160301 Edanz Hokkaido Day1 Afternoon

Hokkaido University

1 March 2016

Trevor Lane, PhD Kate Harris, PhD

Author Success Workshop: Effectively Communicating Your Research

S

Be an effective communicator

Your goal is not only to publish, but also to be widely read and cited

Develop professional writing skills

Write your ideas clearly

Logically present your research

Section 1


Skills needed on the path to publication success

Preparation

Journal Selection

Writing

Submission

Peer Review

Publication Success

• Training in reading papers, ethics, writing, presenting

• Expert Scientific Review

• Expert Scientific Review

• Journal Selection & submission strategy

• Training in ethics, writing, presenting

• Revising • Editing • Reformatting

• Training in ethics, writing

• Editing • Abstract

Development • Cover Letter

Development • Reviewer

Recommendation

• Training in navigating peer review

• Review Editing • Point-by-point

checking • Response

Letter Development

• Reformatting

• Press release, news writing

• Media & presentation training

• Training for early career researchers

• Training in writing grant proposals

• Grant proposal editing

Patenting Engagement

Professional writing skills

Logically organize your ideas;

Adhere to journal & international guidelines

Communicate well in English

Factors to consider when writing a manuscript

Importance of planning

Draft outline & draft abstract/title;

Draft & revise manuscript

Edit manuscript & finalize

abstract/title


Start with your illustrations

Where to start?

Your findings form the basis of your manuscript

First step: logically organize your display items

Logic, then language

Figure 1

Figure 2

Table 1

Figure 3

Logical flow (Chronology, Most to least

important, General to

specific, Whole+parts)

Is anything missing?

? Additional analyses?

Professional writing skills Prepare an outline

I. Introduction A. General background B. Related studies C. Problems in the field D. Aims

II. Methods A. Subjects/Samples/Materials B. General methods C. Specific methods D. Statistical analyses

III. Results A. Key points about Figure 1 B. Key points about Table 1 C. Key points about Figure 2 D. Key points about Figure 3 E. Key points about Figure 4

IV. Discussion A. Major conclusion B. Key findings that support conclusion C. Relevance to published studies D. Limitations E. Unexpected results F. Implications G. Future directions

Write down key ideas in bullet points, as IMRaD

No need for sentences or correct

English yet

Then, draft the title/abstract

List information from your reading in the appropriate section: Paraphrase with citations!

Professional writing skills Get feedback

Write your manuscript section-by-section – Less stressful – Get feedback after each section; set deadlines – Easier for your colleagues to review

Revise for content, overall logic, and journal format (see guidelines/past papers)

Edit for consistency, conciseness, clarity & correctness (accuracy & style)

Get feedback from pre-submission peer review

Get language assistance

Professional writing skills Manuscript structure

How does your study contribute to your field?

What did you find?

What did you do?

Why did you do the study?

Title/Abstract

Introduction

Methods

Results

Discussion


Title/Abstract

Introduction

Methods

Results

Discussion

Title/Abstract

Methods

Results

Discussion

Introduction

Abstract /Title

write

The ‘write’ order


Which are correct?

A is 4 times larger than B A is 4-fold larger than B A is 4 times as large as B

B is 4 times smaller than A

B is 75% smaller than A; B is 25% the size of A

A B

Write logical sentences


Academic English writing style

Logical connectors

Sequential

Causal

Adversative Although, Even though, Whereas, However,

In contrast, Despite (+noun/verb -ing),…

Because (of), To (+verb), Owing to, So that, Therefore, Thus, Hence, Consequently,…

Until, After, Before, While, Since, When, Then, Next, First/Second/Third, Finally,…

Conditional If, Even if, Unless, Whether or not, Provided

that, Otherwise,…


1. You deserve the funding, but the study design is not perfect.

Which sentence suggests that you

will get funding?

2. The study design is not perfect, but you deserve the funding.



The study design is not perfect, but you deserve the

funding. The grant will be awarded in two stages.

