This document provides guidance on how to read, present, and review research papers. It discusses strategies for effectively reading papers, such as starting with the abstract, introduction, conclusions, and references before skimming the full text. When presenting a research paper, the document recommends structuring the talk around the paper's contribution, technical background, main ideas, related work, and conclusions. It also provides tips for reviewing papers, such as focusing reviews on whether the work advances the field and is understandable. The goal of reviewing is both quality control and providing constructive feedback to improve future work. Overall, the document offers best practices for critically engaging with research papers at different stages.
This document provides advice on publishing research results, including how to read papers, structure good papers, write readable papers, and select appropriate conferences or journals. It recommends reading major conferences and survey papers to stay informed, but not reading everything. When reading a paper, the introduction, motivation, solution and conclusions are most important. A good paper structure includes clear sections and should be well-written for readability. Metrics like impact factor, citation counts, and journal rankings help identify suitable publication venues.
This document provides guidance on scientific writing and publishing research papers. It discusses:
1) The objectives of scientific writing are to clearly communicate new findings and conclusions so they can be published and add to the body of scientific knowledge. Clarity, reproducibility and addressing why, how and what was learned are essential.
2) Outlining is an important step for organizing a scientific paper. An outline should define the objectives, methods, results and conclusions to guide writing the paper.
3) The first draft focuses on getting ideas down without worrying about editing. Subsequent drafts refine the writing and ensure it clearly communicates the research question, approach, findings and implications for the field.
The document provides an overview of the paper reviewing process for conferences and journals. It discusses the purpose of reviewing from the perspective of editors and authors. It also outlines what makes a good reviewer and provides tips for writing useful reviews and getting accepted as a reviewer for publications. The key points covered are maintaining the credibility of the publication, protecting the presenter, objectively evaluating the work, and providing constructive feedback to improve the paper.
This document provides guidance on how to effectively read and understand a scientific article. It recommends skimming the article first to identify its structure, purpose, and key points. When reading, generate questions and draw inferences from prior knowledge. Take notes on important details like the hypothesis, methodology, results, and how the article relates to other works. Actively engaging with the text in this way facilitates better comprehension and recall of the scientific content.
This document provides tips for writing a thesis. It discusses starting the writing process early by choosing a title and outline. The outline should summarize the argument in one sentence for each chapter. Material should be collected in a binder as it is researched. Examiners will want to understand the thesis quickly, so the abstract, conclusions, and contents should clearly convey the purpose and findings. Getting feedback from others helps improve the thesis before examination. Regularly interacting with potential examiners also helps them understand and appreciate the research.
The document provides guidelines for writing decision memos. It explains that decision memos recommend a course of action on critical issues and must concisely convey complex information. The guidelines outline a 6-step process for writing decision memos: 1) analyze the audience and purpose, 2) generate ideas, 3) group information under headlines, 4) sequence ideas, 5) write a first draft, and 6) edit for clarity, conciseness, accuracy, visual design, and tone.
Planning and organisation of essays by Cristian ZarzaCristian Zarza
This document provides guidance on planning and organizing essays. It discusses developing a thesis statement, creating an outline, structuring paragraphs with a topic sentence and supporting details, and writing effective introductions and conclusions. Key steps include planning with mind maps or notecards, using various paragraph types to structure the essay body, and concluding with a summary or call to action that leaves the reader with something to consider.
This document provides advice on publishing research results, including how to read papers, structure good papers, write readable papers, and select appropriate conferences or journals. It recommends reading major conferences and survey papers to stay informed, but not reading everything. When reading a paper, the introduction, motivation, solution and conclusions are most important. A good paper structure includes clear sections and should be well-written for readability. Metrics like impact factor, citation counts, and journal rankings help identify suitable publication venues.
This document provides guidance on scientific writing and publishing research papers. It discusses:
1) The objectives of scientific writing are to clearly communicate new findings and conclusions so they can be published and add to the body of scientific knowledge. Clarity, reproducibility and addressing why, how and what was learned are essential.
2) Outlining is an important step for organizing a scientific paper. An outline should define the objectives, methods, results and conclusions to guide writing the paper.
3) The first draft focuses on getting ideas down without worrying about editing. Subsequent drafts refine the writing and ensure it clearly communicates the research question, approach, findings and implications for the field.
The document provides an overview of the paper reviewing process for conferences and journals. It discusses the purpose of reviewing from the perspective of editors and authors. It also outlines what makes a good reviewer and provides tips for writing useful reviews and getting accepted as a reviewer for publications. The key points covered are maintaining the credibility of the publication, protecting the presenter, objectively evaluating the work, and providing constructive feedback to improve the paper.
