Methods
http://www.msu.edu/course/lbs/126/assignments/paper.pdf
http://abacus.bates.edu/~ganderso/biology/resources/writing/HTWsections.html#methods
1. The function of this section is to describe all experimental procedures, including controls.
The description should be complete enough to enable someone else to repeat your work. If
there is more than one part of the experiment, it is a good idea to describe your methods
and present your results in the same order in each section. This may not be the same order
in which the experiments were performed -it is up to you to decide what order of
presentation will make the most sense to your reader.
2. The style in this section should read as if you were verbally describing the conduct of the
experiment.
Use active rather than passive voice when possible.
Remember to use the past tense throughout. Always use the singular "I" rather than the
plural "we" when you are the only author of the paper.
Avoid contractions throughout the paper, e.g. did not vs. didn't.
The Methods section is not a step-by-step, directive, protocol as you might see in your
lab manual.
3. Describe the organism(s) used in the study. This includes giving the source (supplier or
where and how collected), size, how they were handled before the experiment, what they
were fed, etc. In genetics studies include the strains or genetic stocks used.
4. Describe your experimental design clearly. Be sure to include the hypotheses you tested,
controls, treatments, variables measured, how many replicates you had, what you actually
measured, etc. You should also justify why you chose the variables to measure and the
methods you used.
Always identify treatments by the variable or treatment name, NOT by an
ambiguous, generic name or number (e.g., use "2.5% saline" rather than "test 1".)
When your paper includes more than one experiment, use subheadings to help
organize your presentation by experiment.
5. Explain why each procedure was done, i.e., what variable were you measuring and why?
Example: Difficult to understand: First, I removed the frog muscle and then I poured
Ringer's solution on it. Next, I attached it to the kymograph.
Improved: I removed the frog muscle and poured Ringer's solution on it to prevent it
from drying out. I then attached the muscle to the kymograph in order to determine
the minimum voltage required for contraction.
6. Experimental procedures and results are narrated in the past tense (what you did, what you
found, etc.) whereas conclusions from your results are given in the present tense.
