research Papers in Engineering and Science
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While many undergraduate courses on technical writing do a good job of teaching students to write a technical report, research papers require a different organization and understanding of audience expectations. This webpage presents a tutorial on writing research papers in engineering and science. Sponsored by the Leonhard Center at Penn State, this page has arisen from hundreds of surveys and scores of one-on-one interviews of faculty and graduate students in engineering and science. Providing an overview for the tutorial is a four-page article by Professor George Whitesides. This article first orients you to what a research paper is and then discusses how a graduate student and advisor can efficiently collaborate on such a paper.
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Tutorial Films (about 25 minutes)
Research papers are organized differently from technical reports. In particular, audiences in engineering and science expect particular information to reside in certain parts of research papers. Films 1 and 2 explain the major expectations for the organization of research papers. In addition to expectations for the organization of research papers, expectations exist for the style of sentences. Films 3-6 discuss the traits that distinguish the style of sentences in science and engineering [1] Complementing Film 5 is our handout on sentence openers. Provided in the captions are page references for more information in The Craft of Scientific Writing, 4th ed. (Springer, 2018)--abbreviated here as CSW.
Research papers are organized differently from technical reports. In particular, audiences in engineering and science expect particular information to reside in certain parts of research papers. Films 1 and 2 explain the major expectations for the organization of research papers. In addition to expectations for the organization of research papers, expectations exist for the style of sentences. Films 3-6 discuss the traits that distinguish the style of sentences in science and engineering [1] Complementing Film 5 is our handout on sentence openers. Provided in the captions are page references for more information in The Craft of Scientific Writing, 4th ed. (Springer, 2018)--abbreviated here as CSW.
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Film 1. Organizing a Research Paper: Overview. For more information, see CSW (Lesson 7). Film 3. Being Precise and Clear. For more information, see CSW (Lesson 2). Film 5. Connecting Your Ideas Within Paragraphs. For more information, see CSW, Lesson 5. |
Film 2. Introductions of Research Papers. For more information, see CSW (pages 114-121). Film 4. Avoiding Ambiguities. For more information, see CSW (Lesson 3). Film 6. Incorporating Illustrations and Equations. For more information, see CSW, pages 25-30, 86-92, and 105-107. |
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Quiz Yourself:
Twelve Questions about Writing Research Papers |
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Appendix: Additional Films
This appendix contains four films that address additional perspectives of research writing. Film A-1 discusses the importance of considering reviewers when analyzing audience. Discussed in Film A-2 is the controversial stylistic issue of when to incorporate the first person (I or we). Films A-3 and A-4 discuss two issues of usage: selecting verb tense and expressing numbers.
This appendix contains four films that address additional perspectives of research writing. Film A-1 discusses the importance of considering reviewers when analyzing audience. Discussed in Film A-2 is the controversial stylistic issue of when to incorporate the first person (I or we). Films A-3 and A-4 discuss two issues of usage: selecting verb tense and expressing numbers.
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Film A-1. Audience: Considering reviewers. Film A-3. Verb Tense in Reports. For more information, see CSW, p. 263. |
Film A-2. Using I or we. For more information, see CSW, pages 55-58. Film A-4. Expressing Numbers. For more information, see CSW, pages 279-280. |
Acknowledgments
This self-study guide is made possible by funds provided by the Leonhard Center for the Enhancement of Engineering Education in the College of Engineering at Penn State. Providing technical assistance on the films is the Office of Digital Learning, which is also in the College of Engineering at Penn State. Providing specific guidance and support for the guide have been the following individuals: Casey Fenton, Richelle Barkman, and Elaine Whitmer. Michael Alley, the author of The Craft of Scientific Writing [4], has overseen the creation of content for the guide, and listed below are engineering students who have assisted in that creation.
This self-study guide is made possible by funds provided by the Leonhard Center for the Enhancement of Engineering Education in the College of Engineering at Penn State. Providing technical assistance on the films is the Office of Digital Learning, which is also in the College of Engineering at Penn State. Providing specific guidance and support for the guide have been the following individuals: Casey Fenton, Richelle Barkman, and Elaine Whitmer. Michael Alley, the author of The Craft of Scientific Writing [4], has overseen the creation of content for the guide, and listed below are engineering students who have assisted in that creation.
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Conducting Interviews
Christine Gabriele Belinda Mativenga Developing Website Marissa Beighley Alexus Eicher Narrating Films Mary Duncan Roman Pero Amy Zhong |
Mechanical Engineering, 2022 Chemical Engineering, 2022 Computer Science, 2022 Computer Science, 2020 Mechanical Engineering, 2021 Chemical Engineering, 2020 Mechanical Engineering, 2022 |
Penn State Penn State Penn State Penn State Virginia Tech Penn State Penn State |
References
- Michael Alley, The Craft of Scientific Writing, 4th ed. (New York: Springer, 2018).