Stress position

Topic position

The topic position introduces the idea of the current sentence


Readers focus at the end of the sentence for what is important. Information in this stress position can also introduce

the topic of the next sentence (useful for explanations and processes).


Almost all participants indicated a high level of satisfaction with the content, sequence and relevance of the ICT professional development program they attended. Only a few teachers reported that the duration of the professional development program was too short. However, the majority of the teachers reported that they developed an understanding of what TPACK is, and the way technology can enhance teaching and learning of difficult science concepts through the collaborative design of technology-enhanced science lessons in teams. “I developed an understanding of how TPACK can be applied in the design and teaching of a technology-enhanced lesson” said one of the pre-service teachers. A teacher from School C said if it was not the professional development he attended, he would not know how to use technology in teaching.

The pre-service teachers had the opportunity to further develop learning about technology integration in teaching after the professional development program had finished. They were invited to use their TPACK knowledge in workshops organized by the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training…

Topic sentence

Stress sentence Topic sentence

Supporting sentences


Source: Kafyulilo et al. Educ Inf Technol. 5 May 2015; DOI 10.1007/s10639-015-9398-0

Write effectively 1

Section 2A

Customer Service Effective writing

Nature’s guide to authors:

Nature is an international journal covering all the sciences. Contributions should therefore be written clearly and simply so that they are accessible to readers in other disciplines and to readers for whom English is not their first language.

www.nature.com/nature/authors/gta/index.html#a4

“I should use complex words to make my writing more impressive.”


To ascertain the efficaciousness of this optional language program, we interrogated every single one

of the optional language program participants.

To determine the success of this program, we interviewed all the participants.

Improve readability

Customer Service Effective writing Avoid complex words

Prefer Enough Clear Determine Begin Attempt, Try Size Keep After Enough End Use

Avoid Adequate Apparent Ascertain Commence Endeavor Magnitude* Retain Subsequent to Sufficient Terminate* Utilization *OK in certain fields (magnitude of earthquakes, to terminate gene expression)

Customer Service Effective writing Delete unnecessary words

“A number of studies have shown that the charged group...”

“...as described in our previous study.”

“...at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min.”

“As a matter of fact, such a low-temperature reaction…”

“That is another reason why, we believe…”

“It is well known that most of the intense diffraction peaks...” “It is well known that Most of the intense diffraction peaks...”

“As a matter of fact, such a This low-temperature reaction…”

“A number of studies have shown that The charged group...”

“That is thus another reason why Therefore, we believe…”

“...as described previously in our previous study.”

“...at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min.”

Customer Service Effective writing Delete unnecessary words

Avoid At a concentration of 2 g/L At a temperature of 37C In order to In the first place Four in number Green color Subsequent to Prior to Future plans; past history Extremely unique At the present time

Prefer At 2 g/L At 37C To First Four Green After Before Plans; history Unique Now

Customer Service Effective writing Active voice

Sentences written in the active voice are:

simple direct clear easy to read

The mechanisms regulating substrate rigidity were investigated.

Passive

We investigated the mechanisms regulating substrate rigidity.

Active

Customer Service Effective writing Active voice is preferred

“Use the active voice when it is less wordy and more direct than the passive”.

“Use the active voice rather than the passive voice…”.

“As a matter of style, passive voice is typically, but not always, inferior to active voice”.

“In general, authors should use the active voice…”

ACS Style Guide

APA Style

Chicago Style Guide

AMA Style

“Use active voice. The use of active rather than passive voice produces clearer, more concise writing”

SPE Style

“Wherever possible, use active verbs that demonstrate what is being done and who is doing it…”

ASCE Style

“Use active voice by default; research shows readers comprehend it more quickly than passive voice…”

IEEE

Customer Service Effective writing Avoid reader confusion

Is this sentence in the active or passive voice?

In this study, a titanium dioxide nanoparticle electrode was synthesized, using electrospray deposition for molecular sensing applications.


