1. Tips for Reading a Scientific Research Article and Preparing your
Perspectives

2. “I Don’t Know Anything”

3. Use Resources to Maximize your Comprehension of a Research Article
Scientific research does not exist in a bubble. Many fundamental theories are used in the development of the new knowledge presented in research articles. Often one paper is part of a set of published works that enrich an understanding of a subject matter. When you sit down to read an article, have with you
Pen and paper to write down key notes and any questions/doubts that you may have
Previous course and laboratory work experience
Textbooks
Online encyclopedic access

4. Two Types of Research Articles
Communications
Are reports of a small but extremely important finding.
Are meant as an introduction to further work.
Are usually 2 to 3 pages, with the majority of the experimental content left for the supporting information section.
Full papers
Are reports of a complete study that encompass several printed pages
Feature originality and experimental/conceptual novelty
Are typically organized in the following manner
Abstract
Introduction
Results Discussion Conclusion References

5. Read the article more than once
If you are unfamiliar with a particular field of study, you may have to read an article more than once.
1. The first time you read an article, identify the main hypothesis and the big picture that the authors are trying to depict.

6. Read the article more than once
2. Subsequent readings will help you to define the details of the work and answer the following questions.
What are the objectives of the research?
What were the experiments that were performed?
What do the results tell you?
What are the major accomplishments of the work?
What are the conclusions that were made?

7. Be objective
Consider the quality, accuracy, and interpretation of what you read.
Scientists are like businessmen who try to sell you their thoughts:
- As with any sale, you simply do not accept and buy what you are given. Think about what you are reading and develop your own perspective. Read additional articles to better develop your perspective. BE CAREFUL OF FRAUDS!!!

8. What is a Perspective? Perspectives are personal reviews of a field.
Are not meant to be comprehensive (too general)
Are focused on certain published work
Give insight into the current status of the field
Highlight the major advances of the field
Include both older and current literature
Serve to identify the significance of the field and to give new research directions for the field

9. Your Perspective on a Leader in the Inorganic Chemistry Field
For your perspective, you will work in a group of five and select a leader in the inorganic field. I have given you a very short list but there are many more leaders. Any selection not from the list must be approved by me.
Choose someone whose research interest captures your attention
Select 3 to 5 papers recently published (within the last ten years) by the researcher on a specific subject matter
Make sure you have enough technical background to understand the work

10. Perspective Format
Prepare a ten page, double-spaced perspective using 12 point, Times New Roman font.
Introduction: Introduce the leader and the area of research you will focus on. Provide sufficient history of the work to teach me what you have learned.
Body: Discuss 3 to 5 recent papers highlighting the major objectives, experiments, and conclusions. Make sure to understand the experiments and results. Describe your opinions about the work.
Conclusion: Present the major accomplishments and discuss how you believe the researcher has advanced the field. Emphasize what you have learned and how the work may have changed your perspective of things.

11. Perspective Format Prepare three appendices
Appendix A: Chemistry Lineage Tree
These type of diagrams are like family trees. They show who were all of the mentors and mentors of mentors that ultimately produced different professors.

12. Chemistry Lineage Tree of Prof. Alan Saghatelian

13. Perspective Format
Appendix B: Includes your equations, schemes, figures, and tables.
Label everything properly and refer to that label in your manuscript. This means that in your manuscript you must present the labels for your equations, schemes, figures, and tables.
Equation- y = mx + b (Eq. 1)
Scheme- A + B  C (Scheme 1)

14. Perspective Format
Figures- The legend goes below the figure. Do not center.
Figure 1. The initial rate kinetics show a linear dependence on the concentration of A.

15. Perspective Format Population Average Weight (lb) A 165 B 325 C 199
Tables- The legend goes above the table. Do not center.
Table 1. The average weight of three different population.
Population
Average Weight (lb) A
165 B
325 C
199

16. Perspective Format Appendix C: Reference.
Refer to my written instructions on how to reference. To find your references please use the university webpage-
Get access to the Web of Science
SciFinder
Ask an offcampus friend for connections!!!

17. Deadlines Group Selection and Inorganic Leader Selection: March 10th
Rough Draft: March 17th ( submission)
Final Draft: April 31th (Printed submission)
Presentations: April 26th and 28th, May 3rd and 5th