How to write a scientific paper

Identify the journal Depends on: the nature of your work the interests of the journal  Check the guidelines of your intended journal first!... 1st tip: just follow the guidelines •

How to write a scientific paper

Instructor: Pham The Hai

How to write a scientific

paper?

The answer is everywhere now….Internet

Types of papers

• Papers fall into a number of groups:

Research, Reviews and Articles on

specific topics

• A review article:

 a controversial topic; a topic gaining increasing interest but not yet reviewed  discussing different points of view

• A research article: reports research

findings

 “a contribution to new knowledge”

1st question to be asked!

• Will they publish me?

Identify the journal

Depends on:

the nature of your work

the interests of the journal

 Check the guidelines of your intended

journal first!

Common questions asked of

referees by editors

1st tip: just follow the guidelines

• Check out the format and the speciations

of your intended journal  follow them!

2nd tip in writing: “scientific” is not

“stylist”

• No need to be poetic, verbose, imaginative

no need to look for various synonyms:

“cats” can be just “cats”

no need: felines, kitties, or “mouse-catchers”

• 4C: Clear, Concise, Complete and Correct

 it’s scientific

• Usually use the passive voice

3rd tip: the common layout

• A research article usually follows a basic format:

Title + Abstract + IMRAD + Conclusions + Acknowledgement + References

Title

• requires great care

• should be as specific as possible

Name the species you dealt with (if 2 or more 

an inclusive term: e.g the genus)

Briefly let the reader know what you did with

them

REMEMBER: most readers will look at only titles, before reading on

Title

• "A Study of Crickets"

tells practically nothing 

• "Behavior of the Field Cricket, Acheta

assi-milis”

still is not specific enough 

• "Correlation of Temperature and Stridulation Rates during Crepuscular Calling of the Field

Cricket, Acheta assimilis”

GOOD !

Abstract

• A summary of your research 

• Describe your research in as few words as possible  only the most significant

findings

• The potential reader usually use it to

decide whether to read the paper

remember to cite previous works

 lead the readers to your research question

• Verbal forms: usually present tense for what is evident/known

but: ABC found/has shown/has reported that…;

It has been shown/it was reported that…

Materials and Methods

• Tell what you did  Past tense

• You should describe your experimental

conditions and procedures so completely that anyone could repeat the experiments

or observations

However, for procedures that are so well-known (beware of your feeling!) or duplicate those of an earlier paper  you can just cite the paper

 try to make the reader understand your

work without having to read the text

 use the text efficiently: do not tell the

same information; tell something

exceptional; or summarize the information

Discussion

• Discuss your results in relation to those of

others, citing pertinent papers:

 Specifically point out significant findings

 try to raise interesting questions

 unexpected/contradictory results: should

be explained

usually use the present tense

• Should consider to include the Conclusions in

this sections if a separate Conclusions

section is not allowed by the journal

Some other tips

• Literature citation:

- List only those pertinent papers

- Follow the style! Use a reference manager software!

• Illustrations:

- as few as possible  reduce cost

- include as much info as possible

- should be of the highest quality  ask for assistance if you need

Special hint

• When writing, follow the MRADI order:

M&M  Results/Discussion  Introduction

 Abstract  Title/References

=> Edit

=> Edit again after some time

=> Ask somebody else to read and comment => Proof read carefully

Some other tips to make your

writing even better?

• Read papers of the others  judge them

 follow the good ones

• Read the recent papers of your intended journal  figure out the “taste” of the

journal/editor

ENJOY YOUR WRITING!

ASSIGNMENT 2

Each group selects a research paper (since 2000; need to be

approved by the instructor before use) read and study carefully 

give a presentation about the paper

(The paper must be sent to the class and the instructor 1 week before the presentation)

The presentation MUST answer the following questions:

-What is the research question/topic?

-Why did the authors do the research? (based on what background,

due to what demand, etc…)

-What is the overall approach? (the strategy/ the research direction)

-What are the methods used? For what purposes?

-What are the experiments done in the research? In your opinion, how well were they designed?

-What are the results?

-What are the significant findings, in relation to other publications?

-Final evaluation: Is the paper well-written? Is its format OK? What

could have been improved?