SCIENTIFIC HEADINGS AND SIDE HEADINGS

HEADINGS: Headings are labels identifying the major sections of scientific papers.

HOW DO I CREATE A HEADING? Headings are capitalized, centered, and brief. Triple space before a heading and double space after it. The text following a heading should be indented as a new paragraph.

SIDE HEADINGS: Side headings are further divisions of the heading sections. They break up large sections of materials into smaller, more comprehendable topics.

HOW DO I CREATE A SIDE HEADING? Side headings are written as a phrase with appropriate letters capitalized. The entire subheading is then underlined and ends with a period. The side heading is placed at the beginning of the first paragraph dealing with the side heading topic.

Sample of a heading with a side heading

HEADING

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Side Heading

DECLINE OF THE PEREGRINE FALCON

DDT in Peregrine Falcons.

Most peregrine falcon populations had been declining for over a decade for no known reason, but in the 1960’s the insecticide DDT was discovered in peregrine eggs.

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Do I always need to use both a heading and a side heading? No, but the side heading is set up a bit differently. When you use a side heading without a heading, align the side heading with the left margin and underline it. Double space after the heading. The first line of the text to follow should be indented as a new paragraph. An example is below.

Sample of a side heading without a heading:

Formation of the Beatles.

John, Paul, and George were the only members of the Quarymen who seemed to click consistently and remain together.

When should I use scientific headings and subheadings? At Fort Recovery Local Schools, we use scientific headings whenever we write scientific papers, for example: Invention Convention, Science Fair, Scientific Research Papers, and Lab Reports. Ask your teacher if you are not sure if you should use scientific headings and subheadings.