| Experimental
Details or Theoretical Analysis
This section should describe what was actually done. It is
a succinct exposition of the laboratory notebook, describing
procedures, techniques, instrumentation, special precautions,
and so on. It should be sufficiently detailed that other experienced
researchers would be able to repeat the work and obtain comparable
results.
In
theoretical reports, this section would include sufficient
theoretical or mathematical analysis to enable derivations
and numerical results to be checked. Computer programs from
the public domain should be cited. New computer programs should
be described in outline form.
If
the experimental section is lengthy and detailed, as in synthetic
work, it can be placed at the end of the report or as an appendix
so that it does not interrupt the conceptual flow of the report.
Its placement will depend on the nature of the project and
the discretion of the writer.
Results
In this section, relevant data, observations, and findings
are summarized. Tabulation of data, equations, charts, and
figures can be used effectively to present results clearly
and concisely. Schemes to show reaction sequences may be used
here or elsewhere in the report.
Discussion
The crux of the report is the analysis and interpretation
of the results. What do the results mean? How do they relate
to the objectives of the project? To what extent have they
resolved the problem? Because the "Results" and
"Discussion" sections are interrelated, they can
often be combined as one section.
Conclusions
and Summary
A separate section outlining the main conclusions of the project
is appropriate if conclusions have not already been stated
in the 'Discussion' section. Directions for future work are
also suitably expressed here.
A
lengthy report, or one in which the findings are complex,
usually benefits from a paragraph summarizing the main features
of the report ¾ the objectives, the findings, and the
conclusions. The last paragraph of text in manuscripts prepared
for publication is customarily dedicated to acknowledgments.
However, there is no rule about this, and research reports
or senior theses frequently place acknowledgments following
the title page.
References
Literature references should be collated at the end of the
report and cited in one of the formats described in The ACS
Style Guide or standard journals. Do not mix formats. All
references should be checked against the original literature.
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