Writing a Research Manuscript

1. Writing a Research Manuscript • GradWRITE! Presentation • Student Development Services • Writing Support Centre • University of Western Ontario

2. Outline • Anatomy of a Manuscript • The Academic Publishing Process

3. Manuscripts • Definition: A text that has not yet been published • Structure not much different from undergraduate papers • Your very best effort

4. Anatomy of a Typical Research Manuscript • Introduction • Methods • Results • Discussion

5. Introduction • Introduce your field of study • Narrow focus using specific and important references • Justify your research • Statement of purpose (hypothesis, predictions, purpose, objectives etc.) General Specific

6. Basic terminology of your field (e.g. chemical names, definitions, species names) Key papers that led to your study Brief mention of your study in your statement of purpose Exhaustive literature search Details of your study Include Don’t Include

7. Methods • A complete account of all the steps in your study • Presented in logical order • Includes collecting and analyzing data • Easy to write

8. All materials, quantities, brands of major equipment and study locations Citations of novel techniques Figures of complicated setups Equations and statistics Finicky details Results Include Don’t Include

9. Results • A summary of your findings • Presents details in the same order as the methods • Also, easy to write • Can be technical

10. Summary of your findings (i.e. averages, trends) Tables and Figures References to tables and figures Raw data The same information twice Too many figures Interpretation of your results Include Don’t Include

11. Discussion Specific • Address your hypothesis with reference to your results • Explain and put findings in context (references) • Comment on your finding’s significance and potential for future study General

12. Discussion • Interpret your results • Sometimes combined with results into one section • May repeat specific to general writing multiple times (e.g. for each objective or key finding)

13. Most papers from the introduction References to tables and figures Summary / Conclusion Detailed account of your results Any new ideas not set up in the introduction Include Don’t Include

14. The Academic Publishing Process • Once your paper is as good as it can be • Will take a very long time the first few times

15. Picking a Journal • Find “Calls For Papers” • Look at your reference list • Contact editors before submitting • Look at turnaround times • Aim high

16. Formatting • Every journal is different • Read instructions to authors • Look at published articles

17. Cover Letter • Short introduction to your article • Instructions to authors usually have guidelines • Less about the content; more about the context

18. Cover Letter • Type of paper submitted (article, note, review) • Name and contact information of all authors • Comment on the originality of the paper • Potential reviewers

19. Money Issues • Page charges vary • Range from $0 to $1000+ • Colour, figures, reprints etc. cost money • Talk to your supervisor

20. The Submission Process • Mostly online these days • Be prompt and be prepared to wait • Typical Procedure: • Submit the abstract • Submit a .pdf file of full manuscript • Sign consent forms

21. Revisions • It happens • They want to help you • Make changes and resubmit • If unconvinced, justify your stance

22. Rejection • It happens • Thank the editor for his/her time • Examine the comments to determine the reason • Wrong journal? • Flawed manuscript?

23. Acceptance • It happens • Submit high-quality files • Review proofs (galleys, reprints) • Update your CV and celebrate

24. The Numbers • No ‘magic’ number of publications • Talk to researchers in your field