What you should know before preparing a manuscript

A. M. Abd El-Aty, PhDManaging and Associate EditorJournal of Advanced Research

“There is no way to get experience except through

experience”

Scientific Written Communication

• Reports• Theses or dissertations• Journal articles• Slide presentations• Posters• Books and book chapters• Technical manuals/users guides• Research or grant proposals

Why Write and Publish Research Papers?

Ideally – to share research findings and discoveries

with the hope of improving the science

Practically – to get fundingto get promotedto get a jobto keep your job!

Where to Publish?

• Spend time to select the right journal! • Seek advice from an experienced person in your field. • Check current contents for journals matching the paper topic. • Read articles from recent issues of potential journals. • Examine the "References" section of your paper for common

journals. • Final decision will depend on:

– (i) prestige (always go for the best topic based journals). – (ii) time to publish (as indicated on first page of every paper). – (iii) past performance (avoid journals that consistently reject

papers).

Final Choice of a Journal

• Be realistic!• Do not publish only in 1 journal• Page charges• Charges for color images• Reduced fees for membership

Criteria for Acceptance

• Clarity of objectiveness

• Originality

• Novelty

• Appropriate experimental design and methods

• Appropriate statistical analysis

• The importance of topic to the journal

Major Reasons for Rejection

Confirmatory (not novel) Poor experimental design

- Poor controls

- Hypothesis not adequately tested Inappropriate for journal Poorly written Wrong journal

What to Publish?

• Full-length contributed articles are around 5000 words. They usually are made of a series of experiments that form a coherent story.

• Short notes are around 2000 words. They usually are made of one or two experiments that are stand alone pieces of work.

• General rule: its better to publish one solid contributed paper than it is to split the same work into two or three short notes!

• Articles in edited books are usually less prestigious than journal articles.

• First publish your data in a journal then consider publishing in a book. But do publish a review article

Points of Considerations

• Before submitting a paper, therefore, be sure that you have something important and publishable to say. To know this, you should discuss your results with others working in the field, both in your own institution and elsewhere

• The best way to do this is to present your results at scientific meetings — if you can get to them

• Use short sentences

Cont’d

• Follow Instructions for Authors• Ensure correct format (line and page numbers, line

spacing)• Check grammar, spelling and punctuation– Use a spellchecker, but be aware that they don't catch all

mistakes• Be familiar with online submission• A scientific paper is not literature. If the ingredients

are properly organized, the paper will almost write itself

Ethics of Scientific Writing

• Avoid the dual publication

• Don’t use the work of others without appropriate attribution

• List co-authors who contributed substantially to the work

“Scientists are rated by what they finish,

not by what they attempt”

Best luck in your publications !

Any questions?

IMRAD Format

 Experimental process Section of Paper What did I do in a nutshell? 

Abstract

What is the problem? Introduction

How did I solve the problem?

Materials and Methods

What did I find out? Results

What does it mean? Discussion

Who helped me out? Acknowledgments (optional)

Whose work did I refer to?

Literature Cited

Extra Information Appendices (optional)

‘Anatomy’ of a Scientific Paper

• Title (the really important stuff)– The title is the only part of your paper most people will

read (only a few read the paper) - make it clear, concise (self-contained) and informative

– Actual findings should be described with claims that can be supported

– It should be catchy / memorable– The title is a label, not a sentence – Put important words near the beginning – Check format regarding capitalization – May need to provide ‘running title’ – Most common error is poor syntax (difficult to read)

Authorship

• An author of a paper should be defined as one who takes intellectual responsibility for the research results being reported

• Familiar with content, able to defend

• Give credit where it is due. It does not cost anything, and it creates friends. Science is more of a social activity than you might think

Order of Authors

• First author has primary responsibility• Second author also important• Last author is often senior scientist• However, sometimes only the first name or

the first few names are listed

Title Page

• Follow Instructions to Authors• Complete affiliations and addresses• Degrees and qualifications?• Present address (if have moved)

Corresponding Author

• Important role• Clearly indicate on title page• Phone, fax and e-mail• ‘Permanent’ e-mail address• Nonstandard abbreviations• keywords

Abstract (the really important stuff)

• First (perhaps only) access to paper• Should contain all elements of a paper• Brief introduction (include objectives)• Combine Mat. & Methods and Results?• Means and P values (no statistical

methods)

