Publishing and Presenting Scientific PapersACADEMIC READINGMiranti Eka PutriAdapted from the PPT of Jaroslav Mackerle, Linkping Institute of Technology, Linkping, Sweden, by way of Keith Clarkes Geog 200A course at UCSB

IntroductionA naturalists life would be happy one if he had only to observe and never to write (Charles Darwin)

In science, no matter how spectacular the results are, the work is not completed until the results are published.

Lets explore the main steps from rough manuscript to published paper.

Contentskinds of scientific written communicationscientific writing in generalIMRaD formatpaper organizationpaper writingpaper submissionthe editing processproof-reading and pointers to readingFrom an ideaby way of rulesto the published paper

Scientific written communicationReportsTheses or dissertationsJournal articlesBooks and book chaptersTechnical manuals/users guidesResearch or grant proposalsSlide presentationsPosters

Scientific writing in generalSubjectPurposeto exchange the scientific knowledgeto ask and answer specific questionsAudiencescientists and those interested in the subjecta publisher or an editor

IMRaD formatIntroduction

MethodsResults andDiscussionWhat problem was studied? What others and you did? Your study area.How do you did it?What did you find out?What do your findings mean?... Combine w/conclusion/summary and future plans

Other types of journal papersReviewTechnical noteLetter to the editorState-of-the-ArtExample of other types of articles, including technical notes or data briefs:http://www.agu.org/journals/gc/

Steps in scientific journal writingWriterJournal editorReadersCowritersReferees

Paper organizationIntroductioncall attention to the specific subject, define the problemprovide background and present the results of other studies (literature review)list the structure of your research project and what you plan to present in your paperReading a scientific article isnt the same as reading a detective story. We want toknow from the start that the butler did it (Ratnoff, 1981)

Paper organizationMethodscomplete information of materials and methods used, conditions present, actions, experimental design, etc.this section usually has subheadings; when possible match those to be used in Resultsenough information must be given so that the models/experiments can be reproducedask a colleague if he/she can follow the methodology

Paper organizationResultsdisplay of data with logical development showing how your findings satisfy your objectiveswhere possible give illustrative examples and compare those with known results from literatureuse tables and figuresthe fool collects facts; the wise man selects them (J. W. Powell, 1888)

Paper organizationDiscussionthe hardest section to writediscuss, without just repeating the Resultsshow the relationship among observed facts

Conclusion or Summarystate your conclusion(s) as clearly as possiblesummarize evidence for each conclusionend with a short statement regarding the significance of your work

Literature Review RevisitedExploring ideas on your subjectgaps in research on a subject of interestexistence of any duplication to your workConducting a specific searchmanually in the libraryon-line searchingKeep up-to-date with the specific subject

A rough draft perhaps but .Will you have co-authors?Which journal to submit your manuscript?How soon will it be published?How to deal with editors?

Professional publishers ElsevierPergamon PressSpringer VerlagJ Wiley & SonsKluwer Academic PublishingBlackwellTaylor & FrancisAcademic PressProfessional societies

AAGAGUURISAESAAFS

Journals - Publishers

Where to submit the manuscriptThe prestige factorThe circulation factorThe frequency factorThe audience factorWhat is the publishers practice w/libraries?Will they have access to the journal for reasonable price???

Journal Citation Reportsjcrweb.com

Paper writingWrite a rough outline first, fill it inA rough draft is readySelect the journal and read Instructions to Authors (manuscript requirements: style in headings, the system for citations, figures and tables, etc.)Write the final manuscriptWrite or refine your abstractCarefully choose keywords (increases success with e-databases and search engines)

The final draftFront MatterTitle (fewest possible words that describe the contents)Authors (co-authors) name and addressAbstract (miniversion of the paper, no citations)KeywordsArticle Body (IMRaD)IntroductionMethods ResultsDiscussion/ConclusionEnd MatterAcknowledgment (technical help and financial assistance)References (EndNote has style guides)Appendices

AbstractsDescriptive abstractor topical abstract, describes the contents but contains too little substance and detailInformative abstractself-explanatory report on a scientific investigation (research objectives for conducting the investigation, the basic method used, and the results and significant conclusions) - 200 to 250 wordsExtended abstract (conference proceedings)Dont ignore those keywords!

Citations and referencesFor a better credibility you have to review the literature and show that your contribution extends from a solid foundation of researchQuality and quantity of the sources you have consulted will enhance your workYou have make it possible for readers to retrace your stepsYour references can be as valuable as your research methods and findingsCheck Information for Authors section

Citations: Name-year systemExamples in the text:

Salwasser (1992) developed a realism or humanism (Schmitt, 1986).Many other have surveyed (Schmitt, 1986; Teal, 1981)ReferencesSalwasser, K. Landscape Metrics, 1999.Schmitt, L. A. Symposium and concluding remarks,1986.Teal, D.W. 1981Note: list of references in author alphabetical order

Ethics of scientific writingAvoid dual publicationDont use the work of others without appropriate attributionList only those co-authors who contributed substantially to the work

Final submissionIn-house reviews required?Submit the paper to the journals editor (only to one journal)Hard-copy of manuscript (usually three or more copies)Disk of the same versionText: Word, Word Perfect, TeX/LaTeX, etc.Figures: tif, gif, postscript, etc.E-Journal submission

Editing processEditor logs a manuscript and sends an acknowledgement that the paper has been receivedEditor sends the manuscript to reviewers On the basis of the reviews and the editors opinion, your paper will be accepted, conditionally accepted, or rejected.

Checklist for referees

Proof-readingProof-reading and return to the editor

Copyright transfer

Offprint orderDavis, M. Scientific Papers and Presentations, p.88

Copyright Statement from JournalBe sure to read thoroughlyFor theses read UMI Microfilm statementMake sure you agree with pointsWill you be free to send or post to web the final pdf??

Congratulations

BibliographyDavis, M. Scientific Papers and Presentations, Academic Press, 1997Day, R. A. How to Write and Publish a Scientific Paper, 4th Ed., Cambridge University Press, 1995Michaelson, H. B. How to Write and Publish Engineering Papers and Reports, 3rd Ed., Oryx Press, 1990OConnor, M. Writing Successfully in Science, Academic Press, 1991Paradis, J. G. and Zimmerman, M. L. The MIT Guide to Science and Engineering Communication, MIT Press, 1997

and more booksBriscoe, M.H. A Researchers Guide to Scientific and Medical Illustrations, Springer-Verlag, NY, 1990Hodges, E. R. S. The Guild Handbook of Scientific Illustration, Van Nostrand-Reinhold, NY, 1989Reynolds, L. and Simmonds, D. Presentation of Data in Science, Nijhoff, Hague, 1983Smith, R. V. Graduate Research: A Guide for Students in the Science,ISI Press, Philadelphia, 1984Stock, M. A Practical Guide to Graduate Research, McGraw-Hill, NY, 1985

*Adapted from the PPT of Jaroslav Mackerle, Linkping Institute of Technology, Linkping, Sweden, jarma@ikp.liu.se, by way of Keith Clarkes Geog 200A course at UCSB*AAG - Association of American Geographers, www.aag.orgAGU - American Geophysical Union, www.agu.orgESA - Ecological Society of America, www.esa.orgAFS - American Fisheries Society, www.fisheries.orgElsevierwww.elsevier.nl/Pergamon Presswww.elsevier.nl/Springer Verlagwww.springer.de/J Wiley & Sonswww.wiley.comKluwer Academic Publ.www.wkap. nl/MCB University Presswww.mcb.co.uk/IOP Publishingwww.iop.orgAcademic Presswww.apnet.com/***