This document discusses important aspects of scientific writing such as titles, abstracts, and keywords. It explains that titles should summarize the main idea and attract readers. Abstracts are important summaries that influence editors and readers. They should describe the purpose, design, findings, and conclusions of the study. Keywords ensure papers are discoverable in databases and search engines. They must be chosen carefully from common vocabularies to accurately represent the paper's subject.

1. SCIENTIFIC WRITNG:
Title, Abstract & Keywords
Balamurugan Tangiisuran, PhD
Pusat Racun Negara
Universiti Sains Malaysia
bala@usm.my
@DrTangiisuran

2. CONTENT
◎ Importance of an effective title
◎ Characteristics of effective titles
◎ Importance of a good abstract
◎ Types of abstract
◎ Abstract writing style
◎ Importance of the keywords
◎ Choosing the right keywords

3. THE
TITLE

4. Importance of an Effective title in
scientific writing
o Summarizes the main idea
o First part of a manuscript that the editors
and reviewers read (usually)
o After publication  First or ONLY part of
an article that readers see
Bavdekar SB.Formulating the Right Title for a ResearchArticle. Journalof
The Association ofPhysicians ofIndia.February 2016;64:53-56.

5. Characteristics of Effective titles in
academic research papers
o Indicate the subject and scope of the study
o Avoid abbreviations
o Use words that create a positive impression
and stimulate reader interest
o Use current nomenclature from the field of
study
o Identify key variables, both dependent and
independent
• Sandeep B Bavdekar. Formulating the Right Title for a Research Article. Journal of The Association of Physicians of India.
February 2016;64:53-56.
• Sacred Heart University Library. Organizing Academic Research Papers: Choosing a Title. Retrieved 29 March 2019 from
https://library.sacredheart.edu/c.php?g=29803&p=185911

6. Characteristics of Effective titles in
academic research papers
o Avoid unnecessary words  10-15 words
e.g., "A Study to Investigate the....“
o Too short title  too general
e.g., “Human Gene“
o Suggest a relationship between variables
which supports the major hypothesis
• Jay N Shah. Writing good effective title for journal article. Journal of Patan Academy of
Health Sciences. 2014Dec;1(2):1-3.
• PehWCG, Ng KH. Title and Title Page. Singapore MedJ2008;49:607-8.

7. Characteristics of Effective titles in
academic research papers
o Appropriate descriptive words
o Avoid: Effects of drug A on schizophrenia
patients: study of a multicenter mixed
group
o Better: Psychosocial effects of drug A on
schizophrenia patients: a multicenter
randomized controlled trial
• Jay N Shah. Writing good effective title for journal article. Journal of Patan Academy of
Health Sciences. 2014Dec;1(2):1-3.
• PehWCG, Ng KH. Title and Title Page. Singapore MedJ2008;49:607-8.

8. ABSTRACT

9. Importance of a Good Abstract
o Title and abstract  freely available
online
o Always structured to Journal style
o Make it tell the whole story
o Influences editors, reviewers, readers
o Justice to your work

10. Characteristics
o An abstract summarizes, usually in one paragraph of
300 words or less, the major aspects of the entire paper
in a prescribed sequence that includes:
1. The overall purpose of the study and the research
problem(s) you investigated
2. The basic design of the study
3. Major findings or trends found as a result of your
analysis
4. A brief summary of your interpretations and
conclusions
• Sacred Heart University Library. Organizing Academic Research Papers: Abstract. Retrieved 29 March
2019 from https://library.sacredheart.edu/c.php?g=29803&p=185914.
• US National Library of Medicine. Structured Abstracts. Retrieved 29 March 2019 from:
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/bsd/policy/structured_abstracts.html.

14. Abstract Writing Style
o Use the active voice when possible, but
note that much of your abstract may
require passive sentence constructions
o Concise but complete sentences
o Past tense  research has been
completed
Moss F. Titles, abstracts, and authors.In: Hall GM (ed.) How to Write a Paper 3rd
edition, New Delhi, Byword VivaPublishers PrivateLimited, pp42-50.

16. Abstract Writing Style
o Active voice is when the subject of the sentence is
doing the action
o Example: Dr. Smith (subject)advised (action) the
patient (object) to follow up with a specialist.
o Passive voice is when the subject of the sentence is
being acted upon.
o Example: The patient (subject)was advised (action) by
Dr. Smith to follow up with a specialist.

17. KEYWORDS

18. Importance of the keywords
o Keywords (“subject terms”)
o Ensure that the paper is indexed well by
databases and search engines, and thus
improve the discoverability of the
research
o Selection must be done carefully
SAGE Publications. Help Readers Find Your Article. Retrived 29 March 2019 from:
http://www.uk.sagepub.com/journalgateway/findArticle.htm.

19. Choosing the right keywords
o Refer to a common vocabulary/term list
or indexing standard [e.g., Medical
Subject heading (MeSH)]
o Type your keywords into a search engine
and check if the results that show up
match the subject of your paper

20. Dr. BalamuruganTangiisuran
@DrTangiisuran
Dr. Balamurugan Tangiisuran | PUSAT RACUN NEGARA
b.tangiisuran@gmail.com
@DrTangiisuran