HOW to Writing a scientific paper

1. WRITING A SCIENTIFIC PAPER Dr. Engr. Md. Humaun Kabir Principal, NITTRAD. 1

2. COMPONENTS OF A PAPER  Title  Abstract  Introduction  Materials and Methods (Experiment)  Results & Discussion  Conclusion 2  References & Acknowledgments

3. HOW TO MAKE A PLAN  Title  Literature Survey  Materials and Methods  Results & Discussion Certainly NOT write in the order the sections appear. Perhaps in this order:  Conclusion  Abstract  Introduction 3  References  Acknowledgments

4. 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? 4

5. RESULTS  Can some Results be presented as Supplementary Material?  Tables - Exact, Objective, Check accuracy  Graphs - Some Guesswork?  Photograph - Representative? Subjective 5  Supplementary Material

6. 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 6

7. 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  7 Try to lead naturally to the Conclusion 

8. 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 8

9. 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 9 materials etc.

10. 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 10 voltages etc.

11. MATERIALS AND METHODS (EXPERIMENT)  Are instrument details important? (They should usually be irrelevant). Does somebody need the same instrument to repeat the research? 11

12. 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. 12

13. 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 13  The Citation Index!!

14. 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. 14  "CNT solution in organic acids" ■ All? Which did you investigate? Formic and acetic.

15. 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" 15

16. 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! 16

17. 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. 17 3. Include data that is not in the manuscript.

18. THE SUBMISSION PROCESS  Read the "Guide for Authors". PLEASE!  Section headings. Reference format. Length restrictions for Letters.  You MUST submit using the website. 18  If a revision, include responses to reviewers.

19. 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? 19

20. ABBREVIATIONS 1. To define an abbreviation, first write the term in full followed by the abbreviation in parentheses. "X-ray diffraction (XRD) examination samples were not crystalline…….. 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. showed that the " Do not do 20

21. SOME ENGLISH PROBLEMS  We do not usually use plural nouns as adjectives - "carbon fiber composites" composites". not "carbon fibers  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! 21

22. 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 22

23. 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. 23 i.e. He at 230°C and H at 450°C

24. 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 24 two samples.

25. 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 25  e.g. (for example) and i.e. (that is, or that is to say)

26. CONCLUSION  Read the Guide for Authors  Take time! Organize  Be honest  Remember to make Title, Abstract & Paper independently understandable 26  Pay careful attention to the comments of the Editor and the Reviewers. Do not waste their time!

27. THANK YOU 27