1. Preparing research manuscripts
Anis Karimpour-Fard
October 18,2011

2. Can I publish this? Have you done something new and interesting?
• Have you provided solutions to a problem?
• Have you checked the latest results in the field?
• Is the result interesting or useful for others in the field?
Is the hypothesis straightforward?
Did the experiments test the hypothesis?
Can you describe the study in 1 or 2 minutes?
• Do your findings tell a nice story?
If all answers are “yes”, then start preparing your
manuscript.

3. Starting out Give an informal ORAL presentation of the
work before you start to write the paper
This way you will clarify the story you want to tell and can anticipate objections or misunderstandings that must be addressed
in the text.

4. Types of scientific papers
Research articles
Full articles
Brief communications
Short communications
Letters
Application note
Non-research articles
Book chapters
Review articles
Letter to editors
Self-evaluate your work: Is it sufficient for a full article?

5. Which conference/workshop/journal?

6. Choose journal
Look at your references –these will help you narrow your choices
Is the journal peer-reviewed?
Who is this journal’s audience?
What is the average time to print?
What is the journal’s Impact Factor?
A measure of how frequently its articles are cited in other journals

7. Choose journal: A Few Suggestions
Study “instructions to authors”
Think about possible reviewers
Each journal has its own style; Review recent
publications in each candidate journal. Find out the
hot topics, the accepted types of articles, etc.
Know the journal, and why you submitted the
paper there

8. Instructions to authors
Follow the Instructions!
• Every conference/journal provides “Instructions to Authors” or “Submission instructions” which detail
Paper types
Paper length
Length of abstract
Paper format (LaTeX, Word template)
Paper sections
Reference format
Spelling/capitalization/formatting conventions
Deadlines
It is best to know the limits in advance than have to go back and change the paper later

9. Authors Identify co-authors
Contributions to the work Often listed largely from greatest contributions to least
• Discuss author order
Make sure your co-authors agree about the message
Discuss target publication venue

10. Writing the manuscript
The hardest part is getting started

11. Parts of a manuscript Abstract Introduction: What was the question?
Title
Abstract
Introduction: What was the question?
Methods: How did you try to answer it?
Results: What did you find?
Discussion: What does it mean?
Acknowledgements
References

12. Write in what order?
Start by drafting whatever part of the paper you find easiest to prepare
Title
Abstract
Introduction
Methods
Results
Discussion
Acknowledgements
References
Figures
Tables

13. Title The TITLE is critical- it must be short and give the big-picture
Should be specific enough but not overly narrow
The fewest possible words that adequately indicate the contents of the paper
Important in literature searching

14. Methods
Purposes: to allow others to replicate and to evaluate what you did
Should describe the study design
Begin writing when experiments still in progress
Reference published methods where appropriate
Should identify (if applicable)
Statistical methods
Methods previously described but not well known
Methods that you yourself devised
Cite and briefly describe the well-known methods

15. Results The core of the paper
Briefly repeating method can be effective
Decide on the elements of the story you wish to tell
Choose the subset of text, figures, and tables that most effectively and concisely coveys your message
Do not speculate or over discuss results
Rather than telling the reader that a result is interesting or significant, show them how it is interesting or significant

16. Introduction why the current study is of scientific interest
Build case for why study is important/necessary
Provide brief background to understand the paper and appreciate its importance
to set the stage for the present research, indicating gaps in knowledge and presenting the research question
to introduce present research, stating its purpose and outlining its design
State hypothesis / central question
Give a one sentence summary of findings
Emphasize your specific contribution to the topic
Typically should be funnel-shaped, moving from general to specific

17. Introduction: A Few Suggestions
First paragraph of introduction
Is crucial for catching the attention of the audience
why the current study is of scientific interest
Last paragraph of the Introduction
Short summary of what you set out to do
What you have achieved

18. Discussion
Often should begin with a brief summary of the main findings
Should answer the question stated in the introduction
Some other items commonly addressed
Limitations of the study
Relationship to findings of other research (show how it agrees or disagrees with previous models)
Include suggestions for improving your techniques or design, or clarify areas of doubt for further research
Discuss weaknesses and discrepancies Typically should move from specific to general (opposite of introduction)

