Lecture 8: Paper writing – putting the story together

Title Authorship Abstract Introduction Methods Results (& Discussion) Discussion Conclusions Acknowledgements References Table and Figure

captions Tables Figures

Classical structure

Writing tips

Construct a flow chart or a set of dot point Introduction

Reason for study List of key references to include Objectives of paper

Methods Site description Instrumentation used Climate

Results Organise figures and tables in logical order to provide

the set of arguments you wish to present ………

Title

Should capture key content of study Use it as a headline to attract readers

if it worth writing, it should be worth reading Use the fewest possible words to

describe accurately content of the paper Omit waste words

"A study of ...", Indexing and abstracting services

depend on accuracy of the title

Abstract

Allows reader to identify content of paper quickly and accurately determine its relevance to their interests decide whether to read the document does not present methods

In < 250 words states objectives and scope of the investigation summarizes results and principal conclusions

Is self-contained Is published separately by abstracting services e.g.

Biological Abstracts, Current Contents … Omit references to literature, tables or figures

Keywords

Used by the indexing and abstracting services, in addition to those in the title

Increase ease of finding your paper by interested readers

Writing tips

Start in the middle e.g. Methods – this is easy and gets you started

Write Results Organize figures and tables in a logical order Helps you develop your story

Write Discussion Write Introduction

You have your story, now set it in context of existing work, define your objectives etc.

Housekeeping Abstract References

Introduction

Main goal is to tell the reader what the paper is about

Why is the work being done? briefly introduce relevant literature justify interest in the topic

What hypotheses are being tested? state clearly the scope and objectives of the study what approach does paper take to answer the

questions posed? How will the paper advance or improve on

previous work? e.g. refining or increasing scientific knowledge describing a new method Developing a new theory

Materials & Methods

Use sub-headings to describe: Theory & equations used to analyze & interpret

results (use equation numbers for cross-reference)

Details of study site Location Vegetation type, species, land cover … Climate

Instrumentation Equipment and materials available commercially

should be described exactly e.g. Li-7500 (Licor Inc., Lincoln, NB, USA)

Data processing, quality control Describe processing steps such as editing, gap filling Include errors of measurement

Results (& Discussion)

Let the data do the talking Present results in a logical sequence to

support your thesis/objectives Present analyzed & condensed data, not raw

results State your findings clearly using simple

sentences Describe what you want the reader to learn from

each Figure or Table, do not let them guess e.g. ‘Figure 2 shows an exponential dependence of

respiration on soil temperature.’ NOT ‘Figure 2 shows the soil respiration data.’

Writing tips

Copy your figures into one spreadsheet This maintains linkages with primary sources (show example)

Use cross referencing between referenced to figures and tables in text to caption labels

Useful if order is later changed

Text (Insert, Reference, Caption OK) Figure 1 shows that …. . . . Figure Captions Figure 1. Respiration as a function of temperature

Writing tips

Discussion

Your explanation and interpretation of the data How do results confirm/refute hypotheses being tested? How do your results compare with published material?

Cross-reference your results but do not repeat or introduce new data

Do not extend your conclusions beyond those directly supported by your results

Discuss the significance of the results Do not leave the reader thinking "So what?” How does your paper advance knowledge?

Conclusions

Inferences that can be drawn from your paper A list of the main points you want the reader to

learn from your research Emphasize the key points, especially for

readers who have waded through the discussion but are still asking "So what is the bottom line here?"

Not a summary of the entire paper

Acknowledgements

List of those who helped in the work but did not contribute to the scientific interpretation

Technical assistance Financial assistance

References

List of all references cited in text, Tables and Figures

Consult recent issues of the selected journal for referencing style

Cross-check with text carefully Are listed references in text, Tables and

Figures? Are references in text, Tables and Figures in

the list?

Table & Figure captions

Captions must be self-explanatory Enable reader to interpret table or figure

without reading text. Reader’s time is precious

1st line of caption is its title Ensure tables & figures are cross-

referenced in text Type captions on a separate page

Tables

Make Tables clear and simple Include only essential data Like elements should read down Clear headings with units

Caption self explanatory

Example Table

Table 1. Regression equations relating plant component respiration rate to air temperature.

