A STEM paper explains a question, the work you did, and what the evidence supports. Your teacher, competition, or intended journal sets the required format.
This guide focuses on the sections of a paper reporting an experiment or data analysis. For the steps before drafting, use How to Plan Your First Research Paper.
Use one question to organize the paper
Consider this example: “How does daily light exposure affect the height of bean seedlings over two weeks?” This is an illustrative question, not a completed SciTeens experiment.
The paper needs to explain how light exposure was measured, how seedlings were assigned to groups, and how growth was recorded. It also needs to acknowledge limits. A result from one bean variety does not establish how every plant responds.
Title
State the topic and the comparison. “Daily Light Exposure and Bean Seedling Growth” is more informative than “My Biology Experiment.”
Do not put a conclusion in the title unless the results support it. Avoid claims such as “The Best Way to Grow Plants” for a small experiment.
Abstract
Write the abstract after the main paper. Summarize the question, method, main result, and the interpretation within the required length.
A planning template is: “We investigated [question]. We measured [outcome] under [conditions]. The results showed [actual finding]. This suggests [limited interpretation].” Replace every bracket with information from your work.
Do not invent a result to complete the template. Keep background detail and citations in the main text unless your required format says otherwise. The abstract guide covers this section in more detail.
Introduction
Explain what readers need to know before they can understand the question. Use sources to describe relevant prior work, then identify the question your project addresses.
For the seedling example, explain why light exposure matters and define the outcome you measured. Cite the source of any scientific claim. Distinguish the hypothesis from an established fact.
Methods
Describe what another student needs to repeat the work. Include the materials, sample size, measurement units, dates or duration, and analysis steps.
For a data project, name the dataset and its version or access date. Record which rows you excluded and why. Keep the original file so a reader can follow your decisions.
For the seedling example, “We watered the plants regularly” is incomplete. The method needs the amount, schedule, and way you kept watering consistent between groups. Include the measurement instrument and how you defined seedling height.
Read the methods guide before you write this section from memory. Your notebook is a better source than your recollection.
Results
Report what you observed before you explain why it happened. Include measurements that conflict with the expected pattern.
Choose a figure that answers the question. For repeated height measurements, a line plot can show growth over time. Label the axes with units and explain what each line represents.
A useful caption template is: “Figure 1. [Outcome] across [groups] during [period]. Points show [individual measurements or summaries]. Error bars represent [stated quantity].” Omit error bars if you did not calculate them.
Do not label a difference “significant” without an appropriate analysis. The figures guide can help you make a readable chart.
Discussion
Answer the research question using the results. Explain whether the evidence supports your hypothesis and which alternatives remain possible.
Describe limits that affect the interpretation. A small sample, inconsistent measurements, or a short observation period can restrict the claim. State the restriction directly instead of adding a vague sentence about “human error.”
Propose a next experiment that addresses a specific limit. For example, testing another plant variety answers a different question from increasing the number of seedlings.
References and final checks
Credit the sources of ideas, data, code, and images. Use the citation style your assignment requires. A copied passage needs a quotation and citation, not just an entry in the reference list.
Before submitting, ask a reader to find the question, the main result, and the main limit. Revise any section that makes those difficult to identify.
Keep a copy of the paper, analysis files, and the project planner. You can then share the work on SciTeens Projects with enough context for useful feedback.
Writing resources
Columbia University's guide to scientific papers explains common scientific-paper sections. UC Berkeley's writing process guide covers planning and revision. Your assignment's instructions take precedence over a general template.
