How to write an Award-Winning Paper - PowerPoint Presentation

Slide1

How to write an Award-Winning Paper

Bessie Ann Young,

NMRI Meeting April 19, 2013

Associate Professor

University of Washington

Slide2

Outline of Talk

Why are papers important in academia?

Why should you write up your results

What constitutes the basic outline for a great paper?

Abstract

Introduction

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusions

Slide3

Why are papers important in academia?

Manuscripts are the “Coin of the Realm”

It allows people to see how you think and how you write

Publishing is necessary

to stay in academics

Papers are necessary for promotion

If you don’t want to be promoted, don’t write any papers!

Number of papers needed varies depending on your track

Clinician educators may not need as many and can do more reviews

Physician scientists need as many as possible and they need to be in good journals with high impact factors.

Slide4

Why should you write up your results

If you don’t write up your results, either your mentor or someone else in your

group will

or your competitor

It is a sign of productivity and accomplishment.

If your results are not written up and published, it is as if the study was never done.

It is important for your own sense of accomplishment to write up your results.

Publishing is important for

grants, getting an academic position, and promotion

.

Slide5

What constitutes the basic outline for a great paper?

IMRaD

: Introduction, Methods, Results and Discussion

Or

AIMRad

Abstract

Introduction

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion

Slide6

Abstract

Sometimes the easiest to write, but sometimes the most difficult piece of the paper

Abstracts are written early for submission to meetings

Usually very structured

Can write the initial abstract but should always review after you have written the paper

Results and conclusions in the abstract should be exactly the same as those presented in the results and conclusions sections.

This is important because it may be the only part of the paper editors read prior to make a decision regarding reviewing your paper!

Slide7

Abstract

Background/Rationale

Why you are writing this paper and how does it contribute to the literature

Methods/materials

Clinical research-study design, populations, statistical methods used

Basic research- study design, animal

vs

cell culture

vs

other

Results

Concise and most important results

What should readers take away from this paper?

Summary

May or may not need to include in the abstract

Conclusion

Tell your audience why this piece of work is important!

Slide8

Common Mistakes

Abstract is too long

 it should be approximately 250 words

Using a meeting abstract for the manuscript

Revise the manuscript abstract accordingly

Abstract is unnecessarily complicated

Remember: The abstract is a general summary of your manuscript!

Browner, Publishing and Presenting Clinical Research

Slide9

Introduction: Why

Usually 3 paragraphs

Background and holes in the literature



2

paragraphs

One paragraph to describe why you did your study and tentatively what you found

Briefly describe the problem and gap in the literature

Don’t describe all of the background literature here

Hypothesis, aim or goal: clearly describe what your hypothesis is and how this adds to the literature

Describe what you did and what question you answered with your study.

Slide10

Checklist for the Introduction

Are the four major elements present

Background

Existing research

Problems with that research

Your improvements

After reading your abstract, could someone not familiar with the field be able to describe why your study was done and how your study will improve on existing knowledge?

Use an objective tone when criticizing prior work?

They may be your reviewers!

Does your study describe how it addresses previous gaps in the literature?

W.Browner

Slide11

Methods: Who, What, Where and How

Clinical Epidemiology or Health Services Paper

Population/subjects: describe who was in your study

Describe what type of study you conducted

Prospective, randomized controlled trial, cohort study, cross over study

Cross sectional, longitudinal study

What are your primary predictors

Exposure of interest, age, sex, race

What are your adjustment covariates?

Age, sex, race, other

What is your primary outcome variable(s)

Statistical Analysis

Chi-squared for categorical variables

Student-t test for means of continuous variables

Logistic regression for a binary dichotomous outcome

Linear regression for continuous outcomes

Time to Event, survival or Cox models for survival

Randomized controlled trial, other studies

IRB: include information on humans subject study approval

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Materials and Methods: Basic Research

M/M include a descriptive summary of all materials used and the methods for each experiment.

Sections should be labeled or have sub-headings possibly based on experiments

May divide into experimental design and data collection.

One section should include animal guideline compliance.

All materials should have references to place of origin.

Experiments should be written such that someone could reproduce your results if they wanted to.

Slide13

Results: what you found

The results section should contain results!

No interpretations, no references to other work!

Describe what you found and do not present conclusions here.

For clinical research

:

Table 1 should be your demographics of your study or characteristics of study participants

Additional tables may describe additional characteristics by exposure variables or by the outcome

Last paragraphs should describe all results from multivariable or other statistical analyses.

Add figures to clarify results

Slide14

Results: what you found

The results section should contain results!

No interpretations, no references to other work!

Describe what you found and do not present conclusions here.

For Basic research

:

Report all results.