This document provides guidance on how to effectively read and understand a scientific article. It recommends skimming the article first to identify its structure, purpose, and key points. When reading, generate questions and draw inferences from prior knowledge. Take notes on important details like the hypothesis, methodology, results, and how the article relates to other works. Actively engaging with the text in this way facilitates better comprehension and recall of the scientific content.
This document provides tips for writing a thesis. It discusses starting the writing process early by choosing a title and outline. The outline should summarize the argument in one sentence for each chapter. Material should be collected in a binder as it is researched. Examiners will want to understand the thesis quickly, so the abstract, conclusions, and contents should clearly convey the purpose and findings. Getting feedback from others helps improve the thesis before examination. Regularly interacting with potential examiners also helps them understand and appreciate the research.
The document provides guidelines for writing decision memos. It explains that decision memos recommend a course of action on critical issues and must concisely convey complex information. The guidelines outline a 6-step process for writing decision memos: 1) analyze the audience and purpose, 2) generate ideas, 3) group information under headlines, 4) sequence ideas, 5) write a first draft, and 6) edit for clarity, conciseness, accuracy, visual design, and tone.
Planning and organisation of essays by Cristian ZarzaCristian Zarza
This document provides guidance on planning and organizing essays. It discusses developing a thesis statement, creating an outline, structuring paragraphs with a topic sentence and supporting details, and writing effective introductions and conclusions. Key steps include planning with mind maps or notecards, using various paragraph types to structure the essay body, and concluding with a summary or call to action that leaves the reader with something to consider.
Presented by the UT student chapter of the Institute of Transportation Engineers, this 3-hour workshop featured a presentation by D-STOP’s Dr. Stephen Boyles.
This document provides guidance on various aspects of academic essay writing such as planning, organizing, researching, and revising essays. It discusses developing a thesis statement, introducing and concluding paragraphs effectively, structuring paragraphs with topic sentences, reading sources critically, taking useful notes, and dealing with unfamiliar words. The document offers specific tips and strategies for each component to help students improve their academic writing skills.
This session will give researchers some tips on the first part of the paper including the introduction, literature review, research question & purpose of the study.
This document provides advice on various aspects of academic writing such as essay composition, organization, thesis statements, critical reading, note taking, documentation, revision, and use of articles. It discusses starting writing early through exploration, keeping the overall purpose in mind, and revising extensively. When transitioning from high school to university writing, it encourages critical thinking over formulas. The document also debunks myths about thesis statements and emphasizes flexibility in organization.
This document provides guidance on various aspects of academic essay writing such as planning and organizing, reading and researching, revising, and specific writing styles. It discusses developing a thesis statement and outlines for organizing essays. It offers tips for critical reading, taking notes, summarizing texts, and avoiding plagiarism when using sources. The document also covers writing introductions and conclusions, developing paragraphs, and revising for elements like punctuation, spelling, and language usage. Overall, the document aims to equip students with fundamental skills for successful academic writing.
This document provides information on scientific research papers and how to read them effectively. It discusses that research papers are an important part of the scientific community and involve building upon existing knowledge in a field. It also outlines the key sections of a research paper such as the introduction, methods, results and discussion. The document emphasizes that to critically read a research paper, one should understand the problem being studied and evaluated, understand the proposed methodology, and evaluate the assumptions, findings and conclusions presented. It stresses reading research papers actively and constructively in order to gain insights and identify areas for further study.
The document provides recommendations for making an effective thesis PowerPoint presentation, including focusing on what is being presented rather than how, not simply reading slides, and using slides to enhance the presentation rather than being the entire presentation. It also recommends choosing one or two fonts, using a minimum 22pt font size, not including too much text on slides, and using capital letters and italics for emphasis.
This document provides guidance on writing research reports and theses. It discusses what research is, the steps involved in conducting research like selecting a topic, literature review, data collection and analysis. It outlines the typical organization of a research report, including chapters for introduction, literature review, methodology, results, discussion and conclusions. The document provides tips for writing each section and emphasizes the importance of starting writing early. It also discusses formatting requirements, citation styles, and managing time during the research process.
Presentation by Professor Simon Haslett at the University of Wales, Newport, Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching (CELT) Writing Retreat Workshop at Gregynog Hall, Wales, on Wedmesday 11th May 2011. Simon Haslett is Professor of Physical Geography and Dean of the School of STEM at the University of Wales. He is also Visiting Professor of Pedagogic Research at the University of Wales, Newport.
This document provides information on scientific research papers and their structure and purpose. It discusses key parts of a research paper including the introduction, methods, results, and discussion sections. It emphasizes that the goal of a scientific paper is to advance knowledge in a field by presenting a research study and its findings in a clear, objective manner so that other experts can analyze and build upon the work. Overall, the document serves as a guide for writing and reading scientific research papers effectively.
