scientific writing

1. How to Write and
Publish a Scientific
Paper
Genhua Niu
Texas A&M AgriLife Research
Texas A&M University

2. • The goal of scientific research is
scientific publication, which is a
“standard” dissemination of
research findings.
• Researchers want to publish their
results timely in a large scientific
community.
• Among non-native English
Speakers, good scientists are not
always good writers.
Introduction

3. • To be a scientist, first thing is to
publish your work!
• Precedent principle – the first to
publish gets the credit.
• Career advancement – promotion,
recognition, etc.
• “Publish or perish”
Why publishing?

4. • Steps of preparing a
scientific paper.
• Components of scientific
paper and how to prepare.
• Additional writing tips.
Outline

5. A scientific paper
1. Title
2. Abstract
3. Introduction
4. Methods
5. Results
6. Discussions
7. Conclusions
8. Acknowledgement
9. References

6. • Steps of preparing a
scientific paper.
• Components of scientific
paper and how to prepare.
• Additional writing tips.
Outline

7. • Determine which journal to
submit
• Read the Instructions for
Authors (if this is your first
time)
Steps of Preparation

8. Steps of Preparation
• Draft a title
• Start writing before the
experiments are complete
Starting writing while you are still doing the
expt. Writing often evokes new ideas: you
may realize that there are additional
experiments to run or additional controls
need to be added, etc.
(i.g., M&M section, Introduction)

9. Steps of Preparation
• Construct the Tables and figures for
the papers.
determine which tables and figures to be
used; structure the paper according to the
results (tables & figures).
• Outline the paper
• Write the first draft
avoid writing and editing at the same time.
Editing is always easier than writing.
Order: Introduction, M&M, results,
discussion, Abstract (last one)

10. Steps of Preparation
• Revise the manuscript
(1) Make major alteration: fill in gaps,
correct flaws in logic, restructure the
document in a logical order.
(2) polish the style: refine the text,
then correct grammar and spelling.
(3) format the document

11. Steps of Preparation
• Check References
Ensure the citation is correct,
including format.
• Decide the final title
• Write the abstract

12. Steps of Preparation
• Prepare the final version
for submission:
Re-read the journal’s Instructions to
Authors.
Check the tables and figures.
Re-read your manuscript again and
revise before submission.

13. Steps of Preparation
• Deal with reviewers’
comments:
answer every concern the reviewers
raised. Make changes accordingly. If
you do not agree, you need to explain
the rationale.

14. Steps of Preparation
• Check the proofs:
carefully correct any typos and
factual errors. Pay attention on
Tables. Check the figure positions, etc.
Congratulations!

15. • Steps of preparing a
scientific paper.
• Components of scientific
paper and how to prepare.
• Additional writing tips.
Outline

16. Abstract
Introduction
M&M
Results
Discussion
Conclusion
Components of a Scientific Paper
Title

17. Components
• Title

18. Components - Title
• Attract readers interested in this study.
• The only aspect of the paper that appears
in tables of contents and in many
databases used for literature search
• Indicate the focus of the paper and contain
enough relevant keywords.
Style: descriptive or conclusion title
The effect of heat on flower longevity
Heat reduces flower longevity
For research paper, many prefer descriptive
title.

19. Title
• Fewest words to describe the
content
– Avoid
• A study of
• Investigations of
• Observations on
– Include
• A particular species
www.columbia.edu/cu/biology/ug/research/paper.html

20. Components
• Abstract

21. Components - Abstract (1)
• Brief summary of the paper
o Objectives
o Methods
o Results
o Conclusion
• One paragraph, no abbreviation, and
no citation
• Contain search words

22. Components - Abstract (content)
1. Introduction, a few sentences
to provide background info;
2. Methods: techniques used;
3. Results: the major results,
provide quantitative info when
possible;
4. Discussion: the authors’
interpretation of results;
5. Final summary: major
conclusion or “big picture”, or
“take home message”.

23. Components - Abstract
1. Should be written in past tense for
authors’ work, present tense for
general knowledge and other
researchers’ work
2. Length: commonly 150-300 words.

