Marco A. Gerosa gerosa@imep.br

1. Dicas para Escrita de Artigos Científicos Marco A. Gerosa gerosa@ime.usp.br

2. Acknowledgment Slides baseados em: • Fernandes, Clovis Torres, “Dicas Para Elaboração de Artigos Científicos”, 2003. • McGowan, Daniel, “How to Write for and Get Published in Scientific Journals”, 2012. • Wazlawick, R.S. “Metodologia de Pesquisa para Ciência da Computação”, 2009. • http://professor.ucg.br/SiteDocente/admin/arquivosUpload/3922/material/Willian%20Costa%20Rodrigues_metodologia_cientifica.pdf

3. Why publish?

4. Why publish? • To share your research findings and opinions with the international research community • Publication success is linked to funding success and career advancement • Regularly publishing research findings ensures ongoing grant support for new research

5. Why publish? New validated method published New findings of relevance published Hypothesis Draw conclusions Design research Perform research Edanz Group | 5

6. Peer review Exists to ensure that your paper is as scientifically robust AND complete as possible before joining the ‘collective knowledge’ as part of the literature An opportunity to improveyour contribution So discoveries get correct accrediting Edanz Group | 6

7. Peer review improves your manuscript • Few papers are accepted without revision • Rejection and revision are integral to the peer review process Edanz Group | 7

8. Choosing a target vehicle Journal selection should be based on an honest evaluationof the manuscript Compare with the stated aims and scopeand impact factor of potential target journals Novelty Significance Aims and Scope Impact Factor Edanz Group | 8

9. Match your manuscript with the journal • What is the message? • Who will be interested? • How significant are your results? • Where have similar articles been published? Edanz Group | 9

10. Evaluating significance: novelty How neware my results compared with those already published? New findings Incremental advances Conceptual advances Low to medium impact factor Medium to high impact factor Edanz Group | 10

11. Publication ethics DO NOT… • Multiple submissions • Plagiarism • Improper author contribution • Data fabrication and falsification • Improper use of human subjects and animals • Conflicts of interest • Actual OR perceived • “Authors MUST disclose interests that might APPEAR to affect their ability to present or review data objectively” • Acknowledge ALL financial support Edanz Group | 11

12. Paper Structure

13. Structuring your manuscript • You are telling a story Beginning  Middle  End (Introduction) (Body) (Conclusion) • MUST be easy to read AND easy to understand Edanz Group | 13

14. ‘Tell them three times’ • Introduction/Beginning • Assertion • ‘tell them what you are going to tell them,’ • Body/Middle (methods and results) • Evidence • ‘tell them,’ • Conclusion/End (discussion) • Affirmation • ‘tell them again what you told them’. Edanz Group | 14

15. The ‘write’ order • For maximum clarity and consistency, write your manuscript in this order: Methods Results Introduction Discussion Title Abstract Write during the research Write after selecting your target journal Write last Edanz Group | 15

16. The importance of your title World Class Physics Manuscript A label for indexing Grabs the reader’s attention Introduces your manuscript to an editor • Convey the main topics of manuscript • Be specific and concise • AVOID jargon, abbreviations and acronyms Edanz Group | 16

17. Abstract Summarizes your work • Concise (100–300 words) • 1–4 sentences – describe problem(s) addressed • 1–4 sentences –objectives/hypotheses • 1–2 sentences – techniques; AVOID details • 1–3 sentences – most important results • Final sentence – concluding statement The majority of people will only read this section, it must be able to ‘stand alone’ Edanz Group | 17

18. Introduction Why? What question (problem) was studied? The answer to this question is contained within your Introduction Edanz Group | 18

19. Introduction Beginning • Sufficient background information • Puts your work into context • Start with a background • Comprehensive literature review • Cite reviews General Specific Edanz Group | 19

20. IntroductionMiddle • Rationale • The reason(s) for doing this work? • Why is it important? • Justify your work • Explain how you addressed the problem Edanz Group | 20

21. IntroductionEnd • State the methods you plan to use • Clearly and explicitly state 1–3 specific hypotheses or objectives of your study Edanz Group | 21

22. Methods How did you carry out your work? • Subheadings • Easier to read • Past tense • New methods must be described in sufficient detail that they can be reproduced • Established methods can be referenced • Save time and effort • Enough information to reproduce the experiment • Statistical test parameters provided Edanz Group | 22

23. Results What did you find? • Accurate, brief, clear • Use subheadings • Use past tense to describe your results • When referring to figures and tables, use present tense • DO NOTexplain your results • Graphics used to save space • Clear comparisons made Edanz Group | 23

