Structuring Your Paper

How do I put it all together?

Information Flow One idea per paragraph Ideas should follow each other in a logical sequence. Two ways to order results: 1. Chronological “First we did x, then y, then z.” 2. Thematic Whatever order makes most sense

Outline ≈ Skeleton W. LiG. Doczi Ref: J. Dorman

Creating an Outline Summarizes the major points Can help you write the paper: - Each point -> the first or last sentence of paragraph Use your figures to make an outline - add key words to your figures Ref: Penrose & Katz & J. Dorman W. Li

Kuna indians: no hypertension of cardiovascular diseases Migration from Ailigandi to Vera Cruz results in higher BP Ailigandi Kuna diet: 10 x more cocoa-beverage, 4x more fish, 2x more fruit than Vera Cruz Kuna; no difference in salt Figure Outline

Table 1. Description of subjects in the study Figure 2. Results from the study - Intake of Fruit - Intake of Meat/Fish - Intake of Salt, Sweets, Fat - Intake of Beverages Figure Outline

Writing From the Figures

Demographic and health characteristics of participants from Ailigandi and Vera Cruz are shown in Table 1. Demographic and health characteristics of participants from Ailigandi and Vera Cruz are shown in Table 1. Individuals studied in Ailigandi were slightly older than those interviewed in Vera Cruz. Both study samples were comprised of approximately two-thirds women (more women were available to study because they were at home during the day). Blood pressure levels were lower on Ailigandi, although hypertension was uncommon in both groups. The Kuna residing in Vera Cruz weighed more than those in Ailgandi, but the di ff erence in body mass index did not achieve statistical significance. Writing From the Outline

Individuals studied in Ailigandi were slightly older than those interviewed in Vera Cruz. Demographic and health characteristics of participants from Ailigandi and Vera Cruz are shown in Table 1. Individuals studied in Ailigandi were slightly older than those interviewed in Vera Cruz. Both study samples were comprised of approximately two-thirds women (more women were available to study because they were at home during the day). Blood pressure levels were lower on Ailigandi, although hypertension was uncommon in both groups. The Kuna residing in Vera Cruz weighed more than those in Ailgandi, but the di ff erence in body mass index did not achieve statistical significance.

Writing From the Outline Both study samples were comprised of approximately two-thirds women (more women were available to study because they were at home during the day). Demographic and health characteristics of participants from Ailigandi and Vera Cruz are shown in Table 1. Individuals studied in Ailigandi were slightly older than those interviewed in Vera Cruz. Both study samples were comprised of approximately two-thirds women (more women were available to study because they were at home during the day). Blood pressure levels were lower on Ailigandi, although hypertension was uncommon in both groups. The Kuna residing in Vera Cruz weighed more than those in Ailgandi, but the di ff erence in body mass index did not achieve statistical significance.

Writing From the Outline Blood pressure levels were lower on Ailigandi, although hypertension was uncommon in both groups. Demographic and health characteristics of participants from Ailigandi and Vera Cruz are shown in Table 1. Individuals studied in Ailigandi were slightly older than those interviewed in Vera Cruz. Both study samples were comprised of approximately two-thirds women (more women were available to study because they were at home during the day). Blood pressure levels were lower on Ailigandi, although hypertension was uncommon in both groups. The Kuna residing in Vera Cruz weighed more than those in Ailgandi, but the di ff erence in body mass index did not achieve statistical significance.

Writing From the Outline The Kuna residing in Vera Cruz weighed more than those in Ailgandi, but the di ff erence in body mass index did not achieve statistical significance. Demographic and health characteristics of participants from Ailigandi and Vera Cruz are shown in Table 1. Individuals studied in Ailigandi were slightly older than those interviewed in Vera Cruz. Both study samples were comprised of approximately two-thirds women (more women were available to study because they were at home during the day). Blood pressure levels were lower on Ailigandi, although hypertension was uncommon in both groups. The Kuna residing in Vera Cruz weighed more than those in Ailgandi, but the di ff erence in body mass index did not achieve statistical significance.

Title

Function of a Title Catch reader’s interest - Title will be read by 1,000’s - Few will read your entire paper Identifies paper’s main topic or message Indexing tool Ref: R. Day and M. Zeiger

How to Write an Effective Title Design it so your colleagues will find it Summarize your main point Be concise Be specific Running title

Writing the Title Should briefly answer the question you addressed with your experiments State your major finding Create a “working title” before you write -You can change it later if you discover new interpretations of your data as you write Ref: V. McMillan

Data vs. title Different kind of data = different title - What kind of paper are you presenting? Methods Descriptive Hypothesis

Titles of Methods Papers State: The method you developed, improved, or characterized What the method is used for Example: Rapid Subtyping of Dengue Viruses by Restriction Site-Specific (RSS)-PCR Ref: M. Zeiger

Titles of Descriptive Papers State: What is being described and where If relevant, its significance or function Example: Clinical, Epidemiologic, and Virologic Features of Dengue in the 1998 Epidemic in Nicaragua Hip1, a Novel Co-chaperone Involved in the Eukaryotic Heat Shock Response Ref: M. Zeiger

Titles of Hypothesis Papers State: The variable that was manipulated or modified The dependent variable that you measured or observed The study organism or location Example: Growth Inhibitory Effect of Triclosan on Equine and Bovine Babesia Parasites Ref: M. Zeiger

Example: “Oct-3 is a maternal factor required for the first mouse embryonic division” Good Titles: Be Concise Title ≠ sentence; remove filler words Remove verbs that are too definitive, too assertive: Ref: R. Day and M. Zeiger X Better: “The requirement of maternal factor Oct-3 for the first mouse embryonic division.”

A Good Title What is a good title? “The fewest possible words that adequately describe the contents of the paper.” Be specific and concise! Ref: R. Day

Good Titles: Be Concise Wordy: A Preliminary Study of the Prevalence of Viruses in Three Storm Drains During Wet and Dry Weather in Southern California as Assessed by RT-PCR Detection of Viral RNA Ref: V. McMillan Concise: RT-PCR Detection of Viral RNA in Three Southern Californian Storm Drains During Wet and Dry Weather

Use Few Abbreviations Confusing to reader! Consider how a researcher would search for the word in PubMed: –By the abbreviation or by spelling it out? –You want people to find your paper! Use only very common abbreviations – RNA, DNA, etc. – See Journal’s “Instructions to Authors” Ref: R. Day and V. McMillan

Title: Be Specific Vague: Detection of Viruses in Storm Drains Ref: V. McMillan Specific: Detection of Enteroviral and Hepatitis AViral RNA by RT-PCR in Three Storm Drains in Southern California

Vague: Detection of malarial DNA in mosquitoes by PCR Ref: V. McMillan Specific: Detection of Plasmodium falciparum DNA in Anopheles gambiae by PCR (i.e., taxonomic information) Title: Be Specific

For a methods paper: –No need to say “New” method for….. –If it is an improved method, say what the improvement is: Rapid Phenol-Free Method for DNA Extraction from Anopheles gambia Larvae Ref: M. Zeiger Title: Be Specific

Running Title Shorter version of title Appears as a short phrase - At bottom or top of every page of paper Includes key words Ref: M. Zeiger

Running Title: Example Title: Widespread Atypical Cutaneous Leishmaniasis Caused by Leishmania chagasi in Nicaragua Running Title: Atypical Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Nicaragua