Writing a Research Manuscript GradWRITE! Presentation Student Development Services Writing Support Centre University of Western Ontario

Outline Anatomy of a Manuscript The Academic Publishing Process

Manuscripts Definition: A text that has not yet been published Structure not much different from undergraduate papers Your very best effort

Anatomy of a Typical Research Manuscript Introduction Methods Results Discussion

Introduction Introduce your field of study Narrow focus using specific and important references Justify your research Statement of purpose (hypothesis, predictions, purpose, objectives etc.) General Specific

Include Don’t Include Basic terminology of your field (e.g. chemical names, definitions, species names) Key papers that led to your study Brief mention of your study in your statement of purpose Exhaustive literature search Details of your study

Methods A complete account of all the steps in your study Presented in logical order Includes collecting and analyzing data Easy to write

Include Don’t Include All materials, quantities, brands of major equipment and study locations Citations of novel techniques Figures of complicated setups Equations and statistics Finicky details Results

A summary of your findings Presents details in the same order as the methods Also, easy to write Can be technical

Include Don’t Include Summary of your findings (i.e. averages, trends) Tables and Figures References to tables and figures Raw data The same information twice Too many figures Interpretation of your results

Discussion Address your hypothesis with reference to your results Explain and put findings in context (references) Comment on your finding’s significance and potential for future study General Specific

Discussion Interpret your results Sometimes combined with results into one section May repeat specific to general writing multiple times (e.g. for each objective or key finding)

Include Don’t Include Most papers from the introduction References to tables and figures Summary / Conclusion Detailed account of your results Any new ideas not set up in the introduction

The Academic Publishing Process Once your paper is as good as it can be Will take a very long time the first few times

Picking a Journal Find “Calls For Papers” Look at your reference list Contact editors before submitting Look at turnaround times Aim high

Formatting Every journal is different Read instructions to authors Look at published articles

Cover Letter Short introduction to your article Instructions to authors usually have guidelines Less about the content; more about the context

Cover Letter Type of paper submitted (article, note, review) Name and contact information of all authors Comment on the originality of the paper Potential reviewers

Money Issues Page charges vary Range from $0 to $1000+ Colour, figures, reprints etc. cost money Talk to your supervisor

The Submission Process Mostly online these days Be prompt and be prepared to wait Typical Procedure: Submit the abstract Submit a.pdf file of full manuscript Sign consent forms

Revisions It happens They want to help you Make changes and resubmit If unconvinced, justify your stance

Rejection It happens Thank the editor for his/her time Examine the comments to determine the reason Wrong journal? Flawed manuscript?

Acceptance It happens Submit high-quality files Review proofs (galleys, reprints) Update your CV and celebrate

The Numbers No ‘magic’ number of publications Talk to researchers in your field