This document provides information on scientific research papers and their structure and purpose. It discusses that research papers present an interpretation or evaluation of an argument based on what is known about a subject. When writing a research paper, authors build upon existing knowledge and survey relevant fields to find the best information. Research can be published in many areas, including science, arts, humanities, religion, and management. For scientific publications specifically, the work must be public, objective, predictive, reproducible, systematic, and cumulative. Key parts of a research paper include the introduction, methods, analysis, results, discussion, and conclusions. The document provides guidance on how to effectively read and evaluate a scientific research paper.
General guidelines for writing reaction papers (Read this docume.docxgilbertkpeters11344
This document provides guidelines for writing reaction papers in response to research articles. It outlines the key components that should be included in a reaction paper, such as summarizing an interesting fact from the introduction, discussing the study's strengths and limitations, implications of the findings, and ideas for future research. The document also provides formatting guidelines and notes that reaction papers should be 2-3 pages and critically analyze the article rather than just restating its contents. Students are advised to thoroughly think about the article and support their comments and arguments.
The document provides information about the thesis writing process. It defines a thesis as a research report that makes an original contribution to a field and seeks to describe previous work, the author's work, results, and opportunities for further progress. It recommends preparing an outline, developing a timeline with an advisor, carrying out research, and writing drafts. The writing process involves defining a schedule, creating sections, inserting prior work, writing the easiest sections first, and leaving time to revise with others.
This document provides advice and tips for research students on organizing and conducting computer science research. It recommends finding and reading related work, keeping a bibliography and journal, writing up results early, collaborating with others, preparing talks, establishing goals for projects, using tools, and documenting work. Key aspects include reading widely, writing summaries, meeting regularly with advisors, carefully considering criticism, and building prototypes to answer research questions.
The document provides guidance on writing an effective thesis statement. It explains that a thesis statement states the purpose and topic of writing and indicates the direction and strategy that will be taken. An effective thesis statement can be restated from the assignment, summarize the conclusions of research, or frame the topic as a question being answered. The thesis statement should be revised as understanding develops and it helps to organize ideas and identify areas needing more research or reading.
The document provides information on the writing process for research. It discusses 5 basic steps for structuring writing: prewriting, drafting, revising, editing, and publishing. Prewriting involves planning like brainstorming and outlining. Drafting is creating a rough draft without worrying about minor errors. Revising is revisiting the draft to modify and improve the content. Editing fixes grammar, spelling, and style errors. Publishing is the final step of sharing the written work. The document also discusses different types of academic writing and strategies for improving academic writing skills.
This document provides advice on academic writing. It covers general topics such as essay structure, thesis statements, introductions and conclusions. It also discusses planning and organization, including outlining and determining how much time to spend planning. Additionally, it addresses reading and research, such as critical reading, note taking, dealing with new words, and summarizing. The document also provides guidance on using sources, including quotations, paraphrasing and documentation formats. Finally, it covers revising, editing, common errors, and using word processing software to improve writing.
Report writing a presentation for dewas and gwaliorManish Rao
The document provides guidance on writing a report, outlining the typical stages and structure. It discusses framing the issue, gathering information, analyzing findings, and writing the report. The standard report format includes a cover page, title page, acknowledgements, contents page, abstract, introduction, methodology, results, analysis, conclusions, recommendations, and bibliography. Literature reviews should demonstrate relevant reading and help contextualize the research topic. Advice is given on structuring the report to effectively convey key information to readers.
How to write effective research project abstractEtieneIma123
A research project is much more than just a summary of a topic with credible or valid sources, but it is an extended article that presents a writer's understanding and assessment or argument. The purpose of writing this project is to analyze a perspective or argue a point, consequently exhibiting your knowledge, writing and vocabulary skills, and ability to do great research on a given project topic.
How to Make a Field Mandatory in Odoo 17Celine George
In Odoo, making a field required can be done through both Python code and XML views. When you set the required attribute to True in Python code, it makes the field required across all views where it's used. Conversely, when you set the required attribute in XML views, it makes the field required only in the context of that particular view.
Presented by the UT student chapter of the Institute of Transportation Engineers, this 3-hour workshop featured a presentation by D-STOP’s Dr. Stephen Boyles.
This document provides guidance on various aspects of academic essay writing such as planning, organizing, researching, and revising essays. It discusses developing a thesis statement, introducing and concluding paragraphs effectively, structuring paragraphs with topic sentences, reading sources critically, taking useful notes, and dealing with unfamiliar words. The document offers specific tips and strategies for each component to help students improve their academic writing skills.
This session will give researchers some tips on the first part of the paper including the introduction, literature review, research question & purpose of the study.