Is this sentence in the active or passive voice?

Passive voice




Tunn et al. developed electrospray methods to enhance sensitivity.3

Avoid reader confusion

Part of the Introduction






Who did the work in this study?

The author ? Tunn et al. ?





In this study, we synthesized a titanium dioxide nanoparticle electrode, using electrospray deposition for molecular sensing applications.


Fix stacked and misplaced modifiers

The final analyzed sample only appeared blue temporarily because we had added the especially

prepared reagent that we were testing slowly.

The final sample that we analyzed appeared blue only temporarily, because we had slowly added the

test reagent.

Please see Activity 1 in your Workbook

Activity 1

Write effectively 2

Section 2B


30 words

Economists considered Tanaka Industries, a large Japanese trading corporation founded in 1916 outside of Nagoya by Ichiro Tanaka, to be a model in the development of modern employee conditions worldwide.

Use short sentences


Economists considered Tanaka Industries to be a model in the development of modern employee conditions worldwide. This large Japanese trading corporation was founded in 1916 outside of Nagoya by Ichiro Tanaka.

16 words

15 words

One idea per sentence

Use short sentences


Readers expect…

verbs to closely follow their subjects heavy ends (not starts) of clauses

Subject

The new theory that the researchers formulated after examining all the pseudo-colored images contradicted current thinking about neutrinos.

The researchers formulated a new theory after examining all the pseudo-colored images. Their theory contradicted current thinking about neutrinos.

Verb

Write clear sentences


Avoid nominalizations

Use strong verbs instead of converting a verb into a noun

Estimate Estimation

Decide Decision

Assess Assessment

We made a/an… We conducted a/an…

Extra, weak verb

We decided… Clear, short, and direct

Use strong verbs

Customer Service Effective writing Clarify the subject

“Titania (TiO2) has been extensively investigated because of its practical prosperities for a diverse range of applications including pigments, photocatalysts, solar cells... It has three primary polymorphs in nature…”

“Titania (TiO2) has been extensively investigated because of its practical prosperities for a diverse range of applications including pigments, photocatalysts, solar cells... TiO2 has three primary polymorphs in nature…”

?

Customer Service Effective writing Use correct verb tense

Present

Present perfect

Past

Stating an accepted fact Stating current implications

Referring to previous results that are still relevant

Referring to what you did in the current study

Introduction Discussion

Introduction Discussion

Methods Results

“Graphene is one of the most promising materials for future electronic applications.”

“Nanocatalysts have been shown to increase the reaction rates of...”

“Silanization increased the bonding strength...”

Customer Service Effective writing Correct verb tense – Case study

“Several pharmacophoric models for synthesis were described.”

Introduction

“Several pharmacophoric models for synthesis have been described.”

“Our laboratory studies pyrrolidine-2,5-dione derivatives….”

“Our laboratory has been studying pyrrolidine-2,5-dione derivatives. These compounds are...”

“Our laboratory has studied pyrrolidine-2,5-dione derivatives. These compounds were…”

Present perfect: “So far”, Experience, News/announcing, Change topic/new paragraph

Customer Service Effective writing Correct verb tense – Case study

“We have taken the powder XRD patterns of…”

Results

“We measured the powder XRD patterns of…”

“A red shift in the G and 2D peak positions is observed…”

“A red shift in the G and 2D peak positions was observed…”

“We observed a red shift in the G and 2D peak positions …”


“This result suggested that these peaks were from…”

Discussion

“This result suggests that these peaks originated from…”

“These Raman spectroscopy results confirmed that…”

“These Raman spectroscopy results confirm that…”

Signal words: Suggest, demonstrate, confirm, support

Correct verb tense – Case study


Respectively is used for corresponding list items

The two values were 143 and 21, respectively.

The values for groups A and B were 143 and 21, respectively.

The two values were 143 and 21.

