Toxicology Module 2 - Scientific Writing and Presentation

Flashcards covering key concepts from scientific writing, citation, plagiarism, poster design, and the structure of a scientific paper.

What are examples of reliable scientific sources?

Peer-reviewed literature, government websites, agency documents, and reports (e.g., NIH, CDC).

Are quotations acceptable in scientific writing?

No, quotations should be avoided. Always paraphrase and cite.

What should you always do when using information from another source?

Paraphrase in your own words and provide a citation.

Which citation style is standard for scientific writing?

Council of Science Editors (CSE).

What are the two CSE in-text citation systems?

Name-year and numbering.

If you access a print journal through an online database, how should you cite it?

As a print journal.

What's the most important rule when formatting citations?

Be consistent throughout the document.

What is plagiarism?

Presenting someone else’s work as your own without proper credit.

Why is plagiarism serious in science?

It violates ethics, can result in expulsion, job loss, and loss of credibility.

What is NOT an acceptable way to avoid plagiarism in science writing?

Using quotations.

What strategies help you paraphrase effectively?

Don’t copy sentence structure; use your own words; read, put source away, then write; summarize instead of swapping words.

What should a good poster title be like?

Short, descriptive, specific to the study, and attention-grabbing.

What is the minimum font size for a poster?

24 point.

Where should references go in a poster?

In a reference section, formatted in CSE style.

What elements make a poster effective?

Large readable font, minimal text, simple/organized layout, author contact info.

What is the correct order of sections in a scientific paper?

Title Abstract Introduction Methods Results Discussion/Conclusion References.

What does the abstract include?

Brief summary of the whole study: purpose, methods, results, and implications.

What belongs in the introduction section of a scientific paper?

Background info, objectives, hypotheses, and knowledge gap.

What belongs in the methods section?

Detailed description of how the study was done and statistical tests used.

What belongs in the results section?

Findings with trends, comparisons, and references to figures/tables (not raw data).

What belongs in the discussion section?

Interpretation of results, implications, references to literature, and future directions.

Where do figure captions go?

Below the figure.

Where do table captions go?

Above the table.

Which section describes the findings of the experiment?

Results.

Which elements should always be in a discussion section?

References to literature, implications of results, and future research directions.

True or False: Proper use of sources requires paraphrasing, in-text citations, and end references.

True.

What should be included in references on a poster or paper?

Full CSE format: author(s), year, title, journal/book, volume, pages.

How should figures and tables be labeled?

With numbers in the order they appear, and descriptive captions.

What should you avoid in a poster design?

Too much text, small font, cluttered visuals, or distracting colors.

What should a well-written introduction do for the reader?

Present background, state hypotheses, and guide reader to the knowledge gap.