Compulsory course parts of the ’Independent project/degree project ’ courses

1. Compulsorycourse partsof the ’Independent project/degreeproject’ courses Scientific writing and oral presentation MASTER & MAGISTER Maria KahlertDept. of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment

2. Scientific writing and oral presentation SLU has no common policy for the layout of student projects. There is, however, some information that you must include on the front page of your thesis, please see the library webpage for more information. Individual programs may have different guidelines and writing instructions. Please check with your department if there are any special guidelines or other instructions that you should follow!

3. You must • Aims of course Magister/D-level resp. Master/E-level, 30 hp: • Identify and formulate question. Planning and execution. • Locate, handle and evaluate information. • Report results orally and in writing in a way relevant for the selected target group. (D: Swedish or English; E: must be English) • Use correct vocabulary (adapted to subject and to target group), use correct tables and illustrations. • Oral presentation must be clear, keeps time and other frames (e.g. handle technique in an acceptable way). (For E. Scientific presentation) • Write an appropriate popular summary.

4. Tables and figures Table 1. This is how a table should look like. A table heading is always above the table. Please no vertical lines! (Reference here if needed 2011) Figure 1. A figure has always the text UNDER the picture. Figures and tables should always have a text explaining what to be seen.

5. Building a text • Different ways to sort the text • First know what you want to say (“take-home-message”, important contents) • Sort the contents(hypothesis/questions, results, way of logical thinking (how did you reach you conclusions), conclusions, any decisions, suggestions for further work/any actions) • Time • Logical • Contrast • The most interesting first

6. Write – for your scientificcollegues • Formulate the title of your work • Formulate the hypothesis of your work • Formulate • What you are going to do and why, in 4-6 sentences • What you have done and why, and what your results and conclusions are, in 4-6 sentences

7. Write – for the public • Formulate the title of your work • Formulate the hypothesis of your work • Formulate • What you are going to do and why, in 4-6 sentences or • What you have done and why, and what your results and conclusions are, in 4-6 sentences

8. Oral presentation • Practice! • KeepIt Short & Simple! (KISS) • Be yourself!

9. Links(not complete, but useful, for further information and more links, see the SLUlibrary webpage under SearchCollectPublish(http://www.slu.se/en/library/search/search-and-writers-guide/see especially the ‘student template’ page). In case of problems while writing, contact the library “Writing Centre” (info on library webpage) • Very good summary on writing a scientific paper:Writing readable papers: How to tell a good story by Rosemary J. Mackay (Bulletin of the North American Benthological Society 12(3): 381-388; 1995) https://www.benthos.org/Journal-(JNABS)/Information-for-Authors/Writing-Readable-Papers.aspx • Very good summary on presenting science (Biology Education Centre 2010 CEMUS, UU)http://www.cemus.uu.se/dokument/gcsf2010/Presenting%2520science%25202010-1-EN-webb.pdf • Recommended books about writing and presentation techniques (both available from SLU libraries)Writing and presenting scientific papers by Birgitta Malmfors, Phil Garnsworthy, Michael GrossmanHow to Write and Publish a Scientific Paper by Robert A. Day, Barbara Gastel • Example for authors on webhttp://www.blackwellpublishing.com/bauthor/