Research Methodology and Scientific WritingClass 6 – Scientific Writing

Carlos A. Santos SilvaWS - Energia Chair Associate Professorcarlos.santos.silva@ist.utl.pt

Agenda

• Assignments overview • Research analysis and synthesis• Assignment

Problem Literature Review

Research Questions

Research Methods

Results Analysis

and Synthesis

Writing the paper/thesis

SCIENTIFIC WRITING

Writing process

1. Identify reader– Who will read it

2. Concept– Make a script

3. Embodiment– Fill in with information

4. Detail– Optimize language, clarity, style

5. Finalize– Optimize visual presentation

1 - Identify your readers

• Thesis– Examiners– Originality, methodology

• Papers– Reviewers– Originality, quality, clarity

• Research proposal– Funding agencies– Quality, potential

2 - Concept

• Define title• Define and organize

headings• Choose graphs• Choose references

Write a story that flows!

3 - Embodiment• It is not necessary to follow a sequence

– Introduction might be written at the end– However, when you read it, it should make chronological sense

• Avoid “…as we will explain we two sections ahead!!!”

• Typical research paper structure– Title– Abstract– Introduction– Methodology– Results– Discussion– Conclusion– References

• It is ok to call these sections other names!

The abstract

• Structure– Motive, – Method, – Key results,– Conclusions.

• One sentence each (optimal)– Don’t exceed 3 sentences on any one.

Introduction

• Structure– What is the problem and why is it interesting?– Who are the main contributors?– What did they do?– What novel thing will you reveal?

• Don’t start introductions with platitudes. – Tell the reader something he does not already know– Avoid

• It is widely accepted that My Topic is important …

Method• Explain method– Experimental paper

• equipment, materials, method– Modeling paper

• assumptions, mathematical tools, method– Computational paper

• inputs, computational tools, method• Explain what is especially different about your method.• Give sufficient detail that the reader can reproduce

what you did• Don’t mix Method with Results or Discussion—they

come next

Results discussion

• Extract principles, relationships, generalizations.

• Present analysis, model or theory.• Show relationship between the results and

analysis, model or theory.

Conclusions

• Draw together the most important results and their consequences.

• List any reservations or limitations.• Do not duplicate the Abstract as the

Conclusions or vice versa– The Abstract is an overview of the entire paper– The Conclusions are a summing up of the

advances in knowledge that have emerged from it

Figures

• Flow charts show methods, procedures.• Graphs plot data.• Schematics show how equipment works, or

illustrate a mechanism or model.• Drawings and photographs illustrate

equipment, microstructures etc.

Other topics

• Acknowledgements– Don´t forget to thank people who have helped you

with ideas, technical assistance, materials or finance

• References– Cite significant previous work.– Cite sources of theories, data, or anything else you

have taken from elsewhere

4 - Detail

• Check spelling!– Watch out UK English and US English

• Use whatever you like, avoid mixing both

• Check grammar• Check style (and clarity)– Ask help from your supervisors!

Grammar

• Use Active Voice• That and which– With adjective clauses, they mean different things

• “That” qualifies the noun, it has to be there• “Which” introduces new detail, could be ommited

• At, on, in• Phrasal verbs– break something down: separate in small parts– Something break down: stop functioning

Punctuation

• Comma– Be sure it is necessary

• Don´t use exclamation points !• Avoid quotation marks “”• Apostrophe– Contraction or possession

Style

• Be clear– Short sentences– Familiar words– Define all symbols (notation) and abbreviations

• Minimize acronyms (especially in same sentence)– Avoid clichés, weak qualifiers

• This very important result is quite good

• Link sentences• Discuss each table, figure or equation– Otherwise, don´t use it

5 - Finalize

• Optimize graphs (see Class 5)• Read from the beginning till the end– Take a break (if possible)

• Revise, rewrite• Read one last time– Avoid significant changes at this time, otherwise,

restart this task once again• Last minute changes usually do more harm and good

ASSIGNMENT #6

Assignment for next semester

• Write your detailed Thesis proposal– Use Assignment #5 as the basis and improve it– Extend it with useful information– Revise it with your supervisor

• Deadline– End January