This document provides advice on various aspects of academic writing such as essay composition, organization, thesis statements, critical reading, note taking, documentation, revision, and use of articles. It discusses starting writing early through exploration, keeping the overall purpose in mind, and revising extensively. When transitioning from high school to university writing, it encourages critical thinking over formulas. The document also debunks myths about thesis statements and emphasizes flexibility in organization.
This document provides guidance on various aspects of academic essay writing such as planning and organizing, reading and researching, revising, and specific writing styles. It discusses developing a thesis statement and outlines for organizing essays. It offers tips for critical reading, taking notes, summarizing texts, and avoiding plagiarism when using sources. The document also covers writing introductions and conclusions, developing paragraphs, and revising for elements like punctuation, spelling, and language usage. Overall, the document aims to equip students with fundamental skills for successful academic writing.
This document provides information on scientific research papers and how to read them effectively. It discusses that research papers are an important part of the scientific community and involve building upon existing knowledge in a field. It also outlines the key sections of a research paper such as the introduction, methods, results and discussion. The document emphasizes that to critically read a research paper, one should understand the problem being studied and evaluated, understand the proposed methodology, and evaluate the assumptions, findings and conclusions presented. It stresses reading research papers actively and constructively in order to gain insights and identify areas for further study.
The document provides recommendations for making an effective thesis PowerPoint presentation, including focusing on what is being presented rather than how, not simply reading slides, and using slides to enhance the presentation rather than being the entire presentation. It also recommends choosing one or two fonts, using a minimum 22pt font size, not including too much text on slides, and using capital letters and italics for emphasis.
This document provides guidance on writing research reports and theses. It discusses what research is, the steps involved in conducting research like selecting a topic, literature review, data collection and analysis. It outlines the typical organization of a research report, including chapters for introduction, literature review, methodology, results, discussion and conclusions. The document provides tips for writing each section and emphasizes the importance of starting writing early. It also discusses formatting requirements, citation styles, and managing time during the research process.
Presentation by Professor Simon Haslett at the University of Wales, Newport, Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching (CELT) Writing Retreat Workshop at Gregynog Hall, Wales, on Wedmesday 11th May 2011. Simon Haslett is Professor of Physical Geography and Dean of the School of STEM at the University of Wales. He is also Visiting Professor of Pedagogic Research at the University of Wales, Newport.
This document provides information on scientific research papers and their structure and purpose. It discusses key parts of a research paper including the introduction, methods, results, and discussion sections. It emphasizes that the goal of a scientific paper is to advance knowledge in a field by presenting a research study and its findings in a clear, objective manner so that other experts can analyze and build upon the work. Overall, the document serves as a guide for writing and reading scientific research papers effectively.
This document provides information on scientific research papers and their structure and purpose. It discusses that research papers present an interpretation or evaluation of an argument based on what is known about a subject. When writing a research paper, authors build upon existing knowledge and survey relevant fields to find the best information. Research can be published in many areas, including science, arts, humanities, religion, and management. For scientific publications specifically, the work must be public, objective, predictive, reproducible, systematic, and cumulative. Key parts of a research paper include the introduction, methods, analysis, results, discussion, and conclusions. The document provides guidance on how to effectively read and evaluate a scientific research paper.
General guidelines for writing reaction papers (Read this docume.docxgilbertkpeters11344
This document provides guidelines for writing reaction papers in response to research articles. It outlines the key components that should be included in a reaction paper, such as summarizing an interesting fact from the introduction, discussing the study's strengths and limitations, implications of the findings, and ideas for future research. The document also provides formatting guidelines and notes that reaction papers should be 2-3 pages and critically analyze the article rather than just restating its contents. Students are advised to thoroughly think about the article and support their comments and arguments.
The document provides information about the thesis writing process. It defines a thesis as a research report that makes an original contribution to a field and seeks to describe previous work, the author's work, results, and opportunities for further progress. It recommends preparing an outline, developing a timeline with an advisor, carrying out research, and writing drafts. The writing process involves defining a schedule, creating sections, inserting prior work, writing the easiest sections first, and leaving time to revise with others.
This document provides advice and tips for research students on organizing and conducting computer science research. It recommends finding and reading related work, keeping a bibliography and journal, writing up results early, collaborating with others, preparing talks, establishing goals for projects, using tools, and documenting work. Key aspects include reading widely, writing summaries, meeting regularly with advisors, carefully considering criticism, and building prototypes to answer research questions.
The document provides guidance on writing an effective thesis statement. It explains that a thesis statement states the purpose and topic of writing and indicates the direction and strategy that will be taken. An effective thesis statement can be restated from the assignment, summarize the conclusions of research, or frame the topic as a question being answered. The thesis statement should be revised as understanding develops and it helps to organize ideas and identify areas needing more research or reading.
