1. 1 讀 “How to Write and Submit an Academic Paper in 16 Weeks” 書 -Steve Wallace- 心得分享 張阜民2011.10.26

2. 2 Table of Contents Introduction Introduction Methods section Methods section Results section Results section Discussion section Discussion section How to write the abstract? How to write the abstract? Tips for journal submission Tips for journal submission The writing process The writing process

3. 3 Introduction(1) What is the problem? What is the problem? –Describe the problem –Summarize other studies to provide context, key terms, and concepts so your reader can understand your research Why is the problem important? Why is the problem important? –Review research to provide the reason for your study

4. 4 Introduction(2) What conflicts or unanswered question does your research address? What conflicts or unanswered question does your research address? –Identifying and selling the problem What previous findings are you challenging or extending? What previous findings are you challenging or extending? –Being critical and evaluating the contributions of others

5. 5 Introduction (3) What solution do you propose? What solution do you propose? –Briefly describe your study: hypothesis, research question, method, and reasons for using the method if alternative methods exist

6. 6 Introduction (4) Move from general to specific: Connect a real- world problem to research literature, and then to your experiment. Move from general to specific: Connect a real- world problem to research literature, and then to your experiment. Get your reader ’ s interest: answer the questions “ What did you do ” and “ Why should I care ” Get your reader ’ s interest: answer the questions “ What did you do ” and “ Why should I care ” Make clear links between your problem and the solution, the question asked and your research design, and prior research and your experiment. Make clear links between your problem and the solution, the question asked and your research design, and prior research and your experiment. Use the active voice as much as possible. Use the active voice as much as possible.

7. 7 Methods Section (1) How did you study the problem? How did you study the problem? –Briefly explain the general type of procedure you used What did you use? What did you use? –Describe what materials, subjects, and equipments you used How did you proceed? How did you proceed? –Explain the steps you took in your experiment

8. 8 Methods Section (2) Provide enough detail for another researcher to repeat your experiment. Provide enough detail for another researcher to repeat your experiment. Order procedures by time, or by type of procedure and time within the type of procedure Order procedures by time, or by type of procedure and time within the type of procedure Use past tense to describe what you did. Use past tense to describe what you did. Quantify. Quantify. What to avoid: What to avoid: –Don ’ t include details of common statistical procedures –Don ’ t mix results with procedures.

9. 9 Results Section What did you observe? What did you observe? –For each experiment or procedure: Briefly describe your experiment, excluding the detail of the method section –Report main results, supported by data How can you describe quantities? How can you describe quantities? –Highlighting figures and tables –Highlighting significant data in a table or chart –Describing high and low points in figures

10. 10 Discussion Section (1) What do your observations mean? What do your observations mean? –Summarize the most important findings at the beginning of the discussion section –Statement of results –What conclusion can you draw –Explanations for results –Additional tips –Unexpected outcomes –Reference to previous research (supporting, contradictory) –Suggestions for future work

11. 11 Discussion Section (2) What conclusions can you draw? What conclusions can you draw? –For each major result:  Describe the patterns, principles, and relationships your results show  Explain how your results relate to expectations and to the studies cited in your introduction. Do they agree or contradict, or are they expectations to the rule?  Explain plausibly any agreements, contradictions, or expectations.  Describe how additional research might resolve these contradictions or explain exceptions.

12. 12 Discussion Section (3) How do you results fit into the broader context? How do you results fit into the broader context? –Describe the theoretical implications of your results. –Suggest practical applications for your results. –Extend your findings to other situations or other subjects. –Give the big picture: Do your finding help us understand a broader topic? –Present trends and projections.

13. 13 Examples Writers may give specific examples as supporting evidence for general claims or arguments. Examples can also be used to help the reader understand unfamiliar or difficult concepts, and they tend to be easier to remember. Writers may give specific examples as supporting evidence for general claims or arguments. Examples can also be used to help the reader understand unfamiliar or difficult concepts, and they tend to be easier to remember.

14. 14 How to write the abstract? Key Questions we must answer Key Questions we must answer –What is your study about, in miniature and without specific details? –What did you investigate? Why? State your main objectives. –What did you do? Describe methods –What did you discover? Summarize the most important results –What do your results mean? Why are they important? State major conclusions and significance.

15. 15 Abstract The importance of the abstract The importance of the abstract Be clear and simple Be clear and simple Word limit Word limit Technical Terms Technical Terms Tence Tence Don ’ t use “ I ” or passive voice Don ’ t use “ I ” or passive voice Title Title

16. 16 Abstract Motivation Motivation Problem statement Problem statement Approach Approach Results Results Conclusions Conclusions

17. 17 Tips for Journal Submission How low is the journal acceptance rate? How low is the journal acceptance rate? Start writing before the paper is finished in your head Start writing before the paper is finished in your head Do not read too much Do not read too much Develop consistent and simple notes Develop consistent and simple notes

18. 18 Tips for Journal Submission Write on interesting subjects Write on interesting subjects Cite the papers of potential referees in the introduction and complement them Cite the papers of potential referees in the introduction and complement them

19. 19 Tips for Journal Submission Don ’ t criticize your references Don ’ t criticize your references –“ I think that the author knows his subject better than I do. I usually use his references to find a suitable reviewer ” -Associate Editor, Journal of Retailing –Example of offensive citations  “ The deficiency of Smith ’ s approach is …” –A better citation would be  Smith ’ s model was effective for X problem, but for Y ….. ” –Your research area is small –Giving other reasons for rejection

