Starting to Write Your Paper u Consult a Style Guide Consult a Style Guide –Hard copy –On-line Web sites u Instructions to Authors - journals Instructions to Authors - journals

Title u Should attract the reader’s attention u Should be informative yet concise u Use key words that convey main ideas of the study that inform reader of: –Independent variables –Dependent variables

Title - Too Concise “Icing of the Knee Joint” “Gait Patterns of Women”

Title - Too Long “The Effect of Icing of the Ligamentum Patellae and Quadriceps Tendon of the Anterior Aspect of the Knee Joint on Torque Production and Alpha Motoneuron Excitability as Measured by Integrated Electromyography and H-reflexes in the Quadriceps Femoris”

Title - Too Long “Comparison of Gait Patterns as Measured by Step Time, Step Length, Cadence and Velocity in Young Asian and Caucasian Women Walking at Preferred and Less Than Preferred Rates of Ambulation”

Title - About Right “The Effect of Icing of Anterior Knee Structures on Torque Production and Alpha Motoneuron Excitability in the Quadriceps Femoris” A Comparison of Gait Patterns in Young Asian and Caucasian Women”

Title - Caution Re: Length u Some journals may have a length requirement u Some Indexes (e.g., Index Medicus) have a length requirement -or- your title will be cut off when indexed

Title Page

Influence of Gender Differences on the Ability of Experienced Physical Therapists to Accurately Replicate Manually Applied Forces Advisors: Andrew McDonough Jeanne Charles Valerie Olson Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Master of Science Degree Dominican College 2002 Christine C. Berger Christina E. Schembri Chitra D. Taneja Department of Physical Therapy

Abstract u Brief summary of the study u Limit to approximately 150 words or one page (varies with publication) u Include: –rationale and purpose –methods –experimental design and statistical analysis –results –conclusions

Abstract u Uses –Thesis or dissertation »“Dissertation Abstracts” –Paper submitted to a journal –Submissions to professional meetings (APTA, CSM, ACSM, AMA,etc.) »Platform presentations »Poster

Abstract u May be requested to include two or three key words after the abstract: Key Words: quadriceps icing, H-reflex, inhibition u Write after paper is written u Check with publisher or professional association for length restrictions - use your word processor to count words