Avoid mistakes 1


Compared with is for saying how things are different

The toxicity of the new scaffold was reduced

compared to the previous scaffold.

The toxicity of the new scaffold was reduced compared with that of the previous scaffold.

The toxicity of the new scaffold was lower than that of the previous scaffold.

Avoid mistakes 2


Due to means “caused by” or “attributable to”

Due to the heavy rain, the samples became unusable.

Owing to the heavy rain,… Because it rained heavily,…

The loss of usable samples was due to the heavy rain.

Avoid mistakes 3


Don’t use numbers to start a sentence

506 samples were prepared.

We prepared 506 samples. / In this study, 506 samples were prepared.

Five hundred and six samples were prepared.

Avoid mistakes 4


Don’t use new words; use “that” for defining terms

Some of the data from the last 2 years, which we inputted into the analysis, impacted on the overall

calculation.

Some of the data from the past 2 years that we entered into the analysis affected the overall

calculation.

Some of the data from the past 2 years that we analyzed skewed the overall calculation.

Avoid mistakes 5


Activity 2

Structure your manuscript

Section 3

Coverage and Staffing Plan Manuscript

structure Introduction

Current state of the field

Background information

Specific aim/approach/contents Aim

Problem in the field

Previous studies

Current study

General

Specific Importance/hypothesis

Worldwide relevance? Broad/specialized?

Recent, International Not too many self-cites

Why is your study needed?

Results preview? Extra sections afterwards? Background, Related work, Concepts


structure Writing the Introduction

The objective of this study was to employ information theory to quantify the amount of information contained in common laboratory tests, the extent of redundancy between consecutive days of sampling, and the redundancy associated with pre-specified pairs of ICU lab tests.


Lee and Maslove. BMC Med Inform Decis Mak. 2015; 15: 59.

Study aims

Your aims must directly address the problem 1

In the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), likely the most data-rich environment in the hospital, enhanced monitoring and frequent testing are common. Repeated bloodwork can lead to patient harm in a number of ways…


structure



Study sample

Variables Outcome

Lithium manganese spinel electrodes

Excess lithium ions Particle size

Pyrolysis conditions

Improved physical and electrochemical

properties Modified from: Potapenko et al. Mater Renew Sustain Energy. 2015; 4: 40.

Writing the Introduction

For lithium manganese spinel electrodes, obtaining substituted spinels of a general formula Li[LiqMn2-q]O4 and decreasing the size of particles by pyrolysis lead to better cycling ability….However, particles exhibit fast aggregation upon thermal treatment with citric acid pyrolysis in air.


structure


We describe the properties of Li[Li0.033Mn1.967]O4 after pyrolysis in an inert atmosphere. Its particle size is smaller, the degree of aggregation is lower, and high-rate properties are better than for its analogue pyrolyzed in air.

Study aims

Modified from: Potapenko et al. Mater Renew Sustain Energy. 2015; 4: 40.


Writing the Introduction

For lithium manganese spinel electrodes, obtaining substituted spinels of a general formula Li[LiqMn2-q]O4 and decreasing the size of particles by pyrolysis lead to better cycling ability….However, particles exhibit fast aggregation upon thermal treatment with citric acid pyrolysis in air.


structure

Common mistakes in the Introduction

Ideas are not logically organized

Important topics in the Introduction are not mentioned again in the Results/Discussion

Important topics in the Results/Discussion are not mentioned in the Introduction

Cited studies are not up-to-date

Cited studies are geographically biased

Why study needs to be done?

Keep focused

Write last

<5 years

International


structure Methods/Experimental

How it was done

• General methods • Specific techniques – Discuss controls

• Quantification methods • Models/equations • Statistical tests

What/who was studied

• Samples or participants • Materials/databases

– Where purchased

How it was analyzed

Consult a statistician!

