Writing Papers in the Biological Sciences
Seventh Edition ©2021 Victoria E. McMillan Formats: E-book, Print
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Authors
-
Victoria E. McMillan
Victoria E. McMillan (PhD, Syracuse University) taught for 27 years in the interdisciplinary writing department, biology department, and women's studies program at Colgate University. A behavioral ecologist who has published a number of scholarly and popular articles on animal behavior, McMillan has focused her research on reproductive strategies in insects, dragonflies in particular. Now retired, she writes and lectures widely on insects, plants, and behavioral ecology.
Table of Contents
Introduction How and Why Biologists Write: An
Introduction to Biological Literature
1 Locating and Using Biological Literature
Searching the Literature
Sample Database Search
Using the Internet
Reading Scientific Papers
Avoiding Plagiarism and Taking Notes
Working Collaboratively
Tech Talk
Keeping Up with the Literature
2 Handling Data and Using Statistics
Getting Started
Recording and Organizing Your Findings
TECH TALK
Using Statistics to Analyze Your Data
Additional Sources
3 Using Tables and Figures
Tables
Figures
Tech Talk
Checklist for Tables and Figures
Additional Sources
4 Writing Lab Reports and Research Papers
Title
Abstract
Introduction
Materials and Methods
Results
Discussion
Acknowledgments
References
Checklist for Lab Reports and Research Papers
Additional Sources
Sample Laboratory Report (Botany)
Sample Laboratory Report (Microbiology)
Sample Student Research Paper (Plant Physiology)
Sample Student Research Paper (Animal Ecology)
5 Writing a Review Paper
Choosing a Topic
Deciding on a Title
Working with the Literature
Presenting Your Material
Tech Talk
Checklist for Review Papers
Sample Review Paper (Human Physiology)
6 Documenting the Paper
Citing Sources in the Text
Preparing the References Section
TECH TALK
7 Drafting and Revising
The First Draft
TECH TALK
Practical Suggestions for Revising
Tech Talk
Checking Content and Structure
Improving Paragraphs
Writing Clear, Accurate Sentences
Avoiding Wordiness
Verb Tense
Punctuation
8 Preparing the Final Draft
Mechanics and Technicalities
Tech Talk
Manuscript Format
Writing an Acknowledgments Section
Proofreading
9 Using Writing to Prepare for Examinations
Getting the Most Out of Textbooks
Taking Good Lecture Notes
Preparing for Laboratory Exams
Studying for Short-Answer Questions
Answering Essay Questions
Additional Sources
10 Other Forms of Biological Writing
Oral Presentations
TECH TALK
Checklist for Oral Presentations
Sample PowerPoint Presentation (Plant Physiology)
Poster Presentations
Checklist for Poster Presentations
Sample Poster Presentation (Animal Ecology)
Research Proposals
Sample Research Proposal (Plant Physiological Ecology)
Letters of Application
Sample Letter of Application
Résumés
Tech Talk
Sample Résumé
Sample Curriculum Vitae
Additional Sources
Works Cited in Text
Examples
Index
Symbols and
Abbreviations Used in Biology
Product Updates
More student models that offer a diversity of annotated examples. Offering more in-text examples than competing texts, new examples from biological sub-disciplines - including cellular and molecular biology, animal ecology, microbiology, and plant physiology - ensure that the seventh edition remains accessible to freshmen and relevant to advancing students as they progress through their coursework.
New and updated "Tech Talk" tips throughout the text offer students support on how to use accessible tools to search databases, organize research, and provide documentation for their sources.
Revised and updated Chapter 1, Locating and Using Biological Literature, with new coverage of accessible tools for collaboration and organizing research materials.
Authors
-
Victoria E. McMillan
Victoria E. McMillan (PhD, Syracuse University) taught for 27 years in the interdisciplinary writing department, biology department, and women's studies program at Colgate University. A behavioral ecologist who has published a number of scholarly and popular articles on animal behavior, McMillan has focused her research on reproductive strategies in insects, dragonflies in particular. Now retired, she writes and lectures widely on insects, plants, and behavioral ecology.
