1) Introduction
a) What is the problem you are trying to solve? What is the hypothesis you are testing to solve the problem? (Just don’t cut-and-paste the text above. Try to put your own spin on it.)
b) How did you go about trying to solve problem? In just a few sentences, answer the following: What kind of samples were collected? From where were they collected? What did you do with them analytically?
2)
Methods
a) In a few sentences, describe the methods used to collect the samples
b) In a few sentences, describe the methods used to analyze the samples
3)
Results
a) Include tables of data and figures of data.
b) Briefly describe what the data are (e.g., CRD samples were medium-size quartz sands, with a mean, median, and modal size of 1.7f (Table 1).The size distribution was well-sorted and nearly symmetrical. The sands were dominantly quartz, with minor amounts of heavy minerals (<5%), and the grains were sub-angular in shape.)
c) Use statistical and graphical methods to discuss if the data sets are different or the same.
4)
Discussion
In the results section, you presented your results in tabular and graphic form, and explained to the reader precisely what the results show. Now, you are ready to prepare a discussion section. But, wait a minute…weren’t the results discussed in the Results section? Yes, they were, so you won’t discuss them here.
a) What you will discuss here is the significance of your results.
b) The discussion should relate your results to your hypothesis stated in the introduction.
c) Do your results support your hypothesis?
d) Do the results of data sets conflict with each other? What sources of error can you propose to explain any differences?
5)
Conclusions
a)
You may close with a few paragraphs on a summary of pertinent
findings, and suggestions for further study.
a) Make a list of any literature citations that you placed in your documents. See an issue of Geology or GSA Bulletin for an example on how to properly cite works.