The document provides information on the writing process for research. It discusses 5 basic steps for structuring writing: prewriting, drafting, revising, editing, and publishing. Prewriting involves planning like brainstorming and outlining. Drafting is creating a rough draft without worrying about minor errors. Revising is revisiting the draft to modify and improve the content. Editing fixes grammar, spelling, and style errors. Publishing is the final step of sharing the written work. The document also discusses different types of academic writing and strategies for improving academic writing skills.
This document provides advice on academic writing. It covers general topics such as essay structure, thesis statements, introductions and conclusions. It also discusses planning and organization, including outlining and determining how much time to spend planning. Additionally, it addresses reading and research, such as critical reading, note taking, dealing with new words, and summarizing. The document also provides guidance on using sources, including quotations, paraphrasing and documentation formats. Finally, it covers revising, editing, common errors, and using word processing software to improve writing.
Report writing a presentation for dewas and gwaliorManish Rao
The document provides guidance on writing a report, outlining the typical stages and structure. It discusses framing the issue, gathering information, analyzing findings, and writing the report. The standard report format includes a cover page, title page, acknowledgements, contents page, abstract, introduction, methodology, results, analysis, conclusions, recommendations, and bibliography. Literature reviews should demonstrate relevant reading and help contextualize the research topic. Advice is given on structuring the report to effectively convey key information to readers.
How to write effective research project abstractEtieneIma123
A research project is much more than just a summary of a topic with credible or valid sources, but it is an extended article that presents a writer's understanding and assessment or argument. The purpose of writing this project is to analyze a perspective or argue a point, consequently exhibiting your knowledge, writing and vocabulary skills, and ability to do great research on a given project topic.
How to Make a Field Mandatory in Odoo 17Celine George
In Odoo, making a field required can be done through both Python code and XML views. When you set the required attribute to True in Python code, it makes the field required across all views where it's used. Conversely, when you set the required attribute in XML views, it makes the field required only in the context of that particular view.
Leveraging Generative AI to Drive Nonprofit InnovationTechSoup
In this webinar, participants learned how to utilize Generative AI to streamline operations and elevate member engagement. Amazon Web Service experts provided a customer specific use cases and dived into low/no-code tools that are quick and easy to deploy through Amazon Web Service (AWS.)
Beyond Degrees - Empowering the Workforce in the Context of Skills-First.pptxEduSkills OECD
Iván Bornacelly, Policy Analyst at the OECD Centre for Skills, OECD, presents at the webinar 'Tackling job market gaps with a skills-first approach' on 12 June 2024
Walmart Business+ and Spark Good for Nonprofits.pdfTechSoup
"Learn about all the ways Walmart supports nonprofit organizations.
You will hear from Liz Willett, the Head of Nonprofits, and hear about what Walmart is doing to help nonprofits, including Walmart Business and Spark Good. Walmart Business+ is a new offer for nonprofits that offers discounts and also streamlines nonprofits order and expense tracking, saving time and money.
The webinar may also give some examples on how nonprofits can best leverage Walmart Business+.
The event will cover the following::
Walmart Business + (https://business.walmart.com/plus) is a new shopping experience for nonprofits, schools, and local business customers that connects an exclusive online shopping experience to stores. Benefits include free delivery and shipping, a 'Spend Analytics” feature, special discounts, deals and tax-exempt shopping.
Special TechSoup offer for a free 180 days membership, and up to $150 in discounts on eligible orders.
Spark Good (walmart.com/sparkgood) is a charitable platform that enables nonprofits to receive donations directly from customers and associates.
Answers about how you can do more with Walmart!"
Strategies for Effective Upskilling is a presentation by Chinwendu Peace in a Your Skill Boost Masterclass organisation by the Excellence Foundation for South Sudan on 08th and 09th June 2024 from 1 PM to 3 PM on each day.
Reimagining Your Library Space: How to Increase the Vibes in Your Library No ...Diana Rendina
Librarians are leading the way in creating future-ready citizens – now we need to update our spaces to match. In this session, attendees will get inspiration for transforming their library spaces. You’ll learn how to survey students and patrons, create a focus group, and use design thinking to brainstorm ideas for your space. We’ll discuss budget friendly ways to change your space as well as how to find funding. No matter where you’re at, you’ll find ideas for reimagining your space in this session.
LAND USE LAND COVER AND NDVI OF MIRZAPUR DISTRICT, UPRAHUL
This Dissertation explores the particular circumstances of Mirzapur, a region located in the
core of India. Mirzapur, with its varied terrains and abundant biodiversity, offers an optimal
environment for investigating the changes in vegetation cover dynamics. Our study utilizes
advanced technologies such as GIS (Geographic Information Systems) and Remote sensing to
analyze the transformations that have taken place over the course of a decade.
