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 You finished your data analysis and found fairly interesting discoveries. You are excited and can't wait to publish your work. It can't be hard now when the results are here?... Well... you are completely wrong!! It's not only the results that make a good Research Article (RA), it's also how well you structure and 'direct' your story, and how well does it transfer knowledge. If you are a non-native English speaker (L2), then it will be even harder to get your RA published. However, skills in both structuring and phrasing your discoveries and thoughts can be taught.
Most scientific journals provide guidelines for authors -- how to format references and prepare artwork, how many copies of the paper to submit and to which address. However, behind any formal editorial system are real people with their professional and personal interests, which often have a profound influence on the chances that your paper will get accepted (or rejected). The official guidelines say little about how you should prepare your paper and what are the chances that it will be accepted. You will not be able to find such information on journal websites. This gave us the idea to write an unofficial guide for authors, in which we could tell you frankly what you can expect from journals, editors, reviewers and, indeed, the whole system of science. We offer some pragmatic tips on how to manage the production of your paper --- based on a training programme in academic writing and our own experience. We also address some of the deeper aspects of preparing and publishing research articles as well as the limitations and frustrations that are inherent in current editorial systems such
as hyperproduction, phoney co-authors and poor reviews. This guide is primarily intended for inexperienced researchers, although we hope more experienced authors will also find some of the points raised in it of interest.
GOLDEN RULES OF WRITING:
TAKE A READER'S VIEW
Write for your audience not for yourself.
TELL A STORY
Direct your RA but keep clear focus of the paper and present only results that relate to this focus.
...read more about the writer's camera
BE YOURSELF
Write like you speak and then revise and polish.
MAKE IT SIMPLE
Use simple(st) examples to explain complex methodology.
MAKE IT CONCRETE
Use concrete words and strong verbs, avoid noun clusters (more than three words), abstract and ambiguous words.
MAKE IT SHORT
Avoid redundancy, repetition and explanation of familiar techniques and terminology.
TAKE RESPONSIBILITY
Make clear distinction between your and the work of others.
MAKE STRONG STATEMENTS
" We concluded... " instead of "It may be concluded... ".
BE SELF-CRITICAL
Consider uncertainty of conclusions and their implications and acknowledge work of others.
GOLDEN RULES FOR PRESENTING:
RESEARCH YOUR AUDIENCE
What is their interest? What do they already know? What are they expectations?
LOCATE YOUR SELF ON THE 'STAGE'
Make sure you see your audience and they see you. Make an eye contact.
INTRODUCE YOURSELF
Answer 5Ws and H - Who? What? Where? When? Why? and How?
THE VISUAL IMAGE IS THE NO. 1
The presentation impact is: 10% what you say; 40% voice (tone and volume) you use and 50% visual image you give.
START WITH THE 'PUNCH LINE'
Why are you doing this and what is your point?
STRUCTURE YOUR PRESENTATION USING THE INTRO-MIDDLE-SUMMARY SCHEME
Tell them what you are going to tell them - Tell them - Tell them what you told them.
ATTRACT AND ACTIVATE YOUR AUDIENCE
Talk with your audience and eliminate the barriers. Change position from time to time. Allow interruptions as long as they don't delay your presentation.
BE POSITIVE
Bring enthusiasm and use good gestures even if there are negative comments and questions - you are happy to be here!
AUDIENCE TYPICALLY REMEMBERS APP. 5% FROM YOUR TALK
Make sure that you emphasize your message and main points.
RULES OF THUMB FOR THE PPT* PRESENTATIONS:
1. NO MORE THAN 5 LINES/OBJECTS PER SLIDE.
2. NO MORE THAN 5-7 WORDS IN THE LINE.
3. AT MOST ONE SLIDE PER MINUTE.
4. ONE SLIDE - ONE POINT.
5. BETTER ONE GOOD DRAWING THAN 1000 WORDS.
6. THE FONTS ARE ALWAYS TOO SMALL!!
7. TEXT - USE THE KEY WORDS NOT THE WHOLE SENTENCES.
8. PUT YOUR NAME, TITLE AND OCCASION IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO PRINT THEM.
9. AVOID LONG FORMULAS OR MAKE SURE THE AUDIENCE CAN FOLLOW.
MAKE DEMONSTRATIONS
If you prove that something works, they will always be more impressed.
REHEARSE AND CROSS-CHECK TECHNICALITIES!!
OPTIONAL BUT NOT NECESSARY:
RELATE YOUR WORK WITH THE MOST RECENT HAPPENINGS
Read news and bring up most relevant questions.
AWAKE YOUR AUDIENCE IF NECESSARY
Use what ever is needed (playboy images? why not) to keep the focus of your audience. Change intonation and volume (yell) of your speech from time to time (avoid monotonous voice).
*PPT = POWER POINT PRESENTATION
OTHER RESOURCES
| On-line books/handouts |
Description |
| |
A
Brief Guide to Writing Philosophy Papers |
(by R. Field, HomePage) |
| |
A
guide to writing research papers |
(by C. Turner, Virginia Commonwealth
University) |
| |
A
Guide for Writing Research Papers Based on Modern Language Association (MLA)
Documentation |
(On-line resources, Capital Community
College, Hartford, Connecticut) |
| |
Advice
on Research and Writing |
(by C. Mellon, School of Computer
Science, Pittsburgh PA) |
| |
Advice
on Academic Writing |
(by M. Procter, University of
Toronto) |
| |
Arguments
and Their Evaluation |
(by T. K. Trelogan, Philosophy at UNC)
|
| |
Elements
of Style |
(Rules of thumb for writing,
On-line book by W. Strunk Jr.) |
| |
"How
to give a research talk" and "How
to write a Research Paper" |
(PPTs by O. Danvy, BRICS PhD
Workshop) |
| |
Research
methods and ethics |
(by D.G. Rossiter, ITC, Enschede) |
| |
The
Art of the Public Lecture |
(small PPT lecture by Chris Guigg) |
| |
Writing
a Research Paper |
(by S. Hamid, OWL at Purdue University) |
| |
Writing
for the Web |
(based on studies
by J. Morkes and J. Nielsen) |
| |
Commonly
Misused Words in Research papers |
(by W.B. Worthen, Biology Dept.,
Furman University) |
| |
Write-Research,
Consulting agency in NL |
(consulting agency in NL for
writing scientific papers in English, by Linda McPhee) |
| |
Writing
the Research Papers |
(collection of handouts, created
by G. Brosi, Eastern Kentucky University) |
| Software/applications/services |
|
| |
Cambridge
Scientific Abstracts |
(Internet database service) |
| |
Classic
books on Use of Visuals |
(Edward Tufte, HomePage) |
| |
Web
of science |
(Most extensive data base for
research papers) |
| |
Endnote |
(Bibliographies management software) |
| |
WinEdit |
(Professional text editor) |
| |
Ghost
view |
(PDF compiler freeware) |
| |
Wikipedia |
(On-line encyclopedia) |
| |
Open
Office |
(Linux based Office freeware) |
| |
Latex |
(Document compilation freeware) |
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