The Scientific Article

CUFE, M. Sc. MPM, 2014-2015

Dr. Maha ModdatherStructural Engineering Department

Faculty of Engineering Cairo Universitymahamoddather@eng.cu.edu.eg

Spring 2015

Why Do We Need Technical Writing?

Example

Strengthen was needed when live loads are

increase or the design of the structure was

inadequate or happen local failure and must be

take the cost into consideration because may

be more economical to replace the member or

element that problem rather than strengthen.

Grammatical Errors

Strengthen was needed when live loads are

increase or the design of the structure was

inadequate or happen local failure and must be

take the cost into consideration because may

be more economical to replace the member or

element that problem rather than strengthen.

Part II Outline

Outline

The Scientific Article

Paragraph Types

Paragraph Development

Effective Sentences

Sentence Errors

Titles and References

Scientific Writing

Scientific WritingQuestion

Preliminary Research

Yes NoNew

Research

Scientific Writing

Project Design

Lab Work Analytical Work

New Research

ManuscriptResults &

Conclusions

Reasons for Writing

To advance knowledge New scientific data (original research)

New finding (case report)

Interpretation of existing knowledge (review article)

To advance your institution Prestige

Funding

Reasons for Writing

To advance yourself Achieving promotion (CV building)

Enhancing your profile (reputation)

Increasing your research ability (practice makes perfect)

Types of Writing

Different kinds of scientific and technical writing

include:

Scientific Articles

Research Papers

Proposals

Types of Writing

Scientific Articles:

Published in journals, magazines and newspapers.

They are normally intended to reach a wider

audience than research papers.

How scientific articles are written depends on who

the readers are likely to be.

Types of Writing

Research Paper:

Research papers are generally written for scientists

working in the same field and therefore have a

more limited, and more specialised, readership

than articles.

Research papers can appear in specialist journals

or be presented at conferences.

Types of Writing

Proposal:

Proposals may well be the least popular form of

writing for researchers but they are necessary.

The purpose of a proposal is to ask for funding in

order to make research possible.

The Scientific Article

The Scientific Article

Contains information about progress and

achievements.

Engages the author's responsibility.

The initiative comes from the author.

The Scientific Article

Is backed up by other work.

Receives wide circulation.

The writer follows a template planned by

the publisher.

Length: Limited pages.

Form: Follows specifications.

Paper Organization: Defined by the publisher.

Title: short; attracts attention; informative; with names &

affiliations

The Abstract: Usually descriptive; Is limited in words;

summarizes objectives, results and conclusions.

Paper layout

Sections Of A Manuscript

TitleAbstract IntroductionMethodsResults

TextTablesFigures

DiscussionConclusionNomenclatureAcknowledgementReferences

Title

-The title should inform accurately about the content of

the manuscript.

- It must be informative, brief, specific, and accurate.

Paper layout

Paper layout

Title

Authors Names & Affiliations

- Use always the same name (signature) to avoid any

confussion within the scientific community.

- Identify the author for correspondence (with *).

- Give the complete name and address of the

institutions or centers the authors belong to.

- Currently e-mails are also given.

Paper layout

Paper layout

Abstract

- The abstract is one element within the manuscript of

relevant importance.

- The retrieval of the paper and its reading depend

greatly on it.

- It should provide the concise information to indicate

whether the paper fulfils our expectations.

- The main feature of an abstract is its size. In very few

words (200-300) the abstract should inform about the

main aspects of the manuscripts and respond to why,

what, how and the results and their interpretation.

Paper layout

Paper layout

Introduction

- Outlines topic.

- Mentions background.

- Briefly presents the contents.

- Prepares readers to the topic.

Paper layout

The Body

- Develops the topic.

- Explains the theory behind.

- Analyses situations.

- Describes equipment/procedures.

- Presents data.

- Shows illustrations.

- Interprets & discusses results.

- Supports conclusions/ recommendations.

Paper layout

The Conclusion:

- Condenses results, and recommendations of the work.

- Should not show new information.

Nomenclatures:

Define symbols and abbreviations in a formal way.

Acknowledgments:

Cite and acknowledge help given by others.

References:

Show consulted work, directly related by to the topic.

Paper layout

Citation

S. Harvard

S. Vancouver

(Name and year)

(numerical sequence)

......These results agreed withprevious works (Smith, 1996; Brown et al., 1998)....

......These resultsagreed with previousworks 1,2......

Citation

Appendixes:

Contain details; not necessary for the body.

Tables and Figure:

Group tables and illustrations.

Conversion Factors:

convert units used to equivalent metrics.

Paper layout

Quality of Manuscript

Scientific Content

Originality

Applicability

Timeliness

Compliance

Language

Validity of Conclusions

Adherence to

Instructions

Structural Engineering Journals

Structural Engineering Journals

Structural Engineering Journals

Example:

Title Publisher ISSN CountryImpact Factor

ACI STRUCTURAL

JOURNAL

AMER CONCRETE

INST0889-3241

UNITED STATES

0.964

ADVANCES IN STRUCTURAL ENGINEERIN

G

MULTI-SCIENCE

PUBL CO LTD1369-4332

UNITED STATES 0.603

Structural Engineering Journals

Example:

Title Publisher ISSN CountryImpact Factor

JOURNAL OF STRUCTURAL ENGINEERIN

G

ASCE-AMER SOC CIVIL

ENGINEERS0733-9445

UNITED STATES

1.488

ENGINEERING

STRUCTURES

ELSEVIER SCI LTD

0141-0296 ENGLAND 1.767

Grammatical Review

Common Grammar Mistakes

ERROR NO. 1

Rachel is very smart, she began reading when she was three years old.

Error #1: Run-on Sentence or Comma Splice

Common Grammar Mistakes

ERROR NO. 2

Him loves his father.

Joe loves I.

Him drove I to work.

Error #2: Pronoun Errors

Common Grammar Mistakes

ERROR NO. 3

My mothers cabin is next to his cabin.

Error #3: Mistake in Apostrophe Usage

Common Grammar Mistakes

ERROR NO. 4

The recipes is good for beginning chefs.

Error #4: Lack of subject/verb agreement

Formal & Informal Language

Importance of Punctuation