19. References Functions Importance of accuracy
To give credit
To add credibility
To help readers find further information
Will help in choosing journal
Better insight into possible reviewers
Importance of accuracy
Existence of various reference formats
Availability of citation management software (examples: EndNote, Reference Manager)

20. References A Few Suggestions
Make sure references are comprehensive, accurate, relevant and recent
Seemingly relevant paper not cited
Be highly selective
Do not misquote

21. Abstract
The quality of an abstract will strongly influence the editor’s decision
Use the abstract to “sell” your article
The major goal in reading the abstract is to understand the research question, how is done, what did the research find, and what do the findings mean.
A good abstract:
State main objective
How the study was done
Summarize most important results
State major conclusions and significance
Can stand alone
Is brief and specific (Follow word limitations (50‐300 words))

22. Tips and Tricks Write your abstract last: it is a summary
Take phrases from each section and put them in a
sequence which summarizes the paper
Then revise to make it cohesive and clear
Include key words
Conclusion: restate message
No new information

23. Figures : A Few Suggestions
Intelligible without reference to the text
Avoid including too much information in one figure
Make sure any lettering will be large enough once published
Follow the journal’s instructions
Assemble draft figures
Decide what are the key points that you need to make, and write them out (how and what). Focus on hypotheses that you tested.

24. Tables: A Few Suggestions
Design tables to be understandable without the text
If a paper includes a series of tables, use the same format for each
If your table includes the results of a statistical analysis, be sure to provide the information necessary for the reader to properly evaluate the analysis
Be sure to follow the instructions to authors

25. Acknowledgments
A place to thank people who helped with the work but did not make contributions deserving authorship
Anyone who provided technical help
Anyone who supplied data or computational resources
State why people have been acknowledged
Sometimes the place where sources of financial support are stated

26. Criteria for evaluation
Relevance
Content & Significance
Results adequately discussed?
Reasonable conclusion drawn from data?
Clear statement of implications of research?
Content
Writing

27. Journal Review Form
Recommendation: Accept as is /Accept with minor revisions /Accept with major revisions /Reject but encourage re-submission after the work is more developed /Reject
Reviewer Blind Comments to Author:
Reviewer Confidential Comments to Editor:
COMMENTS TO THE EDITOR:
Please rate the manuscript with respect to the following items:
(Place an X on the line in front of your rating.)
1. TECHNICAL CORRECTNESS
__ Excellent __ Good __ Acceptable __ Fair __ Very Poor
2. NOVELTY/ORIGINALITY
3. REFERENCE TO PRIOR WORK
x__ Excellent __ Good __ Acceptable __ Fair __ Very Poor
4. QUALITY OF ART
5. QUALITY OF EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS
6. APPROPRIATENESS TO JOURNAL
7. IMPORTANCE TO THE FIELD
8. ORGANIZATION AND CLARITY
Reviewer Recommendation and Comments for Manuscript

28. Major reasons for rejection
Not novel
Serious flaws of design, methodology, analysis, or interpretation
inadequate review of the literature
insufficient methodology
unclear statistical analysis
Inappropriate statistical techniques
Discussion that goes beyond the data
Hypothesis not adequately tested
Inappropriate for journal
Poorly written

29. Summary: Steps in preparing research manuscripts
Read the Instructions to Authors of the journal chosen
Decide who the authors will be
Draft a working title and abstract
Decide what are the key points that you need to make, and write them out (Focus on your hypotheses).
Make sure references are comprehensive and accurate
Check the illustrations and tables and make the final versions
Find someone to review your manuscript
Put the manuscript away for a few days
Write a cover letter to the editor
Create the list of poteinial reviewers

30. Sources of Further Guidance
How to Write and Publish a Scientific Paper, 6th edition, by Robert A. Day and Barbara Gastel (Greenwood Press, 2006)
Fundamentals of Writing Biomedical Research Papers, 2nd edition, by Mimi Zeiger (McGraw-Hill, 2000)
Preparing Scientific Illustrations: A Guide to Better Posters, Presentations, and Publications, 2nd edition, by Mary Helen Briscoe (Springer, 1996)
Huth EJ. How to Write and Publish Papers in the Medical Sciences, 2nd Edition. Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins, 1990.