Resources for Researchers: Writing & presenting papers

The Queensland Government has a Web writing and style guide document which provides information about many writing style questions.

The Online Writing Lab (OWL) at Purdue University houses writing resources and instructional material, and these are provided as a free service of the Writing Lab at Purdue.  The OWL provides comprehensive guidance on general writing, research and citation, and subject-specific writing as well as helpful resources for ESL writers and an Introduction to grant writing. 'The writing process' reached by navigating through 'General writing' on the left-hand collapsible navigation menu, is a good starting point which includes a section on 'Developing an outline'.

The Online resources for writers site from Amherst College provides a curated list of additional resources to assist writers.

There are numerous resources available both in print and online.  Some online resources are:

• Writing a scientific paper-a brief guide for new investigators | CL Viste & GA Poland (2017) Vaccine 35(5): 722-728
• Writing a technical paper | Simple ways to improve your writing by avoiding some common mistakes / Michael Ernest | University of Washington (2005)
• Writing a research paper | Purdue University OWL
• Writing scientific abstracts | Powerpoint presentation | Purdue University OWL
• How to write a scientific research article | Formatting and editing academic articles; for undergraduate students but a good introduction | Biological Sciences, Columbia University.
• Scientific writing resource | a three lesson tutorial on communicating what you intend to the reader | Duke University Graduate School
• Writing commons | a comprehensive, peer-reviewed, award-winning open text for students and faculty in college-level courses that require writing and research
• 11 steps to structuring a science paper editors will take seriously | Angel Borja PhD, with an extensive background as an author, reviewer and editor, gives advice on getting your work published in an international journal
• Tips for writing better science papers | a series of brief articles from Chemistry Views by Richard Threlfall
• Genres of Writing - Thompson Writing Program, Duke University.

Try searching the library catalogue using searches like scientific & writing or science & writing or research & writing. Results will include style guides and writing guides - both print and electronic - including those listed here.

Poster presentations

• Presentation: Convert your Paper into a Talk - Thompson Writing Program, Duke University.
• Tips on poster presentations at professional conferences - Scott W Plunkett, California State University Northbridge.
• How to create a research poster - NYU Libraries; covers poster basics, design tips, logos and images and printing.

Conference presentations

• Presenting well - American Psychological Association.
• Ten secrets to giving a good scientific talk - Mark Schoeberl and Brian Toon, National Center for Atmospheric Research, American Geophysical Union.
• Melissa Marshall: Talk nerdy to me - TED Talk: Melissa Marshall brings a message to all scientists (from non-scientists): We're fascinated by what you're doing. So tell us about it — in a way we can understand. In just 4 minutes, she shares powerful tips on presenting complex scientific ideas to a general audience.

The following books are available: