Scientific Writing Lec 1_d3d2e9a3e92695dbde9dd396ecb13a93.pdf

SCIENTIFIC WRITING (NP 201 – NPC 201) BY DR. AMR MOHAMED EMAM LECTURER OF PHARMACOLOGY & TOXICOLOGY PHD. CAIRO UNIVERSITY  THE MAJOR OBJECTIVE OF THIS COURSE THIS COURSE is aimed at enhancing scientific paper writing and communication skills of the research...

SCIENTIFIC WRITING (NP 201 – NPC 201) BY DR. AMR MOHAMED EMAM LECTURER OF PHARMACOLOGY & TOXICOLOGY PHD. CAIRO UNIVERSITY  THE MAJOR OBJECTIVE OF THIS COURSE THIS COURSE is aimed at enhancing scientific paper writing and communication skills of the researchers, educators, and students. Scientific papers and technical documents are essential means of communication between scientists; therefore, the efficacy of the content depends on the quality of texts. Besides an author of the paper colleagues, reviewers, and an editor participate in the process, helping the author to improve the text.  THE CHARACTERS OF A GOOD OR SUCCESSFUL PAPER COULD BE LISTED AS FOLLOWS: Presents an accurate account of the investigation Has logical flow Is clearly written and easily understood Follows a particular style of discipline Is free from jargon and local slang Has appropriate and adequate illustrations Does not contain plagiarized information Contains original results WHY DO RESEARCH? RESEARCH MANAGERS, DONORS, AND GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS ASK YOU TO WRITE A RESEARCH PAPER FOR SEVERAL REASONS. THE FOLLOWING ARE THE MAJOR REASONS: 1. Research teaches methods of discovery 2. Research teaches analytical skills 3. Research develops inquiry-based techniques 4. Research teaches thoughtfulness 5. Research teaches judgment 6. Research teaches argument REASONS TO PUBLISH YOUR RESEARCH It is also unethical to accept a grant from a funding body and then fail to publish the results of the research that you conducted using the funds. Failure to publish reflects badly on your reputation as a scientist and is likely to have a significant influence on your future career and your ability to attract further funding. On the other hand, success in publishing contributes to rewards such as job promotion and professional recognition. A scientific article that is published in a well-respected, peer-reviewed journal is an important goal for any researcher and remains one of the ultimate markers of research success. For this reason, it is important to write your paper well so that it has clear messages, is readily accepted for publication, and is something that you can always be proud of. REASONS TO PUBLISH YOUR RESEARCH A well-written paper is one that is easy to read, tells an interesting story, has the information under the correct headings, and is visually appealing. It is a sad fact of life that few researchers read a journal article from beginning to end. Most readers want to scan your paper quickly and find the relevant information where they expect it to be. If you want the information in your paper to be read and to be used, you must be certain that you have presented it in an organized and accessible format. In the current academic climate, publications are imperative for career advancement and for the economic survival of research departments. In many institutions, the number of successful publications is used as a measure of research productivity. In addition, other attributes of publications, such as the number of collaborators, the number of resulting citations, and the impact factor of the journal, are often considered. As such, publications are a fundamental marker of accountability.  REASONS TO PUBLISH YOUR RESEARCH RESULTS It is unethical to conduct a study and not report the findings You have some results that are worth reporting You want to progress scientific thought or improve health outcomes You want to give credibility to your research team You want your work to reach a broad audience Your track record will improve You will add credibility to your reputation You will improve your chance of promotion You are more likely to obtain research grants  REWARDS FOR BEING A GOOD WRITER Having good scientific writing skills can not only bring career success but also brings many other personal rewards. Reasons to be a good writer Writing time is more productive and less frustrating Your research is more likely to lead to publications Your grant applications are more likely to be funded Your expertise will help you to become a good reviewer or editor  A well-written paper is one that is very publishable, adds credibility to your reputation, and is much more likely to be read in its entirety and thus taken seriously by the scientific community. Bad science is not usually publishable (although it happens) but good science reported well is more highly respected than good science reported badly. Thought, structure, and style The three basic aspects to effective scientific writing are thought, structure, and style. Thought is a matter of having some worthwhile results and ideas to publish. You need some new results to publish and you need to be able to interpret them correctly. Structure is simply a matter of getting the right things in the right place. Style is a matter of choosing the fewest and most appropriate words and using the rules of good grammar.