Writing A Scientific Paper (colorado State University)

Forest Research Paper Guidelines

In this paper you will answer the question, “What is the economic and environmental value of the Westminster School’s campus forest”? In doing so, you will use a scientific paper model to report your results. Scientific research papers are somewhat different from papers presenting original research in other fields such are history or economics. You’ll find an excellent style guide for scientific writing on the CSU website, http://writing.colostate.edu/guides/processes/science/pop2a.cfm. Your paper should contain the following sections as described below. Writing the Scientific-Format Paper The scientific paper has developed over the past three centuries into a tool to communicate the results of scientific inquiry. The main audience for scientific papers is extremely specialized. The purpose of these papers is twofold: to present information so that it is easy to retrieve, and to present enough information that the reader can duplicate the scientific study. A standard format with six main part helps readers to find expected information and analysis:

Title--subject and what aspect of the subject was studied. Abstract--summary of paper: The main reason for the study, the primary results, the main conclusions

Introduction--why the study was undertaken. (Include a discussion of forest valuation such as storm water runoff, species diversity, and forest structure). Methods and Materials--how the study was undertaken (Include Google images). Note: You have already written some of this when you described how the forest percent cover was calculated. Add to this material to include the forest census and valuation calculations. Results--what was found (Include data tables for the three forests; Robinson, Fritz Ohr; and the composite forest. The data tables of important are described in question 4 of “Forest Data analysis Instructions for Valuation” which we did earlier this week in the computer lab) Discussion--why these results could be significant (what the reasons might be for the patterns found or not found) There are many ways to approach the writing of a scientific paper, and no one way is right. Many people, however, find that drafting

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chunks in this order works best: Results, Discussion, Introduction, Materials & Methods, Abstract, and, finally, Title. For details go to: http://writing.colostate.edu/guides/processes/science/pop2a.cfm Writing@CSU Home Page | Writing Guides | Science Writing

What did we do? In brief: (1) GIS: Used Google images to determine the total campus forest coverage (%, acres, and hectares) (2) GIS: Used Google images to determine the size (acres) of two forest sections: (a) Robinson and (b) Fritz Ohr. (3) As a class, we determine the type (species), the number of each species, and each specimen’s diameter at 4 ft from the ground by field census. (4) These data were entered into Excel spreadsheets (data base format). (5) The economic and environmental value of each forest section was determined using the national tree benefit calculator and certain assumptions. (6) These valuations were then combined to determine the annual economic and environmental value of the Westminster School’s campus forest. Be sure to include photos and data tables in appropriate sections of your paper. Tentative due date: The Tuesday before Thanksgiving through Friday, 12/4/2009. Point value: 100 points.

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