1. How to Write a Scientific Journal Article: 101

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

3. 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!

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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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!

11. 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

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

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

14. Writing a Great Abstract

16. Writing a Great Abstract