What did you do?


structure

Established techniques

• Cite previously published studies • Briefly state modifications • Use flow chart/table if needed

• Explain purposes; justify choices • Give enough detail for reproducibility • Use Supplementary Information

Organization • Arrange in (titled) subsections • Keep parallel to the display items • Use topic sentences

New techniques

Methods/Experimental

Caution notices for dangerous substances/processes …No incidents occurred; researchers have to be qualified and trained, and use

suitable protocols, precautions, and facilities


structure Describing processes

PVA

PVA solution Titanium and

niobium powder

Dry body

The PVA and water were mixed to form a PVA solution.

Implant

The PVA solution and titanium and niobium powder were mixed to form a mixed paste.

The mixed paste was dried to form a dry body.

The dry body was heated to give the implant.

Water

Mixed paste


structure

PVA and water were mixed and then combined with titanium and niobium power to form a mixed paste. The mixed paste was dried overnight at

to form a dry body, which was then heated at to give the implant.

Add full details

The PVA and water were mixed to form a PVA solution. The PVA solution and titanium and niobium powder were mixed to form a mixed paste. The mixed paste was dried to form a dry body. The dry body was heated to give the implant.

Avoid redundancy

Describing processes


structure Results

1. Synthesis 2. Characterization 3. Application

Logical presentation

What did you find?

Example:

1. Fabricate new membrane for water treatment

2. Evaluate physical and chemical properties (e.g., under different temperatures/pressures)

3. Efficacy in removing particulate contamination


structure

1. Initial observation/synthesis 2. Characterization/development 3. Application

Each subsection corresponds to one figure/method; use informative subheadings

What you found, not what it means

Supplementary Info; accessibility


Subsections

Factual description

What did you find?

Results


structure Combined Methods–Results

Method Results

Figure 1

Method Results

Figure 2

Method Results

Figure 3

Method Results

Figure 4

Initial observation


Characterization

Application


structure

7-hydroxy-2-(2-methoxyphenyl)chromenylium hydrogen sulfate (1, C16H14O7S) Rust-colored powder, 0.994 g (95 %). M.p.: 100–107 °C (decomposed); 1H NMR (400 MHz, MeOH-d4) δ = 9.2 (d, 1H, J = 8.7 Hz), δ = 8.7 (d, 2H, J = 8.7 Hz), δ = 8.4 (dd, 1H, J = 8.08, 1.6 Hz), δ = 8.2 (d, 1H, J = 9.0 Hz), δ = 7.8 (td, 1H, J = 7.9, 1.6 Hz), δ = 7.51 (d, 1H, J = 1.6 Hz), δ = 7.48 (dd, 1H, J = 9.0, 2.2 Hz), δ = 7.38 (d, 1H, J = 8.6 Hz), δ = 7.3 (m, 1H), δ = 4.1 (s, 3H); 13C NMR (100 MHz, MeOH-d4) δ 170.3, 170.0. 161.1, 160.3, 154.5, 137.8, 132.8, 131.0, 122.1, 121.7, 119.9, 117.8, 117.0, 113.0, 102.1 55.6 ppm; HRMS (ESI) m/z 253.0897 (M+ ), calcd for C16H13O3 253.0865.

Characterization data

Check guidelines for how to present chemical data (e.g., Supplementary Info)

Barcena et al. SpringerPlus. 2015; 4: 499.


structure

Treatment A reduced soil lead levels by 32.7% and increased soil pH by 12.3%. Treatment B reduced soil lead levels by 22.3% and increased soil pH by 15.6%. Treatment C reduced soil lead levels by 38.1% and increased soil pH by 6.9%.

Describe relationships among your results


structure

Treatment C reduced soil lead levels (38.1%) more effectively than treatments A (32.7%) and B (22.3%). However, treatment B increased soil pH levels (15.6%) more effectively than treatments A (12.3%) and C (6.9%).

