Effective scientific writing

PSYC 11: Laboratory in Psychological Science

Jeremy R. Manning
Dartmouth College
Spring 2026

Pieces of a paper

  • Title: one-line take-home message that attracts interest
  • Abstract: 250--500 word summary (question, approach, findings)
  • Introduction: your question, why it matters, what is already known
  • Methods: what you did (participants, experiment, analyses)
  • Results: what you found (figures + stats that tell a story)
  • Discussion: what it means, broader context, future directions

The common thread

  • Every section reminds the reader of the question, the approach, and the key findings
  • Different sections emphasize different aspects
  • A reader should be able to get the gist from any single section

What makes writing effective?

  • Easy to read: clear sentences, logical flow
  • Empathetic: written for the reader, not the author
  • Concise: say what you need to say and then stop
  • Trustworthy: claims are supported by evidence
  • Interesting: the reader wants to keep going

How much should you write?

  • Never write to "fill space"
  • Include something if (and only if) it is:
    • Directly relevant to your core message
    • Necessary for someone to reproduce or understand what you did
    • Adding a specific tangible element to your story
  • When in doubt, cut it

Discussion: read this paragraph

"In this study, we were basically interested in looking at whether or not there might be some kind of relationship between the amount of sleep that college students get and their ability to remember things that they learned in class. We think this is important because sleep is something that affects a lot of people and memory is also very important for students."

  • What is wrong with this paragraph?
  • How would you rewrite it to be clearer and more concise?
  • Discuss with a partner, then we will share revisions as a class

Principles for revision

  • Cut filler words: "basically," "some kind of," "whether or not"
  • Be specific: replace vague claims with concrete ones
  • Use active voice: "we examined" not "it was examined by us"
  • One idea per sentence: if a sentence does two things, split it
  • Read it aloud: if you stumble, your reader will too

Empathy as a writing strategy

  • Put yourself in the reader's position
  • What would you want to read about?
  • What would you find interesting, convincing, worth your time?
  • The best scientific writing feels like a conversation with a knowledgeable friend

Your paper: getting started

  • Start with an outline -- map your story before writing sentences
  • Write the Methods section first (you already know what you did)
  • Then Results, then Introduction, then Discussion
  • The Abstract comes last
  • Bring a draft to your TA for feedback early and often