How to Write a Scientific Journal Article: 101

Basic Elements Background Typical Format: Review Process Abstract Introduction Materials and methods Results Discussion Conclusions Review Process

Background Defining the scope of the article Building an outline is critical Each bullet – one paragraph Assign figures and tables to bullets, as appropriate Selecting a target journal (need to do homework) Target the best quality journal you think is appropriate What are the journal’s audience/scope? Are there length restrictions? Page charges? Statistical assessment of journals: ISI (Institute of Scientific Information) Impact factor H-statistics Write a balanced manuscript: For a 20 page MS: 1p abstract, 2p intro, 3p methods, 6-7p results, 6-7p discussion, 1p conclusions Combined or separate Results and Discussion sections? Minimize redundancy!

Abstract Word limit Like a mini-paper Include most important points Write last Probably the most important part of the article

Introduction Background information to establish why you did the study Provides background information necessary to justify objectives, questions, hypotheses Discussion of appropriate literature that are important studies to lead into your study or studies whose results are inconsistent with your work Introduce studies you may want to discuss in the Discussion

Introduction (continued) The work you cite is important (no, crucial!!) Cite studies that influenced you Cite work of expected reviewers, if appropriate Cite international work, if relevant Especially when submitting to international journals – reviewers are likely to be international Cite studies from outside your group Point out why your study is unique; what is the need for this information? where does it fit into existing science? End section with clear statement of objectives/questions/hypotheses and a brief statement of approach to meet objectives Gives the audience a “road map” for reading the paper

Materials and Methods Site description Field methods Position (latitude, longitude) Climate (temperature, precipitation) Properties (geology, hydrology, soils, vegetation, etc.) Field methods Analytical methods Computational/Statistical methods

Results Presentation of findings; use figures and tables (3-10) Greatly limit interpretation of the findings (just present the facts) Organize from simple to more complex e.g., meteorology hydrology water chemistry element fluxes Use multiple sections

Discussion Discuss results – provide your interpretation of what your results mean Compare and contrast your results with other studies Discuss overall significance or context of work Revisit objectives, questions, hypotheses Relate to future studies

Conclusions Short (~ 1 page): briefly highlight the most important findings and one key interpretive conclusion Do not introduce new information Note: Conclusions are optional! If your paper is relatively focused, end your Discussion with a concluding paragraph and omit this section!

Review Process Takes 2-6 months Contact the (associate) editor after 3 months and every 2-4 weeks thereafter Generally 2-6 reviews, often inconsistent with each other, often very critical, even harsh. Need to have thick skin; you do not know the reviewers’ perspectives Look at the reviews carefully – often the reviewers have valuable comments that greatly improve the paper Respond to the reviewers comments ASAP Need to provide point by point responses to comments The greater the detail, the more likely the paper will be accepted Do not answer the comments – change the paper! Reviewers are not stupid! If they didn’t understand what you wrote, neither will readers. Even when reviewers are wrong, it can make sense to change your paper! Persistence is rewarded

Why are Abstracts So Important? How do YOU search for papers?

Why are Abstracts So Important? How do YOU search for papers?

Writing a Great Abstract

Writing a Great Abstract