Describe relationships among your results


structure

Present large amount of data quickly and efficiently

Keep it simple: use separate panels if necessary

Must be able to stand alone: clear labels and

figure legends; no abbreviations

Usually the first thing readers will look at

Figures, graphs & tables

Display items


structure

SEM images of Bentheimer sample 1 before and after damage (10 g/L barite). (a) and (b) show the undamaged plug, only quartz crystals can be seen, (c) and (d) show the sample after damage, adhesion between quartz (gray) and barite (white) can be seen, (e) and (f) show the adhesion between barite particles in the damaged plug. The black arrows point towards barite-quartz and barite-barite interfaces.

Figures

Clear figure legend

Al-Yaseri et al. J Petrol Sci Eng. 2015; DOI 10.1016/j.petrol.2015.01.018.

Title of the experiment

Key findings

Clear indicators


structure Tables vs. graphs

Type A Type B Type C

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

Aluminum

Gold

Figure 1. Efficiency of various solar cell types using aluminum and gold electrodes

Effi

cien

cy (

%)

Which electrode gives a more efficient solar cell?


structure Tables vs. graphs

What is the highest efficiency achieved?

Table 1. Efficiency of solar cells using aluminum and gold electrodes


structure

Independent variables

Table formatting

Raj et al. PLoS ONE. 2014; 9: doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0106210.

Symbols defined

Dependent variable;

N numbers given

Table 1. Demographic profiles of ever-married women aged 20–24 years for most recent Demographic Health Survey data from Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and Pakistan.

Clear and concise table title


structure

What’s wrong with this line graph?


structure Line graphs

Zhu et al. Sci Rep. 2013; 3: 3163.

Quantized water transport: Ideal desalination through graphyne-4 membrane

The uniaxial stress-strain curves of graphene sheet (GR), as well as graphyne-1 to graphyne-6, along (a) the reclined chair direction, and (b) zigzag direction.

Dependent variable

Independent variable

Use colors and shapes to differentiate lines

Define abbreviations


structure Discussion

Summary of results

Relevance

Conclusion

Similarities/differences Unexpected/negative results Limitations (validity, reliability)

Implications

Previous studies

Current study

Future studies

Specific

General

How do you advance your field?


structure Combined Results–Discussion

Results Interpretation

Figure 1


Figure 2


Figure 3


Figure 4

Initial observation


Characterization

Application


structure Combined Methods– Results–Discussion

Methods & Results Interpretation

Figure 1


Figure 2


Figure 3


Figure 4

Initial observation


Characterization

Application


structure

Writing the beginning of your Discussion

State the major conclusion of the study

Nitrogen pollution in household wastewater tends to lead to eutrophication in natural waters, which can diminish water quality and ecosystem services. However, the comparative cost and effectiveness of conventional and alternative wastewater treatment strategies to reduce nitrogen have not been clearly evaluated. In this study, we have shown that the most cost-effective alternatives for mitigating nitrogen are decentralized systems, paired with conventional septic systems as necessary. Sensitivity analysis shows that...

Re-introduction

Conclusion

Modified from: Wood et al. J Environ Manage. 2015; 150: 344–354.

Problem

NOTE: For short papers/discussions, just summarize results at the start


structure

Modified from: Ketola & Hiltunen. Ecol Evol. 2014; 4: 3901–3908.

Compare your results/interpretations with those published by others

Writing the middle of your Discussion

Comparison with previous studies

Current finding

Potential reasons

Our observations suggest that fluctuating growth conditions did not select for generalism at the tested salinity levels. This finding is in contrast to several studies where evidence for an evolved generalism was found to be the consequence of fluctuating environments (Buckling et al. 2006, Ketola et al. 2013, 2014; Condon et al. 2014). One explanation for the lack of expected adaptation in fluctuating environments in the current study could be that our salinity fluctuations were too coarse-grained…


structure

Describe limitations and negative results

Why?

