What is Scientific Writing?

Scientific writing is a unique mode of communication due in part to its concise nature and how it is organized. It is also a relatively new form of communication. As described by Day (1998) in How to Write & Publish a Scientific Paper, "the first journals were published only 300 years ago, and the IMRAD (Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion) organization of scientific papers has developed within the past 100 years."

Browse this guide to learn more about the tools needed to write a scientific paper, such as APA style, AMA style, citation management, and resources related to literature reviews and other research content. 

Why Abstracts are Important

Watch the following video to learn the three reasons why abstracts are an essential part of scientific writing.

Need Help With a Paper?

The Center for Academic Performance (CAP) provides writing support to all HSC students. Their services include:

• Feedback on writing samples
• Scheduled individual appointments
• Writing educational sessions

Note that CAP does not provide editing services to HSC students; however, a list of outside editors is available upon request. For more information visit the CAP Writing Support website.