SCI2010-Writing+Session+1+x+(prep++outline)

ScientificWriting,Editing,andPublishingRuiwenZhang,MD,PhD,DABT张瑞稳博士ChairandProfessor,PharmaceuticalSciencesTexasTechUniversityHealthSciencesCenterAmarillo,Texas79106,[e-mail]2010ScientificWriting,Editing,andPublishingSession1IntroductiontoBiomedicalManuscriptsPreparationandOutlinesSession1Accomplishtechnicallycompetent,thorough,andethicalresearchEmployobjectivescientificjudgmentandseekappropriateadvice.Publishhonestreportsinatimelyfashion.ObligationsofaScientistQ&A:WhichofthefollowingisMostImportantorDifficulttoPerform?SelectthedataSelectatargetjournalWriteanEnglishpaperPrepareacoverletterCommunicatewithEditors“LearntoWriteWell,orNotWriteatAll.”JohnDryden,Poet“AvoidingBoringPeople.”AbooktitlefromJamesWatson,NoblelaureateWriteorNoWrite,SpeakorNoSpeak,DependingonYourAbilitytoDeliver.WritingandSpeakingWellSession1MybeliefAccomplishtechnicallycompetent,thorough,andethicalresearchEmployobjectivescientificjudgmentandseekappropriateadvice.Publishhonestreportsinatimelyfashion.ObligationsofaScientist(PhysicianScientist)Session1ComponentsofaResearchProjectHypothesisExperimentationPublicationSession1BenefitsofWritingSession1Tothinkmoreclearly.Tofulfilltheresponsibilitytoreportandshareinformationwiththescientificcommunity.Toproduceafinalproductofasuccessfulresearchproject.Toachievepersonalgain,establishoneselfasanexpert,andreceivegrantsandpromotions.Publicationsarethecurrencyoftheworldofscience.Notpeer-reviewedPeer-reviewedOriginalpapersReviewsMeetingabstractsConferencereportsGrantApplicationsFellowshipproposalsBooks,chaptersBookreviewsTeachingmaterialsTheses/dissertationsEditorialcommentsLetterstotheeditorResearchreports(sometimes)WebpagesCorrespondenceConfidentialreportsPublicNotpublicTypesofScientificWritingSession1HypothesisOverview:TheResearchProcessSubmittheManuscriptPrepareaFinalDraftPrepareaRevisedDraftPrepareaDraftPrepareanOutlineRevisetheHypothesisCompletionofExperimentsandDataAnalysisExperimentalDesignSession1Overview:ThePublicationProcessSubmittheManuscriptAssignmentandPeerReviewEditorialDecisionRejectionRevisionAcceptancePublicationRebuttalTheResearchProcessResubmissionRe-reviewRejectionSession1•Definition•Compare-contrast•Enumeration/Illustration•Cause-effectMajorTechniquesinScientificWritingSession1English:theuniversallanguageofscience-EugeneGarfield,1987Reader-oriented----SharinginformationThreeThingstoAvoid•Laboratoryjargon•Inventedwords•Non-standardabbreviationsPurposeful----Conveyinformation,ideas,conceptsPrecise----ChoosewordsmeanttobesaidAccurate----Conformity,actual(true)stateCharacteristicsofScientificWriting(1)Session1Clear•Reachestheaudiencewiththesamemeaningithad•ShouldNOTbeinterpretedinmorethanoneway----Avoid•Whensomethingissaidforthefirsttime,clarityisessential.Concise•Expresses,coversmuchinfewwords•ThebestEnglishisthatwhichgivesthesenseinthefewestshortwords.–InstructionstoAuthors,JournalofBacteriology.Simple----Easytounderstand,notelaborateorartificial,notornate,notcomplicatedIllustrated----“Apictureisworthathousandwords.”MakeuseofgoodfiguresandtablesCharacteristicsofScientificWriting(2)Session1SinsofLanguageexcessmaliceignorancedishonestyomissionMisunderstandingMisleadingHarmSession1Firstreportofthedata(originalpaper)Originalresearchresults(notme-too)Allowpeerstorepeatthereportedexperiments(notnecessarilytheresults)PublishinajournalorotherpublicsourcedocumentAvailabletothescientificcommunityBereceivedandunderstoodCharacteristicsofaValidManuscript(1)Session1Characteristicformat----IMRAD(Introduction,Methods(&Materials),Results,andDiscussion)•Introduction:Whatquestionwasstudied?•Methods:Howwasitstudied?•Results:Whatwerethefindings?•Discussion:Whatdothefindingsmean?Thislogichelpstheauthororganizeandwritethemanuscript.TraditionalformatCancerResearchPNASUSAAlternativeformat:Introduction,Results,Discussion,andMethods(&Materials)EMBOJOncogeneLetterformatNatureScienceCharacteristicsofaValidManuscript(2)Session1StepsinWritingaManuscript(1)Session1Q:ProfessionalWritingService?ReadingThinkingWritingRevisingIsthereastorytotell?Whatwastherationalefortheproject?DidIperformathoroughliteraturereview?Whatisthehistoricalcontextofthework?DidIhaveaclearhypothesis?Didtheexperimentstestthathypothesis?Istheexperimentaldesigndefendable?CanIjustifywhatIdid?DidIuseappropriatecontrols?Howdomyfindingsrelatetotheexistingknowledge?Ten(10)KeyQuestionsSession1StepsinWritingaManuscript(2)SearchandReviewtheLiterature:UseMEDLINE+othersourcesSearchusingallappropriatekeywordsSummarizerelevantpointsofrelatedarticlesPrepareanOutlinePreparationforcesyoutothinkandorganize.Allpointsshouldbesupportedbyappropriatedata.Givesalogical,step-by-steporderinwhichthemanuscriptwillbepresented.Gapscanbefilledin,andextraneousmaterialcanbeeliminated.Writingcanbedonewithlessinterruption.Session1Ensurethatyouareup-to-dateontheliteratureinthefieldConfirmthattheresultsare“real”-i.e.,theycannotbeexplainedbyexperimentalerrorandhavebeenrepeatedCompletet