Reporting transparency

• Allows complete evaluation of your study • Prevents others from repeating those experiments • Allows others to modify those experiments • Prevents funding agencies from wasting money

Data repositories

Writing the middle of your Discussion


structure

Readers use sentence structure to determine emphasis

• Stress position • Main clause vs. subordinate clause • Clause length

Useful in the Discussion Vary emphasis of your interpretations

Contrasting ideas


structure Contrasting ideas

Main vs. subordinate clause

Although the study design is not perfect, you deserve funding.

Subordinate Main

Linking word

• Although • Even though • While • Whereas

Subordinate clauses say 2 things:

• Idea may not be important • There is a contrasting idea coming


structure Discussing limitations

Although this study was limited by its small sample size, our results demonstrate that people using customizable news aggregation pages give high user experience scores.

Although our results demonstrate that page customization is useful, the study was limited by its small sample size.

Bad news = Subordinate clause at the start

Bad news = Main clause in stress position

Bad news = Subordinate clause at start Good news = LONG main clause in stress position


structure

What do you want people to remember?

Writing the end of your Discussion

May be a separate section

May be a “Future work” section

In conclusion, polymeric nanoparticles could be used as a generic carrier of hydrophobic drugs for efficient delivery. Compared with drug administration alone, these nanoparticles mediated a higher and more rapid uptake of the encapsulated drug by nanoparticle-cell contact-mediated transfer. A contact-mediated mechanism of delivery into the cytosol could enable effective delivery of anticancer drugs directly to the intracellular molecular targets. Further understanding of this contact-based transfer mechanism will be important to exploit this novel delivery system for the administration of hydrophobic chemotherapeutic drugs to improve cancer therapy.

Conclusion

Key finding

Implications

Future directions

Modified from: Snipstad et al. Cancer Nanotech. 2014; 5: 8.


structure Link your ideas

General background

Aims

Methodology

Results and figures

Summary/interpretation of results

Conclusion & implications

Relevance of findings


Current state of the field Introduction

Methods

Results

Discussion

Solution

Situation/Problem

Evaluation/Comment


structure Link your ideas

Improvements for MoS2 transistors have been hampered by the presence of a Schottky barrier.

We investigated the high-temperature behavior of the Schottky barrier of MoS2 transistors.

High-performance 2D multilayer MoS2 transistors with a slightly negative Schottky barrier can be

realized.

Problem

Objectives

Conclusion

Discussion

Introduction

Modified from: Lee et al. J Korean Phys Soc 2014; 64: L945–L948

Activity 3


Attract your readers through titles and

abstracts

Section 4

Attract your readers Title and abstract

First impression of paper: clear/concise/convincing

Importance of your results

Validity of your conclusions

Relevance of your aims

Your title & abstract should attract readers

It sells your work: Readers judge your style & credibility

Often first or only part that is read by readers/reviewers


Title

Important points

Only main idea/s Accurate, simple Population/model Include keywords Fewer than 20 words Include method/

study type

Avoid

Unneeded words (“A study of”) Sensationalism, journalistic style Complex word order Abbreviations, jargon “New” or “novel”


Title

Interrogative Quantifying electron transfer reactions in biological systems: what interactions

play the major role?

Indicative/ Descriptive

Highly efficient light management for perovskite solar cells

… + Method (subtitle)

Distribution of cations in FeSbO4: A computer modeling study

Assertive/ Declarative

Coral mucus fuels the sponge loop in warm- and cold-water coral reef

ecosystems / Insect stereopsis demonstrated using a 3D insect cinema

Attract your readers Structured abstracts

Aim Objective, hypothesis

Results Most important findings

Conclusion Relevance, implications

Methods Techniques, measurements

No references, jargon, unusual abbreviations, figures/tables

Background Context, problem

Attract your readers Unstructured abstract

In the Tahe oilfield in China, heavy oil is commonly lifted using the light oil blending technology. However, due to the lack of light oil, the production of heavy oil has been seriously limited. Thus, a new compound technology of light oil blending and electric heating is discussed in this paper, which aims to reduce the usage of light oil and maintain heavy oil production. Based on the mass, momentum and energy conservation, a pressure and temperature coupling model is developed. The heat-transfer parameters are calculated by using Hasan–Kabir method and the pressure drop is calculated by using Hagedorn–Brown method. The model also considers the blend effect of light oil and heavy oil, and the heating effect of electric rod. Example calculation shows that only electric heating or light oil blending technology cannot meet the requirement. The amount of light oil used can be reduced by combining the electric heating technology.

