How to Write a Paper
Carl Che
2002.9
Outline
 Introduction
 Steps to Write a Paper
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Market
Concept
Embodiment
Details
 Bibliographies
Introduction
 Guidance in Writing a Paper
• Just Frame (Mike Ashby)
• Not Content (Hang Li)
• Not Publication (Ya-Qin Zhang)
 What’s Good Written Papers?
• Readable, Remembered, Cited
 Wanna Write Something
Outline
 Introduction
 Steps to Write a Paper
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Market
Concept
Embodiment
Details
 Bibliographies
Market
 Market is Readers!
 Thesis
• Examiners – Details of All Research
 Paper
• Skilled Referees – Check
• Scientifically-literate Public – Extract Information
 Research Proposal
• Funding Agency – Judge
 Popular article
• Intelligent but Un-informed Public
Concept
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Making Concept-Sheet (Slides)
Structure Thinking
Freedom of thought
Range over Entire Paper
De-focus – Forget Details
The most satisfying Step of Writing
Concept-Sheet
Embodiment – First Draft
 Do it in Any Order
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Title
Abstract
Introduction
Method
Result
Discussion
Conclusion
Figures
…
How to Read a Paper
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Title
Abstract
Conclusion
Figures
And Move on
Title
 Meaningful and Brief
 Consists of Keywords
 Avoid Using Abbreviation
Abstract
 Try for One Sentence each on:
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Motive
Method
Key Results
Conclusions
 Don’t exceed 3 sentences on Anyone
 Whether to Read on
Conclusion
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Most important results
List any reservations or limitations
Don’t duplicate the Abstract
Summing up of the advances
Bullet-Pointed List
Figures
 Reproduced or imitated by others
 Self-Contained
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Title
Labeled Axes
Defined Units
…
Introduction
 What’s the problem and why’s it
interesting?
 Who are the main contributors?
 What did they do?
 What novel thing will you reveal?
 State you will do a new thing!
Method
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Easy to write
Allow to be repeated by someone else
But no more
Keep results for the next section
Results
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Easy to write, too
Present the Output
Concise and Meaningful
Don’t mix with Discussion
Discussion
 Extract Principles, Relationships,
Generalizations
 Present Analysis, Model or Theory
 Show relationship between the
results and analysis, model or theory
 Clear and Concise
Details
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Grammar
Spelling
Punctuation
Style
Style
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Be Clear
Write from an appropriate design
Define everything
Avoid empty words
Revise and rewrite
Do not overstate, over-emphasize
or apologize
Style (Cont.)
 Avoid being patronizing, condescending
or eccentric
 Use appropriate language
 Good first sentence
 Seek helpful examples and analogies
 Linking
 Observe good writing
 Finally…
Outline
 Introduction
 Steps to Write a Paper
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•
•
•
Market
Concept
Embodiment
Details
 Bibliographies
Bibliographies
 How to Write a Paper
• Mike Ashby
 Some Notes on English Technical Writing
• Hang Li
 How to Publish a (good) Paper?
• Ya-Qin Zhang
 Efficient Reading of Papers in Science
and Thchnology
Reading makes a full man
conference a ready man
and writing an exact man
--- Francis Bacon
Thanks!