Transcript How to write a Research paper(Dr.Shaffi)2a.ppt

How to Write a Research Paper ?
By
Dr.Shaik Shaffi Ahamed
Associate Professor
Dept. of Family & Community Medicine
Why to Write?
 To advance knowledge
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Improvement in understanding of subject
 To advance your institution
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Academic accomplishment, prestige, funding
 To advance yourself
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Enhances clear thinking & scholarship ability
Promotion, career development, reputation
To get A+
Benefits often greater to author than reader
Writing a Paper: Getting
Started
“The only way to learn to write is to write”
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--Peggy Teeters
No single best way
Varies from paper to paper
Background reading--Literature search!
Decide on authorship
Writing a Paper
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Fix realistic schedule (Adherence)
Need stretch of protected hours or days
Ideas come while writing
When time is short: prepare, revise
Location (nothing to distract)
Maintain momentum
 Academicians rated by what they finish, not by
what they attempt
WRITE IN WHAT ORDER?
Parts of a Manuscript--Structure
Title
Abstract
Introduction
Methods
Results
Discussion
References
“Writing is a lot easier if you have something to say”
--Sholem Asch
Methods I
WHAT DID YOU DO?
For readers this is the most important section
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Past tense
Study design(prospective or retrospective)
Explicit inclusion/exclusion criteria
Selection of study subjects
Methods II
WHAT DID YOU DO?
 Ethical approval (IRB)
 Statistical methods(sampling technique,
sample size, & statistical tests)
 Data collection tool ( its validity & reliability)
 Detailed enough so results can be repeated
by others
Results I
WHAT DID YOU FIND?
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Just the facts, in a logical sequence
Past tense
Check, recheck data/numbers-must add up
Give numbers and percentages: 1 (10%) of 10…
P- values and confidence intervals
Avoid discussion of results in this section
Results II
WHAT DID YOU FIND?
 Tables & figures-straightforward, concise,
not duplicative, should stand alone
 Table(s) short & specific title at top
 Figure(s) - concise legends, avoid distracters
Discussion I
WHAT DOES IT MEAN?
 Always focus on your results
 Outline 3 to 5 main points that come
from results
 Build a paragraph for each point
 Finally permitted latitude to elaborate and
speculate
Discussion II
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WHAT DOES IT MEAN?
First answer to the research question posed
in the Introduction
Summarize previous work-compare your
results
Explain what is new without exaggerating
and its implications
What does your results mean?
Strengths and weaknesses in relation to
other studies, particularly any differences in
results
Introduction
WHAT IS THE QUESTION/OBJECTIVE?
 Short (3 paragraphs)
 First paragraph
What we know?
Brief background-establish context, relevance, nature of
the problem/question/purpose
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Second paragraph
What we don’t know?
Importance of the problem and unresolved issues
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Last paragraph
Why
we
did
this
study?
Rationale: state hypothesis/main objective/purpose
Abstract
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Critical part of paper
Determines further reading of paper
Structured format
Avoid abbreviations
Write and rewrite until flawless
Clear and concise
Writing Style
Accuracy & Clarity
 Proper words in proper places make the true
definition of style. --Jonathan Swift
 Have something to say and say it as clearly as you
can… the essence of style. --Matthew Arnold
 If writing is unclear, readers and reviewers won’t
understand
 Avoid vague language
 Multiple mistakes in spelling and syntax, suggests
similar sloppiness in the project
 Check and double check data
Writing Style
Accuracy & Clarity
 Use active voice whenever possible
Active voice: the subject is performing the verb
Passive voice: the subject receives the action expressed in
the verb
Passive (more wordy) Active (more concise)
For eg.,
There are treatment guidelines for carcinoma that were
reported by Khalid, et al.
 Correction: Treatment guidelines for carcinoma were
reported by Khalid, et al.
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Better: Khalid, et al. reported treatment guidelines for
carcinoma. (Active voice)
Writing Style
Accuracy & Clarity
 All first drafts have too many words
 Next drafts: prune vigorously, avoid repetition,
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wordiness, long sentences, excessive
adverbs/adjectives
Strip every sentence
Writing improves in proportion to deletion of
unnecessary words
When you have the choice of two words, use the
simpler one
The most valuable of all talents is that of never using
two words when one will do. --Thomas Jefferson
Simplify
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a majority of = most
a considerable amount of = much
a number of = several/some
on account of = because
referred to as = called
“Those who have the most
has the capacity to = can
to say usually say it with
the fewest words”
it is clear that = clearly
at the present time = now
give rise to = cause
is defined as = is
subsequent to = after
Revise, Revise
and Revise
 You may not be a very good writer, but be an
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excellent rewriter
Always look from a distance--see your paper
as a reviewer
Polish the writing style
Double check spelling
Double check references
Submission
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Identify the appropriate journal
Read “Instructions for Authors” thoroughly
Conform to “Instructions” precisely
Avoid careless mistakes
What Editors Like About Papers
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Originality
Interesting to readers, important messages
Clear questions, correct methods
Clear presentation (style)
Good grammar
Editors and reviewers spend hours reading manuscripts, and greatly appreciate
receiving papers that are easy to read and edit!
What Happens Next?
The Review Process
 Acceptance
 Revision
 Rejection