Plant component

Period Units Regression equation r2 n

Canopy leaves RL

night mol CO2 m-2

leaf s-1

0.41 exp(0.0575 Ta) 0.89 22

Trunks – rough bark RTr

night and day

mol CO2 m-3

sapwood s-1

0.34 Ta + 3.93 0.93 13

Trunks – gum bark RTg

day mol CO2 m-3

sapwood s-1

2.0 RTr 8

Trunks – gum bark RTg

night mol CO2 m-3

sapwood s-1

4.1 RTr 8

Where, RL = canopy leaf respiration rate

RTr = trunk rough bark respiration rate

RTg = trunk gum bark respiration rate

Example Table, some improvement

Table 1. Relationships between air temperature and respiration of leaves and trunks. Gum-bark respiration, RTg, is a multiple of rough- bark respiration. Chlorophyll in gum-bark reduces daytime RTg relative to nightime RTg.

Plant component

Period Units Regression equation r2 n

Canopy leaves RL

night mol CO2 m-2

leaf s-1

0.41 exp(0.0575 Ta) 0.89 22

Trunks – rough bark RTr

night and day

mol CO2 m-3

sapwood s-1

0.34 Ta + 3.93 0.93 13

Trunks – gum bark RTg

day mol CO2 m-3

sapwood s-1

2.0 RTr 8

Trunks – gum bark RTg

night mol CO2 m-3

sapwood s-1

4.1 RTr 8

Where, RL = canopy leaf respiration rate

RTr = trunk rough bark respiration rate

RTg = trunk gum bark respiration rate

Redundant information

Figures

Keep figures clear and simple Max of 4 lines per panel

Use multiple panels if needed Figures will be smaller when printed Figures will be in black and white

Harder to read than colour Label axes clearly

Be consistent throughout paper Use large font Include units

Time series at Virginia Park

-100

100

300

500

700

01/09/2001 03/09/2001 05/09/2001 07/09/2001

DateH

or

lE

(W m

-2)

-30

-20

-10

0

10

Fc

(m

ol C

O2

m-2

s-1

)

Average of heat_flux

Average of LEtot

Average of Fctot

0

10

20

30

01/09/2001 03/09/2001 05/09/2001 07/09/2001

Date

Wa

ter

va

po

r p

res

su

re (

hP

a)

250

300

350

400

CO

2 m

ixin

g r

ati

o (

pp

m)

Average of Water vapour pressure

Average of Vaisala_H2O

Average of CO2 mixing ratio

Original spreadsheet figures in colour

Time series at Virginia Park

Figure for paper in black and white

Just marginal for clarity

Figure 6. Time series of (a) the fluxes of H, λE and Fc and (b) CO2 mixing

ratio and water vapour pressure measured using a LI-7500 open-path

infrared gas analyser and water vapour pressure from a Vaisala relative

humidity sensor. Note the strong and rapid variations in humidity

associated with synoptic weather fronts and with nocturnal boundary layer

formation and dissipation.

Writing style

Clarity Concise Logical Fluent

Accurate Pay attention to detail

Be concise

“It is clearly shown in Figure 1 that the annual mean CO2 flux at Virginia Park (5 mol m-2 s-1) was lower than at Tumbarumba (10 mmol m-2 s-

1)” “The annual mean CO2 flux at Virginia Park was

5 mol m-2 s-1 and 10 mmol m-2 s-1 at Tumbarumba (Figure 1).”

“The data that were obtained by Leuning et al. (2005) were probably showed that drought stress caused a reduction in GPP…”

“Leuning et al. (2005) found that GPP was reduced by drought stress”

Use shorter sentences

“The success of the flux station methodology relies on the combination of carbon cycle measurements to provide detailed process understanding on short to medium time scales, satellite-derived radiances that provide global coverage at daily time steps, and soil-vegetation-atmospheric models that are informed and parameterised by these measurements.” (48 words)

“Measurements at flux stations describe ecosystem processes on short to medium time scales and provide data to test and paramaterise soil-vegetation-atmospheric models. Extrapolation to large space and time scales is possible when flux measurements and models are combined with MODIS remote sensing.” (42 words)

Check your paper

Get colleagues to proof-read your paper!

Make sure English is first rate Editors will not accept poorly written

papers Pay attention to details

Submitting a paper

Assemble manuscript with figures and tables

Check for errors one more time Write letter to editor

Say why your paper will be of interest to journal

Corresponding author Submit to one journal at a time

Acknowledgements

Prof, Elaine K Gallin, Program Director For Medical Research At The Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, USAhttp://www.aaas.org/international/eca/present/SciPaper/sld001.htm

http://aerg.canberra.edu.au/edupaper.htm