-
8/27/2015
1
How to Write a Good
Research Paper?
Muhammad Farooq
"In science, the credit goes to the man who
convinces the world, not to the man to whom
the idea first occurs."
Sir William Osler
"Writing is an art. But when it is
writing to inform it comes close to
being a science as well."
Robert Gunning, The Technique of Clear Writing
-
8/27/2015
2
Why publish in a scientific journal?
Communication: gathering and distribution of information Degree requirement Job Promotion Performance indicator
Scientists are rated by what they finish, not
by what they attempt
Barriers to publishing
Rather do experiments than write about them!
Dont know where to start
Too confrontingfears of criticism and rejection, no
control over the process
Papers submitted but not being accepted
Publish or perish
-
8/27/2015
3
Publish and perish
Data manipulation, falsification
Duplicate manuscripts
Redundant publication
Plagiarism
What constitutes a redundant publication?
Data in conference abstract?
Same data, different journal?
Data on website?
Data included in review article?
Expansion of published data set?
NoYes
May beOK if later
Yes
Paraphrase and cite the source!!!
Ive just stolen
other authors
work!
How do I QUOTE an author?
I WILL NOT
PLAGIARIZE I
WILL PUT MY
PAPER INTO MY
OWN WORDS.
The image cannot be displayed. Your computer may not have enough memory to open the image, or the image may have been corrupted. Restart your computer, and then open the file again. If the red x still appears, you may have to delete the image and then insert it again.
The image cannot be displayed. Your computer may not have enough memory to open the image, or the image may have been corrupted. Restart your computer, and then open the file again. If the red x still appears, you may have to delete the image and then insert it again.
Allelopathic plants may influence the performance of subsequent
crops (Farooq et al., 2014).
Farooq et al. (2014) proposed allelopathic nature of the crops
must be considered while making crop rotations.
Allelopathic nature of the crops must be considered
while making crop rotations.
-
8/27/2015
4
What makes a good paper?
Good science
Good writing
Publication in good journals
What constitutes good science?
Novel new and not resembling something formerly known or used (can be novel but not important)
Mechanistic testing a hypothesis - determining the fundamental processes involved in or responsible for an action, reaction, or other natural phenomenon
Applied propose a practical solution of an important problem
What constitutes a good journal?
Impact factor
Average number of times published papers are cited up to two years after publication.
.
Repute
Fame in the discipline
Publisher
Publishers of good repute and/or society journals
What is a journals Impact Factor?
2014 Impact Factor =
(cites in 2014 to papers published in that
journal in 2012 + 2013) (no. of papers
published in that journal in 2012 + 2013)
(Institute of Scientific Information, Thomson Corporation)
-
8/27/2015
5
The Impact Factor (IF) for 2014
Citations in 2014 to articles published in:
2012 = 470
2013 = 330
Sum: 800
Number of articles published in:
2012 = 220
2013 = 180
Sum: 400
Calculation:
Citations to recent articles 800
Number of recent articles 400
Top Research Journals in Agriculture and Plant Sciences
Name Impact factor
Acta Physiologiae Plantarum 1.524
Agricultural Systems 2.453
Agriculture, Ecosystem and Environment 3.203
Agronomy for Sustainable Development 2.841
Agronomy Journal 1.542
Crop and Pasture Science 1.284
Crop Science 1.48
European Journal of Agronomy 2.918
Experimental Agriculture 1.069
Field Crops Research 2.608
Journal of Agronomy and Crop Science 2.618
Journal of Integrative Plant Biology 3.448
Journal of Plant Physiology 2.77
Physiologia Plantarum 3.262
Plant and Soil 3.235
You cant compare Impact Factors
across disciplines!
Impact factors may change over the years
Things to consider before writing
1. Time to write the paper?
- has a significant advancement been made?
- did the experiments test the hypothesis?
- are the controls appropriate and sufficient?
- can you describe the study in 1 or 2 minutes?
- can the key message be written in 1 or 2 sentences?