20. 20 Tips for Journal Submission Writing a publishable idea within one month. Otherwise, you lose interest. Writing a publishable idea within one month. Otherwise, you lose interest. –Main body------ half the writing time –Introduction and conclusion--- half the writing time Get the reviewer ’ s attention early in your introduction Get the reviewer ’ s attention early in your introduction The introduction should be two pages or less The introduction should be two pages or less

21. 21 Tips for Journal Submission Constantly have papers under review Constantly have papers under review Create one or two papers from your master ’ s thesis Create one or two papers from your master ’ s thesis Work with coauthors Work with coauthors Weight of coauthored articles Weight of coauthored articles Agree on coauthor contributions in advance Agree on coauthor contributions in advance Maintain collaboration Maintain collaboration Be patient with inactive coauthors Be patient with inactive coauthors

22. 22 Tips for Journal Submission Get to know one hundred people active in your field Get to know one hundred people active in your field Diversify your research portfolio Diversify your research portfolio Concentrate on one or two fields Concentrate on one or two fields Approach different types of journals Approach different types of journals Understand journal biases Understand journal biases

23. 23 Tips for Journal Submission Cite current papers Cite current papers Do not write papers on breakthrough ideas at first Do not write papers on breakthrough ideas at first –“ I told my own young colleagues that they should preferably start off with the received with some changes until they get their tenure ” ---Douglas North, 1993 Nobel Laureate in Economic Science

24. 24 Tips for Journal Submission When asked to revise, resubmit within three months When asked to revise, resubmit within three months If you hate to revise, write just one paragraph a day. If you hate to revise, write just one paragraph a day. Listen to what the editor says Listen to what the editor says

25. 25 Tips for Journal Submission Discuss real world examples Discuss real world examples Balance theory and application Balance theory and application Summarize the contribution of your paper briefly in the conclusion Summarize the contribution of your paper briefly in the conclusion Stimulate research with your continuing research questions Stimulate research with your continuing research questions Discuss policy implications Discuss policy implications

26. 26 Tips for Journal Submission Write an interesting abstract Write an interesting abstract Choose an interesting title Choose an interesting title Cite your own articles Cite your own articles Your paper should not exceed 25 pages Your paper should not exceed 25 pages

27. 27 The Writing Process Don ’ t expect the process to be interesting or exciting. To stay motivated, you need to think about the results of your writing instead of the process of writing. Don ’ t expect the process to be interesting or exciting. To stay motivated, you need to think about the results of your writing instead of the process of writing. Writing is a necessary evil. Writing is a necessary evil.

28. 28 The Writing Process Free writing Free writing –Write without stopping for a period of time –Do not make corrections as you write –Keep writing, even if you have to write something like, “ I don ’ t know what to write ” –Write whatever comes to your mind –Do not criticize what you are writing

29. 29 The Writing Process (Tips for being productive) Write regularly in a notebook Write regularly in a notebook Make writing goals for the month/week/day Make writing goals for the month/week/day Practice word sketching Practice word sketching Take a writing workshop Take a writing workshop Write your dreams Write your dreams Capture your good ideas Capture your good ideas Eliminate TV Eliminate TV Read Read Don ’ t use reading as an excuse not to write Don ’ t use reading as an excuse not to write Write what you want people to say about you after you die Write what you want people to say about you after you die

30. 30 The Writing Process (Building the writing habit) The same time The same time The same place The same place Idea Lists Idea Lists Quiet place Quiet place Get rid of negative thoughts Get rid of negative thoughts Sit alone in silence Sit alone in silence Ideas, not grammar, for the first draft Ideas, not grammar, for the first draft Rewrite Rewrite

31. 31 The Writing Process (Using a thesaurus) Find the words you need to express yourself more effectively and interestingly Find the words you need to express yourself more effectively and interestingly Avoid repeating the same words too often Avoid repeating the same words too often Avoid overused expressions Avoid overused expressions Remember a word you forgot Remember a word you forgot Find a word that suits the context, purpose, intended audience, and context of what you are writing Find a word that suits the context, purpose, intended audience, and context of what you are writing

32. 32 The Writing Process (Writing Group) What is the purpose of writing groups? What is the purpose of writing groups? What are the mechanics of writing support groups? What are the mechanics of writing support groups? Reading as writer by taking notes in the article margins, with questions and comments. This may give you ideas for your own research. Reading as writer by taking notes in the article margins, with questions and comments. This may give you ideas for your own research.

33. 33 The Writing Process (Writer ’ s Block) Weak motivation Weak motivation Poor planning Poor planning Perfectionism Perfectionism Treatments – Writing skills is learned and improved through practice. Treatments – Writing skills is learned and improved through practice.

34. 34 The Writing Process Table, equations and graphs Table, equations and graphs Minimize numbered equations Minimize numbered equations Simplify figures Simplify figures

35. 35 The Writing Process Do not use the word “ I ” in technical writing Do not use the word “ I ” in technical writing Avoid citing your own works extensively Avoid citing your own works extensively Do not apologize Do not apologize Don ’ t put two ideas in one paper Don ’ t put two ideas in one paper Mix ingredients of the other paper Mix ingredients of the other paper Don ’ t try writing everything at one time Don ’ t try writing everything at one time

36. 36 The Writing Process Delay sending the finished paper for one week Delay sending the finished paper for one week Use, but not rely totally on spelling checkers Use, but not rely totally on spelling checkers Prepare a perfect cover page and abstract Prepare a perfect cover page and abstract