1 Table of contents 318

Writing and Publishing Scientific Articles Course Workbook

Writing and Publishing Scientific Articles (WAPSA) is an in-depth writing-education program designed primarily for postdoctoral fellows, clinical trainees, and novice authors. Now offered online, this series of six modules offers practical advice on writing the sections of a biomedical research manuscript.

RML_Scientific-Articles-Handbook-Cover_Final		1
Title Page and Acknowledgements		2
Table of Contents		5
02 Preliminary Steps in Writing		6
Overview		6
Writing the Hypothesis or Purpose Statement		7
Hypothesis Statements		7
Purpose Statements		8
Common Problems		9
Activity 1		11
Writing Your Hypothesis or Purpose Statement		11
Selecting the Data and the Article Format		12
Choosing What Data to Use		12
1. How much information is enough?		12
2. How much information is too much?		12
3. When is your information not enough?		13
You lack sufficient information when there are not enough data to support your conclusions. If that is the case, you probably need to do more research.		13
Types of Articles		13
Research Articles		13
Brief Communications and Technical Notes		14
Letters to the Editor		14
Reviews		14
Case Reports		14
Selecting a Journal		14
Identifying Your Audience		15
Choosing a Journal Type		15
General Circulation Journals		16
Characteristics:		16
Submissions:		16
Specialty and Subspecialty Journals		16
Characteristics:		16
Submissions:		16
Choosing a Particular Journal		17
Finally, if you have any remaining questions about a particular journal, contact the journal office. Journal editors are sometimes willing to discuss the suitability of a paper before it is submitted. Activity 2		18
Selecting a Journal		19
Target journal #1:		19
Target journal #2:		19
Planning the Writing Process		20
Talking with Your PI		20
Deciding on Authorship		21
Drafting a Manuscript Proposal		22
Manuscript Proposal		23
Principal investigator’s approval: Date:		23
Identifying Responsibilities		24
Collecting the Material You Already Have		26
Planning Your Time		26
Making an Outline		27
Here is a second example: Writing with Discipline		29
Make a schedule.		30
Create a comfortable environment.		30
Establish a routine.		30
Make the writing project as easy as possible.		31
Using MD Anderson’s Resources		32
Conclusion		32
03 Writing the Introduction		33
Overview		33
Purpose and General Structure of the Introduction		34
Parts of the Introduction		35
Background Information		35
Gap in Knowledge		36
Hypothesis or Purpose Statement		36
Strategy for Testing the Hypothesis		36
Conclusions		36
Verb Tenses		37
Activity 1		37
Choosing the Correct Verb Tense for the Introduction		37
Examples of Good and Bad Introductions		38
Tailoring the Introduction to Your Audience		38
Activity 2		39
Outlining Your Introduction		39
Quick Verb Tense Review		40
Present Tense		40
Past Tense		40
Present Perfect Tense		41
Activity 1		42
Choosing the Correct Verb Tense for the Introduction		42
Example of an Introduction Needing Improvement (Basic Science Study)		44
Example of a Well-Written Introduction (Basic Science Study)		45
Example of an Introduction Needing Improvement (Clinical Study)		46
Example of a Well-Written Introduction (Clinical Study)		47
Example of an Introduction Needing Improvement (Basic Science Study)		48
Example of a Well-Written Introduction (Basic Science Study)		49
Example of an Introduction Needing Improvement (Clinical Study)		50
Example of a Well-Written Introduction (Clinical Study)		52
Introduction Section Worksheet		53
04 Writing the Methods & Results		57
05 Writing the Discussion		97
06 Writing the Abstract		132
Overview		132
Purpose of the Abstract		132
Content of the Abstract		132
Background/Hypothesis		133
Methods		133
Results		134
Conclusions		134
Activity 1		134
Stating an Abstract’s Conclusions and Implications		134
Examples of Well-Written Abstracts and Abstracts Needing Improvement		135
Strategies for Writing Abstracts		135
Activity 2		135
Writing the First Draft of Your Abstract		135
Example of an Abstract Needing Improvement (Basic Science Study)		136
Example of a Well-Written Abstract (Basic Science Study)		137
Adapted from Achanzar WE et al. Inorganic arsenite-induced malignant transformation of human prostate epithelial cells. J Natl Cancer Inst 94:1888–1891, 2002. Reprinted with permission. Example of an Abstract Needing Improvement (Clinical Study)		137
Adapted from the well-written abstract in Sandler RS et al. A randomized trial of aspirin to prevent colorectal adenomas in patients with previous colorectal cancer. N Engl J Med 348:883–890, 2003. Example of a Well-Written Abstract (Clinical Study)		138
Stating an Abstract’s Conclusions and Implications		140
Solution to Activity 1, Stating an Abstract’s Conclusions and Implications		141
Abstract Section Worksheet		142
07 Writing an Effective Title		145
Overview		145
Purpose of the Title		145
Content of the Title		146
Format of the Title		149
Activity 1		150
Drafting a Title		150
References		150
Writing an Effective Title		151
Tips		151
Format		152
Summary: an Effective Title		153
Exercise: Drafting a Title		154
08 Figures & Tables		155
09 References		190
10 Ethics		196
Overview		196
Overview		196
Authorship		196
Authorship		196
Tony’s Dilemma		198
Tony’s Dilemma		198
The Case of the Changing Byline		199
The Case of the Changing Byline		199
Peer Review		200
Peer Review		200
Responsibilities of Peer Reviewers		200
Responsibilities of Peer Reviewers		200
Confidentiality of Data in Manuscripts under Review		200
Confidentiality of Data in Manuscripts under Review		200
The Case of the “Borrowed” Review		202
The Case of the “Borrowed” Review		202
Dual Submission		203
Dual Submission		203
Duplicate Publication		204
Duplicate Publication		204
The Case of One for Two		206
The Case of One for Two		206
Plagiarism		206
Plagiarism		206
Conflict of Interest		208
Conflict of Interest		208
Giving a Friend a Boost		209
Giving a Friend a Boost		209
Appendix 1: Insights on Determining Authorship		210
Appendix 1: Insights on Determining Authorship		210
Appendix 2: Copyright		212
Appendix 2: Copyright		212
Issues in the Cases		213
Issues in the Cases		214
Issues in the Cases		214
Issues in Tony’s Dilemma		214
Issues in Tony’s Dilemma		214
Issues in the Case of the Changing Byline		214
Issues in the Case of the Changing Byline		214
Issues in the Case of the “Borrowed” Review		214
Issues in the Case of the “Borrowed” Review		214
Issues in the Case of One for Two		215
Issues in the Case of One for Two		215
Issues in Giving a Friend a Boost		215
Issues in Giving a Friend a Boost		215
11 Peer Review		216
12 Cohesion & Clarity		237
13 Case Reports & Review Articles		280
14 Checklists for Writing		291
15 Resources		308

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