Those who have the most to say usually say it with the fewest
words
-
8/27/2015
6
Things to consider before writing
2. Read references
- will help in choosing journal
- better insight into possible reviewers
3. Choose journal
- scope
- publication fee
- quality of journal impact factor
4. Choose authors
Authorship
Guidelines on authorship, International committee of Scientific Journal Editors
Writing the manuscript
2. Writing the First Draft
4. Finishing3. Revising, Revising, Revising
1. Getting in the Mood
The hardest part is getting started
Parts of a manuscript
Title
Abstract
Introduction
Materials and Methods
Results
Discussion
Acknowledgements
References
-
8/27/2015
7
Methods and materials
Best to begin writing when experiments still in progress. Should be detailed enough so results can be repeated by others. Reference published methods where appropriate Headings
-Site or materials description
-Experimental design-subheads for separate experiments-Chemical/physical analyses (reference or describe)-Statistical analysis
Common mistakes
Experimental design, number of replicates,
experimental site, detail about husbandry practices
not provided
Appropriate references chemical/physical analyses
not provided
No / too much / irrelevant detail about the
observation made
No information about statistical analysis of data set
Tables and Figures
- must be clear and concise
- should be self-explanatory
Tables and Figures
data in time series should be
Presented in line charts
-
8/27/2015
8
Common mistakes
Axis title are not given
Units are missing
Abbreviations not defined
Data presented without statistical analysis
Vertical grids
Table / figure title not clear
Results
State important comparisons; interactions first,
then main effects
Avoid repeating numbers from tables, refer to tables and figures often
USE your draft tables and figures to ensure that your text is accurate
Can be quite short
Common mistakes in Results
Failure to explain interactions
Overstating results
Complicated comparisons; e.g. use than instead of compared with
Inconsistent use/overuse of acronyms
Too much detail instead of citing tables, figures
Introduction
Introduce topic: from general (not too general) to specific
Use examples from the literature BUT avoid literature regurgitation
Identify the specific problem
State aims/hypothesis*
Ideal length
-
8/27/2015
9
Aims paragraph
Focuses the readers expectations (and forces the authors focus)
Clearly identify what you are doing that is new and why
Measuring and describing are not aims but they may be tools in identifying: We measured with the aim of identifying
A formal hypothesis may help: It was hypothesized that
Or less formally: We explored
Discussion Start strongwere the aims achieved?
Emphasize the new
Discuss anomalies
Discuss in context of previous work
State practical/research implications
Separate Conclusion heading only if the paper is large
Common mistakes in Discussion
Signs of insufficient interpretation
-Restating results-Repeating introduction
-Quoting too many statements from literature
Overstating practical implications
-
8/27/2015
10
References Relevant and recent
Be highly selective
Read the references
Do not misquote
Use correct style for journal
Consult the instructions for authors / recently published article from the respective journal
References cited in the text must appear in the bibliography
If possible, use automated reference and/or article formatting tools (e.g. EndNote, Reference Manager, ProCite, Biblioscape, PAPYRUS).
Abstract
Critical part of paper
To attract readers to your paper!
State main objective(s) and experimental treatments
Summarize key results
State the conclusion and take home message
Avoid acronyms and citations
Should not exceed 300 words
Common mistakes
Background / objectives missing
Too detailed methodology / experimental treatments missing
Very brief results
Lack of solid conclusion / take home message
Use of acronyms
-
8/27/2015
11
Keywords
Spend time thinking about appropriate keys words to put at the end of your abstract.
Appropriate key words help
indexers
researchers working in your area to find your work
Title
Will determine whether paper gets read
Avoid long title
Be very specific
Avoid abbreviations
Title formatsWords and expressions to avoid
Clunky phrase Equivalenta considerable amount of much
on account of because
a number of several
Referred to as called
In a number of cases some
Has the capacity to can
It is clear that clearly
It is apparent that apparently
Employ use
Fabricate make
-
8/27/2015
12
Words and expressions to avoid
Clunky phrase EquivalentA majority of most
Are of the same opinion agree
At the present moment now
By means of by
Less frequently occurring rare
In close proximity to near
In order to to
Fewer in number fewer
Give rise to cause
All three of the the three
Use the Appropriate Tense
Abstract
Past tense when describing and giving results
Present tense for conclusions
Introduction
Past or present tense
Methods & Results
Past tense (What you did and what you found)
Discussion
Past and/or present tense
Use Passive not Active Voice
Active
We used ANOVA to compare distances moved.
I sampled 50 leaves.
But better is Passive
ANOVA was used to compare distances moved.
Fifty leaves were sampled.
Develop a good writing style
Read well written articles
Try to get good writers to review
Learn from editing changes
-
8/27/2015
13
Revise, revise and revise
All authors should participate
Review order of data presentation
Polish the writing style
Double check references
Look for typos
Double check spelling
Submission
Read instructions carefully
Fill out all necessary forms
Copyright transfer
Conflict of interest
Write cover letter (suggest reviewers)
Publication process
Completion of research
Preparation of manuscript
Submission of manuscript
Assignment and review
Decision
Revision
Resubmission
Re-reviewAcceptance
Publication
Rejection
Rejection
Responding to reviewers
Carefully prepare your responsesEach comment should be addressed
Each change should be stated
Be enthusiastic
Reviewer may be wrong
Be tactful thank the reviewers
Do not respond to reviewers while upset
Never call the editor
Get help from other authors
-
8/27/2015
14
Major reasons for rejection
Confirmatory (not novel)
Poor experimental design
- Poor controls
- Hypothesis not adequately tested
Inappropriate for journal
Poorly written
Ethics, Rights and Permissions
Beware of originality and copyrights of others.
Do not copy anything without giving the credit to the owner by referencing it.
In some cases permissions are needed Repetitive publication of the same data is
considered plagiarism
There is no way to get experience
except through experience.
Thanks
