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Ecology 250/251
Adapted from an assignment designed by Dr. J. D. Lawrey, George Mason University
Scientific Article Summary
During the course of the semester you will be required to write three article summaries. This assignment
is intended to help you learn to synthesize scientific materials and communicate the main points
effectively, using plain language without too much scientific jargon.
The topics are as follows:
Summary: #1- Animal Ecology; #2- Plant Ecology; #3- Your choice!
The Assignment
After graduating Xavier you have become a famous scientific writer for the Cincinnati Enquirer . . . ok,
ok your not there yet but this exercise will give you some practice!
Your job is to summarize a recent primary research article on ecology (within the last 5 years). This is a
primary research article so no literature reviews or book chapters allowed! Your editor (me) has
restricted your piece to three pages in length. This assignment requires you to condense a highly
technical research article for the general public. Assume you are writing for the local newspaper.
Writing the paper:
The article summary must be sent to me through e-mail in Microsoft word format. It should be between
2-3 pages long, double-spaced with 12 pt font. Begin the summary by giving the full citation of the paper.
Then, below, write a clear and concise summary of the paper. This requires you to boil down a long and
complex research paper to its essential content and significance (but this is your job as a scientific
writer!).
You are writing for the general public. This means you must define terms and set up the reader with the
necessary background material. All of the writing must be your own. Do not quote sections of the paper
or cite other sources. In your summary, include at least a paragraph (more if necessary) on each of the
following topics:
Introduction:
• Discuss the basic ecological concept or research question that was addressed by the study, and
briefly discuss what was known about this concept or question at the initiation of the study
(before the research was done).
• This section is critical to the review since most readers will not be knowledgeable enough to
understand the reason why the study was done or the significance of the results that follow later.
Methods:
• How was the research done (what methodology was employed)?
• This section should not be too detailed since most readers will not be at all familiar with methods.
However, it should be clear what was done and the assumptions made by the investigators.
Results:
• Briefly indicate what was discovered in the study.
• This section should also be short and basic. Do not attempt to itemize each result since most
papers report many. Discuss the most significant results and indicate how they address the
questions posed in your introductory paragraph.
Discussion and conclusion:
• How do the results of the research alter the field or change the concept discussed?
• What is new about the results?
• What remains to be done on this topic?