24. Display items Tables and figures • Present a large amount of data quickly and efficiently • Present most significant result as a figure or table • Keep it simple — use separate panels if necessary • AVOID duplication with the text • Label all parts of your figures • Legends must be able to ‘stand alone’ Edanz Group | 24

25. Display items Figures Complicated data separated into smaller and simpler components Multiple panels: sets of related data are shown in a single figure Axes clearly labeled Clear, ‘stand alone’ legend Edanz Group | 25

26. DiscussionSo what? • What do these findings mean? • The answer to this question is in the Discussion • Beginning  Middle  End Edanz Group | 26

27. Discussion Beginning • AVOID repeating the results section • Answer the research question(s) posed • Emphasizethe major finding(s) first • What is your major conclusion, based on the results you have presented? Edanz Group | 27

28. DiscussionMiddle • Interpret your results … • Compare with other studies • Same or different? • Possible reasons why? • Unexpected results Edanz Group | 28

29. Threats to validity • Briefly describe any limitations • Sample sizes • Complementary tests • How could experiments be improved? • Internal validity • External validity • Construct validity

30. DiscussionEnd • Restate major conclusion(s) • In summary … OR In conclusion … • Possible real world applications and implications • Suggest future work Edanz Group | 30

31. References • ALWAYS format your references • Formatting is required in text for citations and for your references section • Use reference management software Edanz Group | 31

32. Writing tips

33. Readability “only 4% of readers understand a 27-word sentence first time” • Reader objectives • Only need to read once • Do not have to read slowly • Can understand author logic immediately Edanz Group | 33

34. Verb placement • Readers expect verbs to closely follow subjects syntactic resolution Subject Sentence Subject Verb Verb . Subject and verb far apart = poor readability Edanz Group | 34

35. Topic position • Linkage and context The family went into the courtyard to see the new puppy. The dog sat when her owner offered a treat. Everyone was so excited they broke into applause. However, as the courtyard was situated right next to my bedroom, the sound woke me from my sleep. sentence idea idea idea idea Topic link Edanz Group | 35

36. Writing the sentences • Do not use passive voice • Blood samples were collected from 256 patients. • We collected blood from 256 patients. • One sentence: one idea • KISS - Simple language IS best • Minimizes confusion – maximizes understanding • Science is often complex - use simple language to help more people understand your work

37. Unnecessary words Write simply • In order to… In order todetermine the fractalkine expression in the aorta of ApoE −/− mice and the effect of high-dose aspirin intervention on fractalkine expression and atherosclerotic lesion formation, we studied … To determinethe fractalkine expression in the aorta of ApoE −/− mice and the effect of high-dose aspirin intervention on fractalkine expression and atherosclerotic lesion formation, we studied … Edanz Group | 38

38. Unnecessary words Further examples PREFERRED Because First Soon Four Green After Before Usually AVOID For the reason that In the first place In the not too distant future Four in number Green color Subsequent to Prior to Except in a very few instances Edanz Group | 39

39. Automated review • Check common styles problems • CATA system (Collaborative Academic Text Advisor)

40. See also • http://oulasvirta.posterous.com/86113982 - “Why your paper was rejected”

41. Outras dicas

42. Dica 0 • Use um bom dicionário e um thesaurus!

43. Dica 1 • Prepare-se! ”Saco vazio não pára em pé!” • Mantenha registros de tudo o que faz: • Notas de suas idéias • Documentação de programas • Notas de aulas • Notas sobre artigos que lê. • Resultados obtidos • Etc.

44. Dica 2 • Planeje o que vai escrever!

45. Dica 3 • Eleja alguém para ler e revisar seu artigo na versão preliminar

46. Dica 4 • Pense na audiência: • Teor e ênfase • Linguagem • Formalismo

47. Dica 5 • Mas escreva para o Comitê de Programa do congresso ou revista!

48. Dica 6 • Não tente dizer muito em um artigo! • Fixe-se na historia principal e somente inclua o que for essencial a ela: navalha de Occam*! • Guarde o resto para um outro artigo! * A Navalha de Occam ou Navalha de Ockham é um princípio lógico atribuído ao frade franciscano inglês William de Ockham (século XIV). O princípio afirma que a explicação para qualquer fenômeno deve assumir apenas as premissas estritamente necessárias à explicação do fenômeno e eliminar todas as que não causariam qualquer diferença aparente nas predições da hipótese ou teoria. 

49. Dica 7 • Foco do artigo: • Finalidade do artigo • Questão chave • Frase que impressione e capture a essência da sua contribuição!

50. Dica 8: Processo de Escrita