Writing Scientific Research Articles E-Book

Margaret Cargill

• Herausgeber: John Wiley & Sons
• Kategorie: Wissenschaft und neue Technologien
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 495

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2021

Beschreibung

Writing Scientific Research Articles

The new edition of the popular guide for novice and professional scientists alike, providing effective strategies and step-by-step advice for writing scientific papers for publication

For scientists writing a research article for submission to an international peer-reviewed journal, knowing how to write can be as important as knowing what to write. Writing Scientific Research Articles: Strategy and Steps provides systematic guidance on writing effective scientific papers with the greatest chance for publication. Using clear language, this highly practical guide shows scientists how to apply their analysis and synthesis skills to produce a compelling research article and increase their competence in written communication of science.

The third edition is fully revised to reflect changes in the review process and science journal publication. Incorporating current developments in technology and pedagogical practice, brand-new sections cover mapping and planning manuscripts, choosing results, systematic reviews, structured abstracts, and more. Updated material on referee criteria offers valuable insights on what journal editors and referees want to publish and why. Offering a hands-on approach to developing the academic writing skills of scientists in all disciplines and from all language backgrounds, Writing Scientific Research Articles

• provides a genre-based pedagogy and clear processes for writing each section of a manuscript across the full range of research article formats and funding applications
• presents tested strategies for responding to referee comments and developing discipline-specific language skills for manuscript writing and polishing
• pairs each learning step with updated practical exercises to develop writing and data presentation skills based on expert analysis of well-written papers, including provided example articles
• includes chapters on the difference between review papers and research papers, and on skill development using journal clubs and writing groups
• features a wealth of new information on topics including Open Access publishing, online reviews, and predatory conferences and journals

Designed for use by individuals as a self-study guide or by groups working with an instructor, Writing Scientific Research Articles: Strategy and Steps is a must-have guide for early-career researchers with limited writing experience, scientists for whom English is an additional language, upper-level undergraduates and graduate students writing for publication, and STEM and English language professionals involved in teaching manuscript writing and publication skills and mentoring students and colleagues.

Leseprobe

Writing Scientific Research Articles

Strategy and Steps

Third Edition

Margaret Cargill BA, DipEd, MEd(TESOL), DEd

School of Agriculture, Food and Wine

The University of Adelaide

Adelaide

South Australia 5005

Australia

Patrick O’Connor BSc, PhD

School of Biological Sciences

School of Professions

The University of Adelaide

Adelaide

South Australia 5005

Australia

This edition first published 2021© 2021 John Wiley & Sons Ltd

Edition History© 2013 by Margaret Cargill and Patrick O’Connor© 2009 by Margaret Cargill and Patrick O’Connor

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, except as permitted by law. Advice on how to obtain permission to reuse material from this title is available at http://www.wiley.com/go/permissions.

The right of Margaret Cargill and Patrick O’Connor to be identified as the authors of this work has been asserted in accordance with law.

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Library of Congress Cataloging‐in‐Publication Data is applied for

ISBN 9781119717270

Cover Design: WileyCover Image: © AzmanJaka/E+/Getty Images

Preface to the first edition

Writing Scientific Research Articles is designed for early‐career researchers in the sciences: those who are relatively new to the task of writing their research results as a manuscript for submission to an international refereed journal, and those who want to develop their skills for doing this more efficiently and successfully. All scientists are faced with pressure to publish their results in prestigious journals and all face challenges when trying to write and publish. This book takes a practical approach to developing scientists’ skills in three key areas necessary for success:

developing strategy: understanding what editors and referees want to publish, and why;

developing story: understanding what makes a compelling research article in a particular discipline area; and

using language: developing techniques to enhance clear and effective communication with readers in English.

The skills required for successful science writing are both science‐ and language‐based, and skill integration is required for efficient outcomes. We are an author team of a scientist and a research communication teacher who have combined our perspectives and experience to produce an integrated, multidisciplinary approach to the task of article writing.

We have written the book both for those who write science in English as their first language and those for whom English is an additional language (EAL). Although a very high proportion of the research articles published worldwide currently appears in English, scientific research is an intensely international and intercultural activity in the twenty‐first century, and authors come from a wide range of language and cultural backgrounds. This situation adds another layer to the challenges facing authors themselves, journal editors and referees, and those who teach and support EAL scientists. We hope the book will be relevant to all professionals involved with the practice of research article writing.

The book is designed for use either by individuals as a self‐study guide, or by groups working with a teacher or facilitator. Readers can prepare their own manuscript step by step as they move through the book, or use the book as a preparation phase and return to relevant parts when the time comes to write their own paper and navigate the publishing process.