Include tables or graphs if it makes the data clearer

Present original data

 gels, blots, histology

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Discussion: interpretation of the results

Clinical

Epi

or Health Services

Describe briefly what you found in the first paragraph (1 paragraph).

Compare your results to what is out there in the literature (2-4 paragraphs).

Do not present a complete literature review, but keep your comments focused.

Include relevant studies

Mechanisms

 why do you think you found your specific results?

Limitations: list up front what the limitations of your study are or else reviewers will do it for you.

Power

Limited number of variables

Cross-sectional data, not a randomized trial

May include strengths as well

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Discussion: interpretation of the results

Basic Research

First paragraph should interpret findings and state whether the hypothesis has been proven or rejected.

Further interpretation of results compared to the existing literature

Not a literature review

Outline conclusions

Can be a separate section of conclusions

Outline where you as the researcher intend to go next with your studies

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Conclusions

Outline all of your conclusions

Briefly confirm what your study found

How does your study compare to other studies in the literature

Where should the field go next?

What studies do you plan next

But don’t give too much away!

Slide18

Acknowledgements

Include people who helped you with the paper, but may not have contributed enough to be an author.

Make sure to include people on the paper who should be included

Each journal has criteria for authorship

JAMA has detailed criteria for authorship

Anyone acknowledged should be told

Slide19

Title

Start with a draft title.

May want to finalize after the paper is written

Needs to be interesting but not too journalistic

There are several types of titles:

The Description

How to write an award-winning Scientific Paper

The Topic/Description

Scientific Paper: How to write an award-winning one

The Statement

Writing an award-winning scientific paper is easy if you know how

The Question

How do you write an award-winning scientific paper?

Slide20

References

Use an reference library to do your literature review and add references to your paper

Examples are

Reference manager (? Is it still around)

Endnote-now with a web version you can use anywhere

They come out with new versions every couple of years that require you to learn how to use it again.

Look at the journal you are going to submit your paper to and change the references accordingly.

Follow directions.

Slide21

Bessie’s Rules

Give yourself time to write the paper

Block out time on your schedule

Start with an outline of your sections and fill in the blanks

IMRaD

: Introduction, Methods, Results and Discussion

Start with topic sentences for your outline and you have already written a large section of the paper

“Write the paper before you start the experiment”

Write the introduction, methods, and parts of the discussion before you start the experiment

Write the paper as you do your experiments

Write a little each day if possible

Give your manuscript to your colleagues for feedback and editing

Give your mentor enough time to read the paper and respond

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Other Comments

Writing well does not come easy to most people

Read what you have written and revise before you give it to other people to read.

Make your sentences clear

Shorter is better (most always)

Use linking words:

However, indeed, rather, moreover, on the other hand, by contrast, in comparison, surprisingly, and consistent with…

Use the correct verb tense in each manuscript section

Introduction

 present tense

Methods and results past tense

Discussion past tense for your results you just presented

Slide23

Overcoming Writer’s Block

WB



Inability to p

ut thoughts about a project into words

Browner

Many people have writer’s block.

Approach systematically

Make a list of what needs to be accomplished

Assemble materials in a single folder or computer file

Set aside time every day to write (30minutes)

Set a goal for each day

 Give yourself a deadline

Write the easy sections first

 methods or results

Slide24

Summary

Manuscripts (and grants) are the academic currency; we live and die by them.

Scientific paper writing should follow a format/structure that allows for ease of writing.

Develop a strategy to allow yourself time for writing.

Give yourself deadlines for portions of the paper

Write sections of the paper

Give yourself adequate time to write the paper

Refer to references for style

Write up your results in a timely fashion.

If English is not your first language or you have difficulty with grammar, get editorial help from native speakers

Develop a thick skin

Slide25

Books and Style Guides

Strunk

and White

,

The Elements of Style

Day R

, How to write and publish a scientific paper

Iverson

,

AMA Manuel of Style

Huth

,

Writing and Publishing in Medicine

The Economist,

Style Guide

Sheen,

Breathing Life Into Medical Writing: a Handbook

Browner W

, Publishing and Presenting Clinical Research

Slide26

References

Van Way, C. Writing a Scientific Paper. Nutrition in Clinical Practice, 2007, 22:636-640.

Alexandrov

, A. How to Write a Research Paper.

Cerebrovasc

Disease, 2004; 18:135-38.

Pololi

,

Lz

. Facilitating Scholarly Writing in Academic Medicine, J Gen In Medicine, 2004;19:64-68.

Slide27

Grammar…

“I had to re-write your paper so that I could read it!”

W.

Couser

Edward Good

, A

Grammar Book for You and I (Oops, Me): All the Grammar You Need to Succeed in

Life

“Procrastination behaviors can be attributed to a fear that the manuscript will be rejected.”

Browner