Abstract (continued)

• Brief discussion, primary conclusion(s) and strong final sentence

• Usually 1 paragraph• ‘Stand alone’ from remainder of paper• Descriptive (high-impact) words• Determine and respect word limits (often

250 words, risk being ‘cut’)• As a summary of work done, it is written in past

tense

Common Errors (Abstract)

• Does not ‘stand alone’• No or inadequate means and P values• Too general (lacks specific information)• Excessive materials and methods• Too long

Introduction

• Describe problem (usually present tense)• Brief review of knowledge• Explain how your study will challenge,

expand or improve existing knowledge• Objectives/hypotheses at the end (be as

specific as possible)

Common Errors (Introduction)

• Excessive detail/length (like a thesis)• Lacks focus• Excessive number of references cited• Objectives absent, inappropriate, or

inconsistent (with other sections of paper)• Including a brief summary of results (at the

end of the Introduction)

Materials and Methods

• Allow replication by a competent researcher• Describe all equipment, materials, software, etc., and

indicate source (city, state, country)• Reference common procedures (explain

modifications)• Use subheadings as needed for clarity• Ask a colleague if he/she can follow the methodology• Since your procedures have been completed, report

them using past tense

Experimental Animals, Plants, Microorganisms

• List genus, species, strain/breed (do not need genus or species for domestic livestock)

• Journal may require statement regarding animal care, reference to animal care guide, or indication that the study was approved by Institutional Animal Care Committee

Definitions and Experimental Design

• Define terms used• Keep the experimental design simple• Importance of controls (nature and number)• Remember that the goal is to publish!

Results

• Consistent with Materials and Methods (mirror image)

• Clear, comprehensive, easy to interpret • Should be short and sweet, with no excess

verbiage• Seek to combine data (on basis of non-

significant differences)• Findings described in past tense

Tables

• For data unsuitable for text• Put common elements vertically (columns)• Eliminate repetition• Must be easy to interpret• Explore and revise; may need > 1 version

Figures and Graphs

• Y=dependent, X=independent• Simple labels, consistent axes• Insert a ‘break’ in axis if needed• P-values on graph or in legend• Indicate significant differences

Legends

• Sufficient for table/figure to ‘stand-alone’ but not long and tedious

• Explain all abbreviations• Exclude citing statistical methods• May include P-values for main effects and

interactions

Discussion

• Heart of paper and the hardest section to write• Primary purpose is to explain relationships among

observed facts, NOT restate results• Refer to own data first, discuss with reference to

the relevant literature• Consider similarities, differences, advantages,

disadvantages• May suggest future studies

Tense

• Present study is described in past tense• Well-accepted literature in present tense• Recent literature (not well accepted) may be

in past tense• Conclusion in present tense? (may be a

cultural difference)

Conclusion

• Final paragraph of discussion• Summarize major findings• Avoid citing references and new speculation• Strong concluding sentence

“Thank you” Acknowledgments

– Technical assistance– Advice on research or manuscript– Gifts of materials– Assistance in preparing manuscript– Financial assistance

Revising the Paper

• Check the time limit given for re-submission • Wait at least a few days before revising the

paper • Write a cover letter to the editor addressing

ALL reviewers' comments • Don't attack the reviewer • Address criticisms and refuse them if you

think you are right • Be polite and indicate that you are doing

everything possible and more

Language Revisions

• Enlist assistance of a colleague• Commercial assistance available

Re-submitting the Paper

• Follow instructions from Editor

• Proof-read carefully

• Indicate current date on cover page

Proofs

• Galley proofs will arrive shortly before publishing paper

• Cross-check with original version carefully

• Respond within 24 hours of receiving proofs

• Indicate precise changes in a cover letter

Reject

• MAY be able to appeal to editor, especially if you feel that they have a fundamental misinterpretation of the paper

• Generally simply have to accept the decision• Once the paper is formally rejected, you are

free to submit it to another journal

Dealing with Rejection

• A typical paper of average quality submitted to a ranking journal has less than 33% chance of getting a good report from a reviewer

• Everyone must deal with having a paper rejected

• Wait before revising paper in line with reviewers comments

• Sometimes it may be appropriate to challenge the reviewer's decision

• Don't be discouraged!

• Re-submit to another journal within a month of rejection