The following checklist can provide an author or a reviewer with a basic listing of the elements that are included in a scientific paper. While this list is not exhaustive, it does address the major points a paper should address.
Title
☐ Does it clearly and exactly describe the research project?
☐ Is the common and scientific name of the organism included in the title?
Abstract
☐ Does it describe the research question and basic methods used in the experiment?
☐ Does it clearly summarize the results and conclusions?
Introduction
☐ Does it contain background information and give a general perspective?
☐ Is background information properly referenced?
☐ Does it include the hypothesis(es) to be tested?
☐ Does it provide a rationale for the procedures used?
☐ Is the significance of the investigation mentioned?
Materials and Methods
☐ Are the major procedures mentioned?
☐ Are any special materials mentioned?
☐ Could the experiment(s) be recreated from these procedures?
☐ Is the writing in paragraph form?
Results
☐ Are tables and/or figures used to clearly present the data?
☐ Are all important results verbalized?
☐ Are all tables and figures referred to in the description of the results?
☐ Are all tables and figures properly numbered and labeled, tables above and figures below?
Discussion
☐ How well are the reported results interpreted?
☐ How well are the results related to the original hypothesis(es)?
☐ In light of the reported results, are the conclusions valid?
Literature Cited
☐ Was the proper citation format followed?
☐ Are all works cited in the text listed in this section?
☐ Are all works listed in this section cited in the text?
General Format
☐ Is the paper clear and concise?
☐ Has the proper format been used?
☐ Is the spelling and grammar of good quality?
☐ Is the correct tense used for each section?