The complex relationship between human activities and the environment has been the focus
of extensive research and worry. As the global community grapples with swift urbanization,
population expansion, and economic progress, the effects on natural ecosystems are becoming
more evident. A crucial element of this impact is the alteration of vegetation cover, which plays a
significant role in maintaining the ecological equilibrium of our planet.Land serves as the foundation for all human activities and provides the necessary materials for
these activities. As the most crucial natural resource, its utilization by humans results in different
'Land uses,' which are determined by both human activities and the physical characteristics of the
land.
The utilization of land is impacted by human needs and environmental factors. In countries
like India, rapid population growth and the emphasis on extensive resource exploitation can lead
to significant land degradation, adversely affecting the region's land cover.
Therefore, human intervention has significantly influenced land use patterns over many
centuries, evolving its structure over time and space. In the present era, these changes have
accelerated due to factors such as agriculture and urbanization. Information regarding land use and
cover is essential for various planning and management tasks related to the Earth's surface,
providing crucial environmental data for scientific, resource management, policy purposes, and
diverse human activities.
Accurate understanding of land use and cover is imperative for the development planning
of any area. Consequently, a wide range of professionals, including earth system scientists, land
and water managers, and urban planners, are interested in obtaining data on land use and cover
changes, conversion trends, and other related patterns. The spatial dimensions of land use and
cover support policymakers and scientists in making well-informed decisions, as alterations in
these patterns indicate shifts in economic and social conditions. Monitoring such changes with the
help of Advanced technologies like Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems is
crucial for coordinated efforts across different administrative levels. Advanced technologies like
Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems
9
Changes in vegetation cover refer to variations in the distribution, composition, and overall
structure of plant communities across different temporal and spatial scales. These changes can
occur natural.
1. How to [read, present, review] a research paper
Perdita Stevens
School of Informatics
University of Edinburgh
How to read a research paper
Begin at the beginning...
... but don’t go on to the end and then stop.
If in doubt about whether I need to read a paper, I typically do
something like:
1. read abstract carefully
2. read introduction quickly
3. read conclusions quickly
4. look at references
5. skim rest of paper
and then go back and start again if I do want to read it.
Can help to articulate explicitly what questions you’re trying to
answer in your reading.
Problems that can arise
The main symptom in all cases is that your eyes glaze over.
Consider whether you:
I don’t understand the area and how it fits in
- consider reading something else short first (Wikipedia
articles can be useful, for SE fields)
I don’t understand the contribution of the paper
- for an accepted paper, it must be spelled out somewhere,
but sometimes not very prominently. Can help to find the
statement, underline it and then read with that concretely in
mind.
I don’t understand the technicalities/mathematics
- do you really need to? If so, begin with whatever you do
understand and work on from there. Try proving the opposite
of what it says...
I ...?
2. How to present a research paper
Presentation basics
Make sure you know in advance about:
Audience: what can you assume they know?
Time: how long should you talk, and with or without leaving time
for questions?
Venue, equipment
Structure of a 20 minute talk
It isn’t very long... but you have to get across both the key ideas,
and enough of the substance to convince the audience it’s worth
reading the paper.
“Failsafe” structure:
1. Title slide, with your name.
2. Summary slide, with sections of your talk (4-6)
3. Intro: hook the audience on why they should listen. Ideally,
tell them what the contribution of the paper is, informally,
and then go on to any technical background you need. Don’t
spend too long on this!
4. Main part: what does this paper do? Which bits are most
important? Which are non-obvious?
(It’s OK to refer to things as being in the paper, and not give
details in the talk, but someone who hasn’t read the paper
must get the jist.)
5. Related work slide: with refs
6. Conclusion: recap the contribution
7. Future work
The RTSE presentation, specifically
Aim for 20 minutes, not counting time for questions. Go over
rather than under: I won’t cut you off before 30 mins.
In some cases, the author’s own slides for the original conference
presentation are on the web. You may choose to use these: but
I it’s much easier to talk about slides you wrote;
I writing your own can be a good way to organise your
thoughts;
I it’s irritating if the speaker has to say “I’m not sure what this
bit means”!
I the author’s slides were probably aimed at a more specialised
audience, so they probably omit background that we’ll need.
On the other hand, if the author’s slides are good then using them
might help you see how a good presentation is put together – so
it’s up to you.
3. How to review a research paper
Why is this in the course?
Obvious purpose: because if you stay in academia you will,
eventually, have to write reviews. The health of the discipline
depends on you learning to do it well, but it’s rarely explicitly
addressed.