24. • A shortened version of a paper
• Most read section of a paper
• Contain all information necessary for the
reader to determine:
– The objectives of the study-Introduction;
– How the study was done-Methods;
– What results were obtained-Results &
Discussions;
– The significance of the results-Conclusion.
• Write the abstract last
Abstract
http://classweb.gmu.edu/biologyresources/ writingguide/scientificpaper.htm

25. Components
• Introduction

26. Components - Introduction
Contents
• Provide the background of the research;
• Provide a brief but scholarly review of the
relevant literature;
• Discuss the relevant primary research in the
literature (with citation) and summarize the
current understanding of the problem you
are investigating;
• State the purpose of your work in the form
of the hypothesis, question, or problem you
investigated;
• Briefly explain your rationale and approach,
and possible outcomes your study can
reveal.

27. Components - Introduction
• Tense: what the authors
did/found is in the past tense;
everything else is in the present
tense.
• Length- check the target journal.

28. Introduction
Fairly general information
Specific problem

29. Components
• Materials and Methods
(M&M)

30. Components – M & M
Materials and Methods
• The methodology should contain
sufficient details for readers to replicate
the work and obtain similar results.
• It is not just a record of what you did
and/or used. No laundry list
You need to communicate the information
about a new procedure, a method or a new
approach so that everyone reading it can not
only carry it out, but also understand and
accept your procedure.

31. Components – M&M (content)
• All aspects of the M&M used in the
study must be described
thoroughly enough.
• -- plant materials, culture
conditions, treatments,
experimental design,
measurement, statistical analysis,
etc.
Tense: past tense
Style: several paragraph (well
organized)

32. Components
• Results

33. Components – Results
• Objectively present your key
results without interpretation, in an
orderly and logical sequence using
both illustrative materials (Tables
and figures) and text.
• Write the text of the Results
section concisely and objectively.
• Organize the results section based
on the sequence of Table and
Figures you'll include.

34. Components – Results
Problems to avoid
• Do not reiterate each value from a
Figure or Table.
• Do not present the same data in
both a Table and Figure.
• Do not report raw data values
when they can be summarized as
means, percents, etc.
• Do not over-use the word
"significant“.

35. Components – Results
Reporting negative results
• If you did not get the anticipated
results, it may mean your hypothesis
was incorrect and needs to be
reformulated, or perhaps you have
stumbled onto something unexpected
that warrants further study. In either
case, your results may be of importance
to others even though they did not
support your hypothesis.

36. Components
• Discussion

37. Components – Discussion
• Interpret your results in light of
what was already known about the
subject of the investigation, and to
explain our new understanding of
the problem after taking your
results into consideration.
• Connect to the Introduction in
relating to the questions or
hypotheses you posed and the
literature you cited.

38. Components – Discussion
Fundamental questions to answer
• Do your results provide answers to
your testable hypotheses? If so, how?
• Do your findings agree with what others
have shown? If not, why?
• Given your conclusions, what is our
new understanding of the problem you
investigated and outlined in the
Introduction?
• What would be the next experiment?

39. Discussion
Fairly General Information
Specific Results

40. Abstract
Introduction
M&M
Results
Discussion
Conclusion
Title

41. Reference Citation
• Cite in the Body (mostly cited in
Introduction and Discussion);
• Last name and year of publication
are given;
• Report the relevant aspects of the
work clearly and succinctly, IN
YOUR OWN WORDS.

42. Before Submission
• Revise
• Check the format of the journal
• Comply with instructions

43. • Steps of preparing a
scientific paper.
• Components of scientific
paper and how to prepare.
• Additional writing tips.
(HortScience paper)
Outline

44. Additional writing tips
• Short sentences. Avoid using
compound sentences.
• Word use consistency. Avoid using
synonyms.
• Avoid unnecessary flowery
adverbial phrases. (very,
convincingly, etc.)

45. Additional writing tips
• Avoid personal pronouns. (I, my,
mine, we, our, etc.)
• We plowed the field. Change to ‘‘The
field was plowed.’’
• This was the last measurement of our
trial. Change to ‘‘This was the last
measurement of the trial.’’

46. Additional writing tips
• Spacing of words.
• Following punctuations (, . ; : ! ?)
there is always a space.
• There are always spaces before initial
parentheses.

47. Practice makes things
perfect!
熟能生巧
Happy writing!