Writing a Scientific Paper: Finding Your Story

Are you struggling to write your scientific paper? Many authors say that to be successful, a scientific article has to do more than just present a lot of data. It must tell a clear, compelling story. But how do you figure out what the story is? In this video, I will walk you through the steps to uncover what story your data are telling.
00:00 Intro
00:34 Why you need a clear narrative in mind
01:24 Begin with your data and answer these questions
02:16 An example
04:06 The story emerges
04:49 Follow the story arc
06:04 What to do if you can't find the story
Link to the paper used as an example (Impacts of human disturbance on soil erosion and habitat stability of mangrove-dominated islands in the Pelican Cays and Twin Cays ranges, Belize): www.researchga...
You might also be interested in these videos:
How to Use Narrative Structure in a Scientific Paper: • How to Use Narrative S...
Improving Narrative Flow in a Scientific Paper: • Improving Narrative Fl...
How to Write a Scientific Article: Find the Story: • How to Write a Scienti...
If you use video in your research or would like to make a video about your research, check out my other KZbin channel, The Scientist Videographer:
/ sciencevideography
Follow me on Twitter: @SciWri_KLMcKee

[@larrygeraragon9807]

Greetings from the Philippines, Dr. McKee! Please continue to make this kind of videos which are very inspirational and nurturing for early-career researchers like myself. I pray for your good health so you can continue to teach us!

[@ScientificWritingwithKarenLMcK]

I appreciate your taking the time to comment on my videos. It helps to know that viewers appreciate the effort.

[@aslisa6631]

Thank you for these tips! You give very clear messages and we are very grateful for your videos!

[@ScientificWritingwithKarenLMcK]

Glad you like them!

[@TheOn3LeftBehind]

This was to the point and easy to follow. It answered my question about writing a narrative and now I’m really ready to defend my dissertation! Thank you!

[@ScientificWritingwithKarenLMcK]

Glad it was helpful!

[@wilsonfuruya3165]

Thank you. Very helpful video. A lot of tips behind the manuscript. I hope you keep helping researchers around the world with your videos.

[@ScientificWritingwithKarenLMcK]

Thanks. Comments like yours keep me motivated.

[@chaiboonyean2536]

Thank you, Dr. Mckee. I really love your video, I have been struggling for some years to write papers. Your video gives me a clear direction. it is simple and easy.

[@ScientificWritingwithKarenLMcK]

Glad it was helpful!

[@hiennguyenthithuc5540]

Dr. McKee, please accept my sincere thanks for your dedication. Your sharing is truly valuable for young scientists like me. Could you do some content relating to doing Ph.D? Thank you so much! Wish you good health and luck!

[@ScientificWritingwithKarenLMcK]

Thanks for your comment. I’ll consider your suggestion.

[@sherzadshahab9628]

Karen, My thanks and appreciation, It is useful.

[@ScientificWritingwithKarenLMcK]

Thanks for letting me know it was useful to you.

[@piyushuniyal]

Thank you mam for your videos. These are really helpful. Further, I request you if you can make a video on use of the grammar and punctuations in scientific writing. As per my experience many non-native English speakers face this issue.

[@ScientificWritingwithKarenLMcK]

Thanks for letting me know.

[@ydherdn]

Thank You

[@madnan9268]

Useful as always 😍

[@ScientificWritingwithKarenLMcK]

I’m glad you think so!

[@antonioliriololi]

Thank you from PERU

[@ScientificWritingwithKarenLMcK]

You are welcome! Thanks for commenting.

[@vanesho333]

Dr. McKee, thanks for the video. I would like to ask which software you recommend for well-presenting tables and graphics in papers (for example in biogeochemistry or in your area of study).

[@ScientificWritingwithKarenLMcK]

I've used Word for tables and Excel for graphs, but there are a number of other applications out there.

[@deivit666_ImI]

Thank you Karen!

[@ScientificWritingwithKarenLMcK]

Thanks for commenting!

[@noemiguindin6788]

Thank you very much!

[@ScientificWritingwithKarenLMcK]

You're welcome!

[@adityapatel8156]

All good scientific comprises ABT methods?Which section of research paper needs to focus on finding ABT ? Result or conclusion or both. The lecture was very helpful mam.Thank you

[@ScientificWritingwithKarenLMcK]

Use the ABT method as an aid in finding your story and state it in a few sentences. Then write your paper's sections with this story in mind. In the introduction, you might say, "We know a lot about X and Y, but little about Z. Therefore we studied how Z influences the relationship between X and Y and found..." In the methods, you would describe how you investigated the effect of Z on X and Y. The results and discussion would describe what you found about Z and what it means. The conclusion would put your findings about Z into a broader perspective and suggest what further research is needed.

[@adityapatel8156]

@@ScientificWritingwithKarenLMcK I appreciate your suggestion .It is very helpful mam.Thank you so much

[@eji2599]

Could you do a video for writing a paper in humanities?

[@ScientificWritingwithKarenLMcK]

Sorry, no. I focus on scientific writing because that's my area of expertise.

[@matomelawrence9222]

Hello i would really like to improve my writing skills... is it possible that i can contact you and set up a zoom meeting?

[@ScientificWritingwithKarenLMcK]

I’m sorry, but I don’t provide individual writing advice.

[@matomelawrence9222]

@@ScientificWritingwithKarenLMcK thank you