More importantly here, though:
1. because reviewing a paper is one way to ensure you’ve really
read it – trying to write about a paper, in whatever way, often
reveals what one hasn’t understood;
2. because understanding how the reviewing process works should
help you to do better research and research writing. We hope.
What is reviewing?
Two purposes:
1. Quality control: publish or not?
2. Constructive criticism: how to improve?
Aim: be as efficient as possible with the first, to leave most time
for the second.
Two broad kinds:
1. for competitive conferences/workshops
2. for journals.
Lots in common, but some differences.
Who reviews?
Mostly established academics – it’s an eternal duty...
Typically, a second-year PhD student may co-review with
supervisor; a final-year PhD student might write review
independently if in own area.
The less experience you have, and the less knowledge of the field,
the longer you will need to spend on a review.
Journals and conferences each have levels of responsibility. Let’s
look at them briefly.
4. Journal reviewing structure
A typical journal has:
I one or two Editors-in-Chief, who appoint the editorial board,
usually allocate papers submitted to editors, and take ultimate
responsibility for standards;
I an Editorial Board of established academics, who take
responsibility for some papers each year, choose reviewers,
collate reviews and make recommendations to EiCs;
I many people who review papers as and when asked.
Conference reviewing structure
A typical conference has:
I one or two Programme Committee Chairs, who appoint the
programme committee, allocate papers submitted to PC
members, and take ultimate responsibility for standards;
I a Programme Committee of established academics, who
review the papers they’re allocated, with or without the help
of subreviewers, and take part in discussion of which papers
should be accepted;
I many people who review papers.
Main difference from journal: because number of slots is limited,
papers are in direct competition with one another, so PC
discussion very important.
Progress of a conference paper
Conference issues Call for Papers, including scope description and
page limit
Authors writes papers
Papers submitted to conference by deadline
Programme committee chair selects (usually 3) reviewers
PC members and/or reviewers read paper and write reviews
(independently)
PC members discuss, maybe vote
Acceptance decisions made
Reviews sent (anonymised) to authors
[Occasionally, there is an “author response” phase here]
Successful authors submit revised papers
How a journal paper differs
Papers not usually page limited: include details
Reviews are longer, take longer to do, more thorough.
Generally decide on papers independently, not in competition...
question is “does this paper need to be in the literature?” rather
than “is this one of the 22 most interesting submissions?”
Where conferences just decide accept/reject, journals decide
accept/minor revisions/major revisions/reject: that is, if the paper
is considered promising but flawed, authors may get the chance to
revise.
Common, but in SE not universal, for conference paper to be
followed up by a “journal version”.
5. Should the paper be published?
Key questions:
will anybody read it?
will anybody else be spared the trouble of writing it?
Subquestions
- is the area alive/valuable/interesting/within scope?
- does the paper address a valid problem within the area?
- does it make a significant contribution?
- has it been done before?
- will readers be able to understand the paper as written?
The constructive criticism side
If the paper will be rejected, how can the authors write a better
paper next time?
If it will be accepted, how can they help readers to understand it
more easily?
Are there related areas/questions that the authors might want to
address? Is there related work they don’t know about?
Overall: how to write
Be concise, but specific.
If the paper is bad, say why, as specifically as possible, and try to
phrase positively (The paper would have been better if...). If it’s
been done before, give the reference. If a statement is false, give a
counterexample.
Be polite, but not bland.
Remember the authors are human and getting a bad review is a
horrible experience: but also that you’re part of the quality control
mechanism and the PC chair/journal editor needs to be able to tell
what you really think, easily.
6. Sections of a review
Journals often ask for completely free-text reviews.
Conferences usually use standard templates, fitting with conference
management software.
The one I ask you to use for RTSE is on the web page, based on
CyberChair.
Classification: overall verdict
A: I will champion this paper at the PC meeting
(advocate/accept).
B: I can accept this paper, but I will not champion it
(accept, but could reject).
C: This paper should be rejected, though I will not
fight strongly against it (reject, but could accept).
D: Serious problems. I will argue to reject this paper
(detractor).
(Fill in after the keyword: A, B, C or D)
CLASSIFICATION:
(For RTSE, it would be surprising if you used D, and mildly
surprising if you used C, as the papers have been published and I
tried to chose good ones!)
Expertise
2 - What is your overall expertise concerning the
subject areas of this paper?
X: I am an expert;
Y: I am knowledgable in the area, though not an expert;
Z: I am not an expert. My evaluation is that of an
informed outsider.
(Fill in after the keyword: X, Y or Z)
REVIEWER-EXPERTISE:
“Expert” means “have published papers in the same area”, roughly.
For RTSE: you are probably Z, but say if you think Y!
Paper type
3 - Is the paper a research contribution or an experience
paper?
