How NOT to Write an Academic Paper? Nguyen Xuan Hoai, Hanoi University

Outline Who am I? Who am I? Why your papers get rejected? Why your papers get rejected? Common pitfalls in writing paper: Common pitfalls in writing paper: Ethical aspect. Ethical aspect. Presentation aspect. Presentation aspect. Language aspect. Language aspect. Response to reviewers. Response to reviewers.

Briefs about me I come from the computer science background, working at the IT R&D Center, Hanoi University. I come from the computer science background, working at the IT R&D Center, Hanoi University. My publication count is around 80 (27 was published with Springer!)… not including many rejected ones! My publication count is around 80 (27 was published with Springer!)… not including many rejected ones! I have reviewed hundreds of academic papers for prestigious academic conferences and journals in my field of study (including – IEEE Trans on Evolutionary Computation, IEEE Trans on Neural Networks, IEEE CEC, ACM SIGEVO GECCO, EuroGP, ….) I have reviewed hundreds of academic papers for prestigious academic conferences and journals in my field of study (including – IEEE Trans on Evolutionary Computation, IEEE Trans on Neural Networks, IEEE CEC, ACM SIGEVO GECCO, EuroGP, ….)

Disclaimer I will be more focused to publication in natural sciences (in particular Computer Science). I will be more focused to publication in natural sciences (in particular Computer Science). I do not try to over-generalize but only use my experience; everything said might have counterexamples. I do not try to over-generalize but only use my experience; everything said might have counterexamples. I give some examples of my own and others without any mean to offense. I give some examples of my own and others without any mean to offense. The list of common pitfalls in paper presentation is far from complete! The list of common pitfalls in paper presentation is far from complete!

So after a long period of hard working, you have decided to submit an academic paper … And wait ….

Notification to your submitted paper: Why? Why? Why? … Why? …

Most common reasons for papers get rejected Most common reasons for papers get rejected Does not fit the scope of journal or conference. Does not fit the scope of journal or conference. Does not make any contribution to the knowledge of the field. Does not make any contribution to the knowledge of the field. Lacking of new ideas/results. Lacking of new ideas/results. Solving insignificant problems. Solving insignificant problems. Does not meet the ethical standards. Does not meet the ethical standards. Originality. Originality. Ethical issues of research problems. Ethical issues of research problems.

Most common reasons for papers get rejected Most common reasons for papers get rejected Research contents are weak Research contents are weak Literature review is inadequate. Literature review is inadequate. Methodological problems. Methodological problems. Data/samples are problematic. Data/samples are problematic. Insufficient statistical analysis. Insufficient statistical analysis. Misinterpretation of the results. Misinterpretation of the results. Reproducibility of the results. Reproducibility of the results. The paper is poorly written. The paper is poorly written. Does not follow the journal’s guidelines for presentation. Does not follow the journal’s guidelines for presentation.

Badly Written Papers Badly Written Papers Misconception: Misconception: “My paper should not be rejected as long as the results (contents) are good” …. “My paper should not be rejected as long as the results (contents) are good” …. The truth is: The truth is: “Many papers have been rejected for they are badly written” “Many papers have been rejected for they are badly written”

Common Pitfalls in Writing Papers Common Pitfalls in Writing Papers Ethical Aspect: Plagiarism Plagiarism Any text in the paper. Any text in the paper. Tables, figures. Tables, figures. Zero tolerance. Zero tolerance. Self-plagiarism Self-plagiarism Is this paper look similar to your previous one? Is this paper look similar to your previous one? Copy-and-paste. Copy-and-paste. Quotation and Paraphrase. Quotation and Paraphrase. Plagiarism checking tools. Plagiarism checking tools.

Common Pitfalls in Writing Papers Common Pitfalls in Writing Papers Presentation Aspect: Write paper for you only! Write paper for you only! Suppose reviewers/readers have known everything you know. Suppose reviewers/readers have known everything you know. Lacking of context Lacking of context Lacking of problem definition or crowded with them. Lacking of problem definition or crowded with them. Lacking of literature review or unfairly diminish others work. Lacking of literature review or unfairly diminish others work. Purely descriptive Purely descriptive No alternative, no comparison, no comments just “we did this, we did that…” No alternative, no comparison, no comments just “we did this, we did that…”

Common Pitfalls in Writing Papers Common Pitfalls in Writing Papers Presentation Aspect: Bad structured Bad structured Unbalance in parts. Unbalance in parts. Include irrelevant or unnecessarily long contents. Include irrelevant or unnecessarily long contents. Incoherence. Incoherence. Obscure writing Obscure writing Many acronyms and abbreviations. Many acronyms and abbreviations. Inconsistence in notation usage. Inconsistence in notation usage. Use footnote more than text. Use footnote more than text.

Common Pitfalls in Writing Papers Common Pitfalls in Writing Papers Language Aspect: Academic writing is a discipline! Academic writing is a discipline! Writing paper with colorful language Writing paper with colorful language Straight and simple. Straight and simple. Write long and complex sentences Write long and complex sentences KISS – Keep it short and simple KISS – Keep it short and simple Context repetition Context repetition Should not repeat ourselves. Should not repeat ourselves. Inconsistent tense in a paragraph Inconsistent tense in a paragraph

Common Pitfalls in Writing Papers Common Pitfalls in Writing Papers Language Aspect: Academic writing is a discipline! Academic writing is a discipline! Active vs. Passive voice Active vs. Passive voice Vietnamese tends to use more active voice while formal English tends to use passive. Vietnamese tends to use more active voice while formal English tends to use passive. Bad word choice Bad word choice Over-sell/over-generalize words (e.g “paradigm”) Over-sell/over-generalize words (e.g “paradigm”) Buzz words (cool but shallow). Buzz words (cool but shallow). Controversy words. Controversy words. Typos and bad graphics Typos and bad graphics

Response to Reviewers Response to Reviewers But if you have a chance to response to the reviewers of your paper …

Response to Reviewers Response to Reviewers Don’t: Use aggressive or defensive tone. Use aggressive or defensive tone. Use one reviewer’s response against another. Use one reviewer’s response against another. I am right because the reviewer is wrong! I am right because the reviewer is wrong! Say things like “we agree” or “this is excellent..” if you are going to change the paper as suggested by reviewers. Say things like “we agree” or “this is excellent..” if you are going to change the paper as suggested by reviewers. Referring back for similar comments Referring back for similar comments “See my response to comment X above..” “See my response to comment X above..” Submit same version to other journals. Submit same version to other journals.

Response to Reviewers Response to Reviewers Do: Give thanks to the reviewers and editor. Give thanks to the reviewers and editor. Understand and address all points raised by the editor and reviewers. Understand and address all points raised by the editor and reviewers. Pick your battle and present your disagreement in a polite way! Pick your battle and present your disagreement in a polite way! Restate the comments and clearly show your major revisions. Restate the comments and clearly show your major revisions. Resubmit your paper and response- Resubmit your paper and response- to-reviewers on time. to-reviewers on time.

THANK YOU ! Acknowledgement – apart from my own experience, I have consulted various writings related to the topic on the internet; in particular, Prof. McKay from SNU should be thanked for giving his experience on the common academic language mistakes committed by Asian researchers