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WRITING A SCIENTIFIC PAPERDr. Engr. Md. Humaun Kabir

Principal, NITTRAD.

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COMPONENTS OF A PAPER

Title

Abstract

Introduction

Materials and Methods (Experiment)

Results & Discussion

Conclusion

References & Acknowledgments

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HOW TO MAKE A PLAN

Title

Literature Survey

Materials and

Methods

Results & Discussion

Conclusion

Abstract

Introduction

References

Acknowledgments

Certainly NOT write in the order the sections appear. Perhaps in this

order:

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RESULTS

A paper is centered around the Results

First get them organized. What to include?

Any photographs?

How will i present them - figures and/or

tables?

Do i need to combine results with discussion?

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RESULTS

Can some Results be presented as

Supplementary Material?

Tables - Exact, Objective, Check accuracy

Graphs - Some Guesswork?

Photograph - Representative? Subjective

Supplementary Material

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FIGURES

Make sure each one is important

Do not duplicate data in figures and tables.

Which shows the data more clearly?

Often a figure is better in the main than

with tables in supplementary Material

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DISCUSSION

If possible separate from the Results

But sometimes results must be discussed in

order to logically point to the next stage in the

experiment

In this case combine Results and Discussion

Compare your results with those of others.

References are really important here.

Be careful to show where your work has

advanced the subject

Try to lead naturally to the Conclusion

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CONCLUSION

This is NOT the same as a summary like the

Abstract. A reader who has the paper will

certainly have the Abstract

If it is a summary -give it that heading and

make it more than the Abstract

NEVER make conclusions that cannot be

justified or are not mentioned in the main text

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MATERIALS AND METHODS (EXPERIMENT)

This section has two purposes:

To convince readers that the work has been

done systematically and thoroughly using

appropriate equipment

To allow readers to repeat the experiments if

they wish e.g. check (doubtful) results, prepare

the same materials etc.

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MATERIALS AND METHODS (EXPERIMENT)

This section contain ALL information

needed for another person to repeat the

experiment:

Sample preparation: Time, temperatures etc.

Sources of materials: Purity, particle size,

synthesis of intermediates

Analytical & measurement techniques

Parameters: Strain rates, wavelengths, applied

voltages etc.

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MATERIALS AND METHODS (EXPERIMENT)

Are instrument details important? (They should

usually be irrelevant). Does somebody need the

same instrument to repeat the research?

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INTRODUCTION

Most Introductions are unnecessarily long

A reference is something you may wish to

refer to for further information. When did you

last consult a reference?

If you have done so, it is most unlikely to be

one of the first ten references! You know those

already.

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PURPOSE OF INTRODUCTION

A brief, or complete, history of the subject?

What does the reader need to know?

What will the reader already know?

BUT

Some reviewers are upset if their papers are

not referenced

The Citation Index!!

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TITLES

Be straightforward and precise:

“Improved mechanical properties”

■ Which ones? Strength? Stiffness?

■ For what applications?

■ Better for one application may be the

opposite for another,

"Activated carbons produced at low temperature"

■ 80 K is low! 500°C is hot.

"CNT solution in organic acids"

■ All? Which did you investigate? Formic

and acetic.

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TITLES

Never use a colon (or hyphen) unless the paper is part of a multi-part series. "Chemistry and kinetics of chemical vapor deposition of pyrocarbon:

i. Carbon deposition from methane .

"Chemistry and kinetics of chemical vapor deposition of pyrocarbon:

ii. Carbon deposition from propylene

"The structure of CVD carbon: the effect of deposition temperature"

should be:

"The effect of deposition temperature on the structure of CVD carbon"

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ABSTRACT

"In this paper we report new results on the successful preparation of…………."

1. We know it is not a different paper, but this one.

2. We know it is "you".

3. We know the results are new - we would not publish if they were old.

4. We assume the experiment was successful - you do not usually report failures!

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ABSTRACT

Simply tell the reader two things:

1. What was done.

2. Important results obtained.

Do not:

1. Provide history or narrative.

2. Speculate - possible uses, etc.

3. Include data that is not in the manuscript.

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THE SUBMISSION PROCESS

Read the "Guide for Authors". PLEASE!

Section headings. Reference format. Length

restrictions for Letters.

You MUST submit using the website.

If a revision, include responses to reviewers.

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RESUBMISSION

If the Editor-in-Chief has told you to resubmit

- true for most papers from China.

Make sure you do as requested and carefully

follow each point in the "Resubmit" letter.

If you do not agree with some suggestions,

please include a cover letter to explain why this is

so.

Be sensible! If I correct something in the

Abstract, ask yourself whether it needs to be

corrected elsewhere?

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ABBREVIATIONS

1. To define an abbreviation, first write the term in full followed by the abbreviation in parentheses. "X-ray diffraction (XRD) examination showed that the samples were not crystalline…….." Do not do the reverse.

2. Never define an abbreviation in the manuscript title.

3. Never use abbreviations in the Abstract without defining them, and only define them if they are used later in the Abstract.

4. Define an abbreviation the first time it is used in the text, even though it may also have been defined in the Abstract.

5. Only define an abbreviation if you are going to use it later.

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SOME ENGLISH PROBLEMS

We do not usually use plural nouns as adjectives - "carbon fiber composites" not "carbon fibers composites".

Do not use hyphens unless necessary to clarify meaning. "Chinese food seller"! "Chinese-food seller" - a person who sells Chinese food "Chinese food-seller" - a Chinese person who sells food "Boron-containing carbon" means carbon which contains boron, whereas "Boron containing carbon" means boron which contains carbon!

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SOME ENGLISH PROBLEMS- ARTICLES

"of" is usually preceded and followed by "the" ...the dimensions of the sample were measured...the speed of the car BUT .the speed of light

Some nationalities tend to use "the" where not necessary and omit "a" where it is necessary "The FTIR is one of the typical methods used to characterise the chemically modified nanotubes."

FTIR is a typical method used to characterise chemically…..

"We obtained black solid after the reduction of the...."

We obtained a black solid after reduction of the……

Of course the meaning is clear in both cases

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RESPECTIVELY

"In order to make sure of the necessity of the

hydrogen involvement, experiments were carried

out in helium and hydrogen atmospheres

respectively." WRONG.

"In order to make sure of the necessity of the

hydrogen involvement, experiments were carried

out in helium and hydrogen atmospheres at 230°C

and 450°C respectively." Would be CORRECT.

i.e. He at 230°C and H at 450°C

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RESPECTIVELY

The word is used to link items in two or more

lists in the order in which they appear in those

lists.

To say that "samples were heat treated at

450°C and 700°C respectively" is incorrect

unless there is a list of two samples.

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LATIN PHRASES

In situ - means in the place. All things happen

in a place! Use it ONLY to indicate that

something is taking place where it will later be

used.

Via - "by" is usually enough & simpler

e.g. (for example) and i.e. (that is, or that is

to say)

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CONCLUSION

Read the Guide for Authors

Take time! Organize

Be honest

Remember to make Title, Abstract & Paper

independently understandable

Pay careful attention to the comments of the

Editor and the Reviewers. Do not waste their

time!

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THANK YOU