1: Research
2: Experience
3: Both research and experience
(Fill in after the keyword: 1, 2 or 3)
PAPER-TYPE:
RTSE: I think all the papers we’re considering are Research papers.
7. Summary
For real: The briefer the better: shorter than the abstract.
Bring out the most important contribution(s).
For RTSE, only: do that, and then, still in this section, write about
400-500 words summarising the work reported in the paper in your
own words. (Last year some people had trouble understanding their paper,
which then made the rest of their review hard to interpret and mark: asking
you to do this should (a) help you to be sure you’ve understood, and (b) if you
haven’t, it should help me to see where the problem was!)
Committee comments
Usually left blank.
Can use it for comments that would reveal your identity.
Can use it for comments about how you read, e.g. “I only
skimmed Section 3 but can go back to it if it’s controversial”.
Sometimes used to be blunter than you would to the author, e.g.
“nothing exactly wrong with it but who cares?” but probably
better practice not to.
Author comments 1
This is the main body of the review.
1. General comments: typically two or three paragraphs
(sometimes more), explaining what you think is good and bad
about the paper. This part should make it clear to the author why
you are recommending acceptance/rejection. E.g.
I found your paper clear, practical and ingenious: I could imagine
using your work when [...]. Especially, I was impressed by your
finding that [...] which is surprising given that [...]. However, your
claim that [...] is weak, given that you do not support the claim.
How do you know it isn’t the case that [...]? It is also crucial that
you compare your approach with [...] because [...] ...
This part should make sense to your fellow PC members and to the
authors.
Author comments 2
2. Detailed comments: e.g.
p4 first full bullet point: not understandable. What kind of
scenario do you have in mind, where this question might be asked?
It’s OK if these don’t make sense without consulting the paper
Some will be typos, some will be contentful remarks that are
specific to a particular place in the paper. Some reviewers separate
the two; I generally mix them.
8. Commenting on minor issues
i.e. typos/English errors/minor mistakes – should you given an
exhaustive list, or just examples?
Depends:
I how many there are - if zillions, don’t list them all;
I what your recommendation is - if the paper will be accepted,
it’s more worthwhile to suggest improvements than if it’ll be
rejected anyway;
I what you think the origin of the errors is. E.g., if I know one
of the authors is a native speaker of English, or if they are in
an English-speaking country, but the paper’s English is poor, I
won’t bother correcting English, I’ll just say “needs
proofreading by a native English speaker”. If I think the
authors may have difficulty getting help with the English, I’m
more likely to spend the time trying to help.
Points in favour and against
Pithy. E.g.
For: a paper in a neglected area
Against: far too vague: this paper would not be useful to anyone,
academic or practitioner.
Ethics, for reviewers
Maintain confidentiality of the paper.
Be fair.
Don’t steal ideas!
Decline to review if you have a conflict of interests, e.g., if an
author is a current or recent colleague, supervisor, student,
coauthor or close personal friend: if in doubt, consult the PC
member/PC chair/journal editor. This can be a difficult area, and
different fields/people have different standards.
How thorough?
There is a school of thought that a referee is responsible for
finding every error in the paper (Donald Knuth)!
(Corresponding to this view is the suggestion that, even if
reviewers remain anonymous during the refereeing process, the
names of those who ultimately recommend acceptance should
appear with the paper, so that they declare that they share
responsibility for the results.)
In SE, this is not how the refereeing task is regarded. Ideally
reviews do go into detail and do find all errors, but this is the
exception.
9. Anonymity: of reviewers
Typically in SE reviews are anonymous, i.e., authors are not told
who the reviewers are.
Pro: it allows free criticism, especially by junior reviewers of
influential authors.
Con: lack of accountability (especially for accept decisions!)
However, where the author and reviewer know one another, the
author can often guess who the reviewer was.
Don’t write anything you couldn’t bear to see with your name
attached
Anonymity: of authors
A few venues keep authors anonymous: they ask for submissions
without author names on, and (to some extent) they ask authors
to write the paper in a way which avoids them being identified.
E.g., to write “in [paper] X and Y showed” rather than “in our
earlier work [paper] we showed”.
Pro: avoids “argument by authority”
Con: in practice, if you know the field you can often tell who wrote
the paper anyway, so is it worthwhile?
RTSE review evaluation
Each of you will write a review of the paper you present: due in at
the beginning of your presentation.
I will be looking for:
1. Evidence that you have read and understood the paper.
2. Evidence that you have understood how the paper fits into its
field: for top marks, you should have read around the subject,
not just read the paper itself.
3. Sensible identification of strengths, weaknesses, areas that
could [have] be[en] improved, suggestions for future work.
4. Comprehensible review with professional tone.