1. WRITING A SCIENTIFIC PAPER
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Dr. Engr. Md. Humaun Kabir
Principal, NITTRAD.

2. COMPONENTS OF A PAPER
 Title
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Materials and Methods (Experiment)
 Results & Discussion
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 Conclusion
 References & Acknowledgments

3. HOW TO MAKE A PLAN
 Title
 Literature Survey
 Materials and Methods
 Results & Discussion
Certainly NOT write in
the order the sections
appear. Perhaps in
this order:
 Conclusion
 Abstract
 Introduction
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 References
 Acknowledgments

4. RESULTS
A paper is centered around the Results
 First get them organized. What to include?
 Any photographs?
 How will i present them - figures and/or tables?
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 Do i need to combine results with discussion?

5. RESULTS
 Can some Results be presented as
Supplementary Material?
 Tables - Exact, Objective, Check accuracy
 Graphs - Some Guesswork?
 Photograph - Representative? Subjective
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 Supplementary Material

6. FIGURES
 Make sure each one is important
 Do not duplicate data in figures and tables.
Which shows the data more clearly?
 Often a figure is better in the main than with
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tables in supplementary Material

7. DISCUSSION
 If possible separate from the Results
 But sometimes results must be discussed in
order to logically point to the next stage in the
experiment
 In this case combine Results and Discussion
 Compare your results with those of others.
References are really important here.
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
Be careful to show where your work has
advanced the subject

Try to lead naturally to the Conclusion

8. CONCLUSION
 This is NOT the same as a summary like the
Abstract. A reader who has the paper will certainly have
the Abstract
 If it is a summary -give it that heading and make it
more than the Abstract
 NEVER make conclusions that cannot be justified or
are not mentioned in the main text
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9. MATERIALS AND METHODS (EXPERIMENT)
This section has two purposes:
 To convince readers that the work has been done
systematically
and
thoroughly
using
appropriate
equipment
 To allow readers to repeat the experiments if they
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wish e.g. check (doubtful) results, prepare the same
materials etc.

10. MATERIALS AND METHODS (EXPERIMENT)
This section contain ALL information needed for
another person to repeat the experiment:
 Sample preparation: Time, temperatures etc.
 Sources of materials: Purity, particle size, synthesis
of intermediates
 Analytical & measurement techniques
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 Parameters:
voltages etc.
Strain
rates,
wavelengths,
applied

11. MATERIALS AND METHODS (EXPERIMENT)
 Are instrument details important? (They should usually
be irrelevant). Does somebody
instrument to repeat the research?
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need the same

12. INTRODUCTION
 Most Introductions are unnecessarily long
 A reference is something you may wish to refer to for
further information. When did you last consult a
reference?
 If you have done so, it is most unlikely to be one of
the first ten references! You know those already.
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13. PURPOSE OF INTRODUCTION
 A brief, or complete, history of the subject?
 What does the reader need to know?
 What will the reader already know?
BUT
 Some reviewers are upset if their papers are not
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referenced
 The Citation Index!!

14. TITLES
Be straightforward and precise:
 “Improved mechanical properties”
■ Which ones? Strength? Stiffness?
■ For what applications?
■ Better for one application may be the
opposite for another,
 "Activated carbons produced at low temperature"
■ 80 K is low! 500°C is hot.
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 "CNT solution in organic acids"
■ All? Which did you investigate? Formic
acetic.
and

15. TITLES
 Never use a colon (or hyphen) unless the paper is
part of a multi-part series.
 "Chemistry and kinetics of chemical vapor deposition of
pyrocarbon:
i. Carbon deposition from methane .
"Chemistry and kinetics of chemical vapor deposition of
pyrocarbon:
ii. Carbon deposition from propylene
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 "The structure of CVD carbon: the effect of deposition
temperature"
should be:
"The effect of deposition temperature on the structure of
CVD carbon"

16. ABSTRACT
"In this paper we report new results on the successful
preparation of…………."
1. We know it is not a different paper, but this one.
2. We know it is "you".
3. We know the results are new - we would not publish if
they were old.
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4. We assume the experiment was successful - you do
not usually report failures!

17. ABSTRACT
Simply tell the reader two things:
1. What was done.
2. Important results obtained.
Do not:
1. Provide history or narrative.
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2. Speculate - possible uses, etc.
3. Include data that is not in the manuscript.

18. THE SUBMISSION PROCESS
 Read the "Guide for Authors". PLEASE!
 Section
headings.
Reference
format.
restrictions for Letters.
 You MUST submit using the website.
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 If a revision, include responses to reviewers.
Length

19. RESUBMISSION
If the Editor-in-Chief has told you to resubmit - true
for most papers from China.
 Make sure you do as requested and carefully follow
each point in the "Resubmit" letter.
 If you do not agree with some suggestions, please
include a cover letter to explain why this is so.
 Be sensible! If I correct something in the Abstract, ask
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yourself whether it needs to be corrected elsewhere?

20. ABBREVIATIONS
1. To define an abbreviation, first write the term in full
followed by the abbreviation in parentheses. "X-ray
diffraction (XRD) examination showed that the
samples were not crystalline……..
" Do not do
the reverse.
2. Never define an abbreviation in the manuscript title.
3. Never use abbreviations in the Abstract without
defining them, and only define them if they are used
later in the Abstract.
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4. Define an abbreviation the first time it is used in the
text, even though it may also have been defined in the
Abstract.
5. Only define an abbreviation if you are going to use it
later.

21. SOME ENGLISH PROBLEMS
 We do not usually use plural nouns as adjectives "carbon fiber composites" not "carbon fibers
composites".
 Do not use hyphens unless necessary to clarify
meaning. "Chinese food seller"!
 "Chinese-food seller" - a person who sells Chinese food
 "Chinese food-seller" - a Chinese person who sells food
"Boron-containing carbon" means carbon which contains
boron, whereas
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"Boron containing carbon" means boron which contains
carbon!

22. SOME ENGLISH PROBLEMS- ARTICLES
 "of" is usually preceded and followed by "the"
 ...the dimensions of the sample were measured
...the speed of the car BUT .the speed of light
 Some nationalities tend to use "the" where not
necessary and omit "a" where it is necessary
 "The FTIR is one of the typical methods used to
characterise the chemically modified nanotubes."
 FTIR is a typical method used to characterise
chemically…..
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 "We obtained black solid after the reduction of the...."
 We obtained a black solid after reduction of
the……
Of course the meaning is clear in both cases

23. RESPECTIVELY
 "In order to make sure of the necessity of the hydrogen
involvement, experiments were carried out in helium and
hydrogen atmospheres respectively." WRONG.
"In order to make sure of the necessity of the hydrogen
involvement, experiments were carried out in helium and
hydrogen atmospheres at 230°C and 450°C respectively."
Would be CORRECT.
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i.e. He at 230°C and H at 450°C

24. RESPECTIVELY
 The word is used to link items in two or more lists in
the order in which they appear in those lists.
To say that "samples were heat treated at 450°C and
700°C respectively" is incorrect unless there is a list of
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two samples.

25. LATIN PHRASES
 In situ - means in the place. All things happen in a
place! Use it ONLY to indicate that something is taking
place where it will later be used.
 Via - "by" is usually enough & simpler
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 e.g. (for example) and i.e. (that is, or that is to say)

26. CONCLUSION
 Read the Guide for Authors
 Take time! Organize
 Be honest
 Remember
to
make
Title,
Abstract &
Paper
independently understandable
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 Pay careful attention to the comments of the Editor
and the Reviewers. Do not waste their time!

27. THANK YOU
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