The book has arisen out of fruitful collaborations at the University of Adelaide over many years, and especially out of our work with the Chinese Academy of Sciences since 2001. There are many people to thank for their contributions both to the approach and the book. First on the language end of the continuum must be Robert Weissberg and Suzanne Buker, whose 1990 book Writing Up Research: Experimental Research Report Writing for Students of English laid such an effective foundation in using the insights of the worldwide community of genre‐analysis researchers as the basis of effective teaching about research article writing. Next are John Swales and his colleagues over the years, for their research output, their teaching texts, and their modeling of humble and rigorous curiosity as an effective way into the worlds of other disciplines. Then the team at Adelaide that has built from these bricks a context where the book could emerge: especially Kate Cadman, Ursula McGowan, and Karen Adams, and so many scientists over the years. For bringing the perspective and experience of scientists, particular thanks go to those who have taught with us in China: Andrew Smith, Brent Kaiser, Scott Field, Bill Bellotti, Anne McNeill, and Murray Unkovich. We also thank those who have supported the training programs where we have refined our practical teaching approach, particularly Yongguan Zhu and Jinghua Cao. And, of course, the many early‐career authors, in Australia, Vietnam, Spain, and China, who have participated in our workshops and contributed their insights and enthusiasm to the development of the book.

Our warm thanks go also to the people who have helped with the production of the book itself: Sally Richards, Karen Adams, Marian May, and our editors at Wiley‐Blackwell, Delia Sandford and Ward Cooper. Remaining errors and omissions must be down to us.

Margaret Cargill

Patrick O’Connor

September 2008

Preface to the second edition

The first edition of Writing Scientific Research Articles: Strategy and Steps has been taken up with enthusiasm worldwide, both by novice authors themselves and by those who help prepare them for the publishing component of a science career in the 21st century. This second edition incorporates suggestions from users, additional insights we have gained in teaching from the book, and several additional sections designed to extend the book’s approach to some topics not previously covered. Firstly, we have incorporated an additional article structure in Chapter 2 – one frequently used in fields such as physics, computer science, and some types of engineering – and an additional provided example article that uses it, from the field of remote sensing. These additions mean that the book now covers the full range of macro‐structures commonly used in scientific research articles, extending its usefulness across a wider range of discipline areas.

The second addition is a chapter on the writing of review articles. Here, we apply the principles set out in the first edition to the challenge of writing a review article suitable for publication in an international journal. We suggest that most of the advice remains completely applicable if the term “data” is re‐conceived as the author’s evaluations of the work being reviewed, and the article’s “take‐home message” is new synthesis or conclusions that advance understanding of the field in question.

We take a similar approach for the third new feature, one that has been requested by many readers – a chapter on the writing of applications for grant funding. Although the specific requirements of funding bodies differ, the underlying process of understanding and responding effectively to a set of criteria remains the same. We have focused on applying the principles from the rest of the book to provide guidelines and strategies that will be relevant in contexts ranging from small grants for travel or conference attendance all the way to large national or international funding opportunities.

Once again we express our thanks to colleagues who have contributed to the developments included in the second edition, especially Holly Slater, Andrew Smith, John Harris, Peter Langridge, Matt Gilliham, and Michelle Picard, and to our editors at Wiley‐Blackwell, Ward Cooper, Carys Williams, and Kelvin Matthews. We also thank the many users of the first edition whose ideas and questions have spurred us on. As before, any remaining problems are our own.

Margaret Cargill

Patrick O’Connor

September 2012

Preface to the third edition

The second edition of Writing Scientific Research Articles: Strategy and Steps has continued to be used widely, by authors and by those supporting them to develop their articles and their article writing skills. However, there have been numerous changes in the international journal publishing landscape since it was released. The online evolution of science publishing has continued, with consequences for all aspects of the submission, publication, and promotion of published work. The changes brought about by online publishing and digital sharing present some new challenges but also deepen the need for understanding of the basics of communication in this genre. This third edition responds to the major changes and incorporates further suggestions from readers and from colleagues in many places who have used the book in their teaching and mentoring of novice authors. Some new sections and exercises have been added to develop user skills – we hope they are useful!

We have included new material in Chapter 12 on review articles, focusing on systematic reviews; in Chapter 11 on visual abstracts and highlights; and in Chapter 7 on publishing Methods papers. In Chapter 5, you will find new material on visualising results, handling supplementary material, and archiving data.

To enhance its usability by its many audiences, we have listed suggested pathways through the book at the end of Chapter 1: for students in the preparation phase before writing a manuscript; for researchers with data ready to start writing their manuscript; for authors using English as an additional language (EAL); for scientists instructing or mentoring students or junior colleagues; and for language professionals teaching science research students or providing advice on draft manuscripts. An enhanced reference list provides access to recent published work that has informed the updates we’ve made.

Once again we express our gratitude to all who have contributed to this third edition, and especially to our editors at Wiley, Rosie Hayden and Julia Squarr. As ever, remaining errors and omissions are down to us!

Margaret Cargill

Patrick O’Connor

April 2021

SECTION 1A framework for success

Note

1

Variations of this arrangement are also found. For example,

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