Table of Contents
Introduction How and Why Biologists Write: An
Introduction to Biological Literature
1 Locating and Using Biological Literature
Searching the Literature
Sample Database Search
Using the Internet
Reading Scientific Papers
Avoiding Plagiarism and Taking Notes
Working Collaboratively
Tech Talk
Keeping Up with the Literature
2 Handling Data and Using Statistics
Getting Started
Recording and Organizing Your Findings
TECH TALK
Using Statistics to Analyze Your Data
Additional Sources
3 Using Tables and Figures
Tables
Figures
Tech Talk
Checklist for Tables and Figures
Additional Sources
4 Writing Lab Reports and Research Papers
Title
Abstract
Introduction
Materials and Methods
Results
Discussion
Acknowledgments
References
Checklist for Lab Reports and Research Papers
Additional Sources
Sample Laboratory Report (Botany)
Sample Laboratory Report (Microbiology)
Sample Student Research Paper (Plant Physiology)
Sample Student Research Paper (Animal Ecology)
5 Writing a Review Paper
Choosing a Topic
Deciding on a Title
Working with the Literature
Presenting Your Material
Tech Talk
Checklist for Review Papers
Sample Review Paper (Human Physiology)
6 Documenting the Paper
Citing Sources in the Text
Preparing the References Section
TECH TALK
7 Drafting and Revising
The First Draft
TECH TALK
Practical Suggestions for Revising
Tech Talk
Checking Content and Structure
Improving Paragraphs
Writing Clear, Accurate Sentences
Avoiding Wordiness
Verb Tense
Punctuation
8 Preparing the Final Draft
Mechanics and Technicalities
Tech Talk
Manuscript Format
Writing an Acknowledgments Section
Proofreading
9 Using Writing to Prepare for Examinations
Getting the Most Out of Textbooks
Taking Good Lecture Notes
Preparing for Laboratory Exams
Studying for Short-Answer Questions
Answering Essay Questions
Additional Sources
10 Other Forms of Biological Writing
Oral Presentations
TECH TALK
Checklist for Oral Presentations
Sample PowerPoint Presentation (Plant Physiology)
Poster Presentations
Checklist for Poster Presentations
Sample Poster Presentation (Animal Ecology)
Research Proposals
Sample Research Proposal (Plant Physiological Ecology)
Letters of Application
Sample Letter of Application
Résumés
Tech Talk
Sample Résumé
Sample Curriculum Vitae
Additional Sources
Works Cited in Text
Examples
Index
Symbols and
Abbreviations Used in Biology
Product Updates
More student models that offer a diversity of annotated examples. Offering more in-text examples than competing texts, new examples from biological sub-disciplines - including cellular and molecular biology, animal ecology, microbiology, and plant physiology - ensure that the seventh edition remains accessible to freshmen and relevant to advancing students as they progress through their coursework.
New and updated "Tech Talk" tips throughout the text offer students support on how to use accessible tools to search databases, organize research, and provide documentation for their sources.
Revised and updated Chapter 1, Locating and Using Biological Literature, with new coverage of accessible tools for collaboration and organizing research materials.
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Written by a professional biologist and experienced writing teacher, Writing Papers in the Biological Sciences, is a comprehensive guide for students that provides detailed instruction on researching, drafting, revising, and documenting lab reports, research papers, reviews, poster presentations, and other commonly assigned projects in biology courses. The seventh edition features updated coverage of research methods and new student examples from a wider variety of sub-disciplines in biology that support students at all levels of biology.
Achieve for Writer’s Help is a powerful online resource and reference developed to meet the writing and research needs of students across disciplines. With trusted content from the widely used Diana Hacker/Nancy Sommers handbooks, Writer’s Help takes students through first-year writing and beyond.
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If you’re a verified instructor, you can request a free sample of our courseware, e-book, or print textbook to consider for use in your courses. Only registered and verified instructors can receive free print and digital samples, and they should not be sold to bookstores or book resellers. If you don't yet have an existing account with Macmillan Learning, it can take up to two business days to verify your status as an instructor. You can request a free sample from the right side of this product page by clicking on the "Request Instructor Sample" button or by contacting your rep. Learn more.
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Sometimes also referred to as a spiral-bound or binder-ready textbook, loose-leaf textbooks are available to purchase. This three-hole punched, unbound version of the book costs less than a hardcover or paperback book.
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Writing Papers in the Biological Sciences
Written by a professional biologist and experienced writing teacher, Writing Papers in the Biological Sciences, is a comprehensive guide for students that provides detailed instruction on researching, drafting, revising, and documenting lab reports, research papers, reviews, poster presentations, and other commonly assigned projects in biology courses. The seventh edition features updated coverage of research methods and new student examples from a wider variety of sub-disciplines in biology that support students at all levels of biology.
Achieve for Writer’s Help is a powerful online resource and reference developed to meet the writing and research needs of students across disciplines. With trusted content from the widely used Diana Hacker/Nancy Sommers handbooks, Writer’s Help takes students through first-year writing and beyond.
Select a demo to view:
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