We proceed with our tips how to write a proper a scientific article.  Here we describe The Materials and Methods section. This section seems a core of all your article because it is intended for further duplication of your results.

In an editorial in the American Journal of Roentgenology, James Provenzale says, “One of the more common reasons for rejection of a manuscript is that the reviewers cannot fully understand how the study was conducted.” [1] Thus a well-written Materials and Methods section enhances the chances of a paper being published.

For this purpose, you shall reveal to reviewers and readers clear-cut and detailed information how you investigated the subject, what materials, instruments and procedures of measurement, data collection and design you used and how you achieved these results. This section shall prove that your investigation is authentic, comprehensive, and credible.

Materials and Methods can take a significant part of your research; therefore, we recommend preparing it prior to all sections.

In fact, you can write it while experiment(s) to store in your memory all vital details.  If you have a rule to note all results in some working journal it will strongly help.  In fact, a lab/site`s report is your base for Material and Methods section.

Priory, one should remember about the importance of compliance with certain standard writing rules specific to author’s research area.  Certainly, the specific types of information in Materials and Methods section vary from field to field, for instance the writing of the Materials section on Chemistry research obviously differs from its writing in the field of Medical studies.  In the further our articles, we will detail the approaches and specific details onto writing the Materials and Methods section based on the field of science a scientist is involved in.

Nevertheless, some general rules and tips for Materials and Methods sections are exist:

Thus, the 1^st Tip is CREATING WHILE EXPERIMENTING.

The next step is a structure of information you intend to share with.  It is preferable to launch this section from a general info and smoothly move towards specific experimental details.

Just begin your article from description of the subject of your survey, common or unconventional researching practices existed in this area.  You can mention either cross-sectional investigations with some peculiar features you wish to outline, if so.  You could note corresponding rules and laws, if applicable in this area; refer to prominent scientists and name their works in this field, materials, and methods they applied.  Include as many statistic data and test here as possible.

All appropriate citations shall be included here.

Then, go to the data, design, approaches, materials, and instruments you used during your experiments.

So, TIP No.2.  INFO SHALL FLOW SEAMLESS AND CONSEQUENT.

Next tip stands for details of the experiment.  It should be duly described in your article.  We are far from recommending to detail how do you wash your hands or wear lab clothes, but all stages of the entire experiment, equipment and source of each instrument, control of measurement and all applied methods shall be depicted. Be concise, but precise.

Please do not forget either that «all achievements performed throughout the researching period should be dealt with in consideration of certain criteria in a specific sequence» [2].

For this aim the text of the Material and Methods section shall be properly structured.  It might be divided into chapters, heads, subdivisions…etc.  It will for sure ease readers and reviewers understanding and transparency of your experiment.

So, TIP No.3 ARRANGE DETAILS AND SEQUENCE OF ALL STAGES OF EXPERIMENT`S DESCRIPTION.

«Materials and Methods examples»

Sample 1: In preparing the catecholase extract, a potato was skinned, washed, and diced. 30.0 g of the diced potato and 150 ml of distilled water were added to a kitchen blender and blended for approximately two minutes. The resulting solution was filtered through four layers of cheese cloth. The extract was stored in a clean, capped container.

Four individually labeled spectrophotometer tubes were prepared using different amounts (as represented in Table 1) of the following reagents: a buffer of pH 7, a 0.1% catechol substrate, and distilled water. The wavelength of the Spectronic 20 spectrophotometer was set at 540 nm. To calibrate the spectrophotometer at zero absorbance, a blank control tube prepared with no catechol substrate and labeled “tube 1” was inverted and inserted into the spectrophotometer.

It is important to note that the extract to be tested was added to each tube immediately before placing the tube into the spectrophotometer. 1.0 ml of catecholase extract was pipetted into tube 2. Tube 2 was immediately inverted and placed in the spectrophotometer. The absorbance was read and recorded for time zero (t0), the ten minute mark (t10), and each minute in between. Tube 2 was removed from the spectrophotometer and the same measurements were taken for tube 3 and tube 4 using the same protocol.

Sample 2: A potato and a knife were obtained for this experiment. Also, distilled water, a blender, cheese cloth, a clean container with a cover, and eight spectrophotometer tubes were used. A Spectronic 20 spectrophotometer was used for this experiment, as were buffers of pHs 4, 6, 7, and 8. Catechol substrate, Parafilm coverings, KimWipes, a black pen, and pipettes were also obtained for this experiment. Finally, a pencil and pad were obtained for recording results.

Sample 3: In preparing the catecholase extract, a potato was skinned, washed, and diced. A balance was used to obtain 30.0 g of the diced potato. 150 ml of distilled water was poured into a beaker. The water was added to the diced potato. The cover of a kitchen blender was removed. The potato and water were added to the blender. The solution smelled like potato. The cover was placed in the blender and the power button was depressed. The clock was observed until the second hand circled twice. The power button was pushed again to stop the blender. The resulting solution was filtered through four layers of cheese cloth. The extract was stored in a clean, capped container.

Explanations of the Example Links

Diced potato: In sample one the writer gives enough detail about the procedure so that is can be understood, but not so much that there is an excess of unnecessary detail. (return to sample 1)

Calibrate: Calibration is a small but important detail to include in this section so that the experiment would be able to be repeated by anyone reading the report. Keep this in mind while deciding what to include in this section. (return to sample 1)

Distilled water: This example has a list of materials at the beginning which are not necessary in the materials and methods section. The body of the section should mention the materials and equipment used during the experiment so that it is not necessary to list them in order to know what was used for the procedure. (return to sample 2)

Extraneous detail: This is extraneous detail that is not needed to explain the procedure. The reader would know how to turn the blender on and off without being told that a button was pushed and knowing that the solution smelled like potato is completely unrelated to knowing how to perform the experiment. (return to sample 3)» [2, 3].

«Writing the Materials and Methods can be tedious, but a well-written section can enhance your chances of publication and strengthen your conclusions »  [1]

References
[1] B. Mudrak, Materials and Methods. 7 writing Tips https://www.aje.com/en/arc/materials-and-methods-7-writing-tips/
[2] Molly Cage and Jonathan Wakefield. Writing Biology Laboratory Report. Materials and methods. http://writing2.richmond.edu/training/project/biology/matmeth.html
[3] Jan A. Pechenik, A short guide to writing about Biology, Tufts University: Harper Collins College Publishers, 1993, pp. 54-102.