SCI-291 Scientific Writing

Developing a title for a term paper

Spring, 2016

Developing a title for a scientific manuscript can be challenging, and even more challenging is developing a title for a paper that you are unfamiliar with. For this class,you will be challenged to write a term paper based on an environmental problem, related to your major, facing today’s society. To help you develop a title, we will start with an example most of you are unfamiliar with (hydrocephalus), and develop a title based on that topic. Additionally, we will then start to develop a title for your paper by using the tips and tricks learned during todays lecture/exercises. When finished, you will turn in a draft title for review.

EXAMPLE:

Step #1 Choose a general topic.

“I want to write about something on the effects of hydrocephalus.”

Hydrocephalus is a VERY broad topic. A term paper on just hydrocephalus is too broad; we need to narrow the topic down. A good starting point is to figure out what the sub-categories of the subject are.

i.e, the major types of hydrocephalus are:

  • Congenital hydrocephalus
  • Acquired hydrocephalus
  • Communicating hydrocephalus
  • Non-communicating hydrocephalus
  • Hydrocephalus ex-vacuo
  • Normal pressure hydrocephalus

Now we can re-write our title. New title:

“Effects of congenital hydrocephalus”

Step #2 Ask yourself if the title is still too broad.

To do this you need to break the title apart and look at its individual parts and what they mean!

Look at the first word in the above title, “effects” and what follows “congenital hydrocephalus.” What effects? Does it affect a person? Does it affect an animal? Does it affect aliens? Does it affect the sun? Does it affect my computer? Does it affect my phone? Does it affect a part of the body? Does it affect a specific age group? Do you get my point yet? Scientific writing needs to be concise BUT it needs to convey comprehensive information to the reader.

Step #3 Rewrite and edit, rewrite and edit, etc.

Asking the above questions, rewrite the title again.

“Effects of Congenital hydrocephalus on children ages birth to three.”

Rewrite again

“Effects of skull shape in children ages birth to three with congenital hydrocephalus.”

Rewrite again…asking what types of congenital hydrocephalus there are, and can we group “children ages birth-three?

“Effects of skull shape in infants with aqueductal stenosis”

Step #4 Now look at PEER REVIEWED JOURNALS to explore what type of research has been done on the topic and revise the title accordingly.

FINAL REVISED TITLE:

Analysis of skull morphology for patients with pediatric aqueductal stenosis

Now let’s try to develop a title that’s related to an environmental issue facing today’s society.

IN CLASS ACTIVITY:

Take the next 5-10 minutes to answer questions 1-4 below.

  1. What is your major (or what science discipline are you interested in)?

______

  1. After watching the video SWITCH and completing the homework questions, list 3 interesting facts about the film OR list 3 environmental concerns you are interested in.
  1. ______
  2. ______
  3. ______
  1. Think about how a, b, and c from above could relate to your major or discipline of interest and write a first draft title in the space below

______

SMALL GROUP ACTIVITY:

Re-arrange yourselves into groups or 2 or 4. Once in your group, switch answers to questions 1-4 and provide written comments on your peer’s work (5 minuets). Once completed, return your comments to your peers and discuss (10 minuets).

  1. Re-write the modified title below:

______

  1. Ask yourself if the title too broad. If yes, revise and write in space below:

______

Complete the following page and turn in by the end of the class period.

SCI – 291 Scientific Writing

First draft title

Spring, 2016

Author Name: ______

Reviewer Name: ______

Draft title for manuscript: ______

Instructors Comments/suggestions: