How to Write a Paper

How to Write a Paper Carl Che 2002.9

Outline • Introduction • Steps to Write a Paper • Market • Concept • Embodiment • Details • Bibliographies

Introduction • Guidance in Writing a Paper • Just Frame (Mike Ashby) • Not Content (Hang Li) • Not Publication (Ya-Qin Zhang) • What’s Good Written Papers? • Readable, Remembered, Cited • Wanna Write Something

Market • Market is Readers! • Thesis • Examiners – Details of All Research • Paper • Skilled Referees – Check • Scientifically-literate Public – Extract Information • Research Proposal • Funding Agency – Judge • Popular article • Intelligent but Un-informed Public

Concept • Making Concept-Sheet (Slides) • Structure Thinking • Freedom of thought • Range over Entire Paper • De-focus – Forget Details • The most satisfying Step of Writing

Concept-Sheet

Embodiment – First Draft • Do it in Any Order • Title • Abstract • Introduction • Method • Result • Discussion • Conclusion • Figures • …

How to Read a Paper • Title • Abstract • Conclusion • Figures • And Move on

Title • Meaningful and Brief • Consists of Keywords • Avoid Using Abbreviation

Abstract • Try for One Sentence each on: • Motive • Method • Key Results • Conclusions • Don’t exceed 3 sentences on Anyone • Whether to Read on

Conclusion • Most important results • List any reservations or limitations • Don’t duplicate the Abstract • Summing up of the advances • Bullet-Pointed List

Figures • Reproduced or imitated by others • Self-Contained • Title • Labeled Axes • Defined Units • …

Introduction • What’s the problem and why’s it interesting? • Who are the main contributors? • What did they do? • What novel thing will you reveal? • State you will do a new thing!

Method • Easy to write • Allow to be repeated by someone else • But no more • Keep results for the next section

Results • Easy to write, too • Present the Output • Concise and Meaningful • Don’t mix with Discussion

Discussion • Extract Principles, Relationships, Generalizations • Present Analysis, Model or Theory • Show relationship between the results and analysis, model or theory • Clear and Concise

Details • Grammar • Spelling • Punctuation • Style

Style • Be Clear • Write from an appropriate design • Define everything • Avoid empty words • Revise and rewrite • Do not overstate, over-emphasize or apologize

Style (Cont.) • Avoid being patronizing, condescending or eccentric • Use appropriate language • Good first sentence • Seek helpful examples and analogies • Linking • Observe good writing • Finally…

Bibliographies • How to Write a Paper • Mike Ashby • Some Notes on English Technical Writing • Hang Li • How to Publish a (good) Paper? • Ya-Qin Zhang • Efficient Reading of Papers in Science and Thchnology

Reading makes a full manconference a ready manand writing an exact man --- Francis Bacon

Thanks!

How to Write a Paper