Zhu et al. J Petrol Explor Prod Technol. 2014; DOI: 10.1007/s13202-014-0126-x.

Attract your readers Unstructured abstract

Conclusion The amount of light oil used can be reduced by combining the electric heating technology.

Methods/ results

Based on the mass, momentum and energy conservation, a pressure and temperature coupling model is developed. The heat-transfer parameters are calculated by using Hasan–Kabir method and the pressure drop is calculated by using Hagedorn–Brown method. The model also considers the blend effect of light oil and heavy oil, and the heating effect of electric rod. Example calculation shows that only electric heating or light oil blending technology cannot meet the requirement.

Aims Thus, a new compound technology of light oil blending and electric heating is discussed in this paper, which aims to reduce the usage of light oil and maintain heavy oil production.

Background In the Tahe oilfield in China, heavy oil is commonly lifted using the light oil blending technology. However, owing to the lack of light oil, the production of heavy oil has been seriously limited.

Modified from: Zhu et al. J Petrol Explor Prod Technol. 2014; DOI: 10.1007/s13202-014-0126-x.

Attract your readers

Physical science abstracts (short)

Aims

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Why the study was done

Your objective/hypothesis

Techniques, models

Most important findings

Conclusion/implications


A model has been developed to predict growth kinetics of the intermetallic phases (IMCs) formed in a reactive diffusion couple between two metals for the case where multiple IMC phases are observed. The model explicitly accounts for the effect of grain boundary diffusion through the IMC layer, and can thus be used to explore the effect of IMC grain size on the thickening of the reaction layer. The model has been applied to the industrially important case of aluminum to magnesium alloy diffusion couples in which several different IMC phases are possible. It is demonstrated that there is a transition from grain boundary-dominated diffusion to lattice-dominated diffusion at a critical grain size, which is different for each IMC phase.

Modified from: Wang et al. Metall Mater Trans A. 2015; 46: 4106–4114.

Physical science abstracts (short)

What you did

What you found


Check author guidelines

Check recently published articles

Consider your audience

For interdisciplinary audiences, include background and conclusion

Identify journal editor preference

What the journal requires

Physical science abstracts

When should you include background and conclusions?

Attract your readers Graphical abstracts

Visually demonstrate key features of the study Help readers quickly identify suitable articles

Carbon-layer protected cuprous oxide nanowire arrays for efficient water reduction

Zhang et al. ACS Nano. 2013;7:1709–1717.

Attract your readers Highlight statements

Clear summaries for quick overview 3–5 bullet points

(maximum 85–100 characters per bullet, including spaces; no abbreviations)

Political Geography Computers & Education

Journal of Computational Physics Current Applied Physics Chemical Physics Letters

International Journal of Research in Marketing: 3–5 bullets of core results

(in online version of table of contents and maybe paper)


Search Engine Optimization

Identify 7–8 keywords (try to use standard terms*)

Use 2 in your title; 5–6 in the keyword list

Use 3 keywords 3–4 times in your abstract

Use keywords in headings when appropriate

Be consistent throughout your paper; include some synonyms

Cite your previous publications when relevant

*Standard terms from PsycINFO, BIOSIS, ChemWeb, ERIC Thesaurus, GeoRef, MeSH, etc


Activity 4

S

Be an effective communicator

Your goal is not only to publish, but also to be widely read and cited


Write your ideas clearly

Logically present your research

Thank you!

Any questions?

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Trevor Lane: [email protected] Kate Harris: [email protected]