Scientific research papers

The two most common kinds of papers students have to write in the sciences are review papers and lab reports. Review papers, as the name implies, review current knowledge and research on a particular topic. The point of a review paper is not to display original thinking, but to demonstrate one's understanding of current knowledge, as well as one's ability to conduct and present research. Review papers （1） pose a question or problem, explaining its significance; （2） survey recent research, breaking it down and presenting it in some logical fashion; and （3） summarize key findings and avenues for further research.

　　Lab reports, on the other hand, do report original research. The point is not usually to propose a new theory, but to test an existing theory or answer a question. But lab reports have a similar structure to review papers. They （1） pose a question or problem, explaining its significance; （2） describe the materials and methods used in the experiment; （3） present the results; and （4） summarize key findings.

　　Both of these structures have the same basic three-part essay of beginning, middle, ending common to all essays:

Review paper
Lab report

Beginning
1. Introduction
1. Introduction
2. Materials and methods

Middle
2. Research review
3. Results

Ending
3. Conclusion
4. Summary (or discussion or conclusion)

　　Thus one can employ the same strategies and techniques in writing science review papers and lab reports as in other kinds of essays （though certain things like quoting conventions or citation style may be different: see CBE documentation）.

　　Before turning to more detailed treatment of beginnings, middles, and endings, let's glance at three significant structural principles: dealing with an argument's weaknesses, staying on track, and balancing general and specific.