IntroductionIntroduction

Why we do it?Why we do it?

To disseminate researchTo disseminate researchTo report a new result;To report a new result;To report a new technique;To report a new technique;To critique/confirm another's To critique/confirm another's result.result.Each discipline follows Each discipline follows roughly the same roughly the same conventions.conventions.

Outline

• Writing a paper• Types of Papers• Submissions• Paper Structure• Submission Requirements

The Journal report is a formal document reporting on one of the experiments you have done so far.

Writing a PaperWriting a Paper

The process by which this is achieved is varied, but in every situation it involves the conversion of material from a log book into a more highly structured format.

LOG BOOKLOG BOOK PAPERPAPER

• • Chronological (diary format)Chronological (diary format)• • Little structureLittle structure• • No literature reviewNo literature review

• • Highly structuredHighly structured• • Contains all relevant InformationContains all relevant Information• • Better EnglishBetter English• • Looks nicererLooks nicerer

Types of papersTypes of papers

• Letter A short paper which reports on a major result, with possible connections to related fields

• Rapid Communication Similar to a letter but for a more specialised audience

• Regular article The standard paper. All details of the work are given here – Your Journal Report

• Brief Report A short paper with a result more as an extension of a Regular Article or something noteworthy

that doesn't fit into the other categories• Comment A comment on another author's published work• Review A monster paper which reviews the field over a

number of years

Every paper goes through this review processEvery paper goes through this review process..

Referees

Journal

Edit Rebut Appeal

Publisher

Submission ProcessSubmission Process

The sections in a paperThe sections in a paper

StructureStructure

• • TitleTitle• • Author list and affiliationsAuthor list and affiliations• • AbstractAbstract• • Introduction, including backgroundIntroduction, including background• • Methods used, either experimental or theoreticalMethods used, either experimental or theoretical• • ResultsResults• • Analysis and DiscussionAnalysis and Discussion• • Conclusions and summaryConclusions and summary• • Acknowledgements and ReferencesAcknowledgements and References

The middle sections can be varied The middle sections can be varied depending on the information beingdepending on the information beingpresented.presented.

The abstract:The abstract:A brief overall summary of theA brief overall summary of themain points addressed main points addressed andandanswered in the text.answered in the text.

The title and abstract summarise the The title and abstract summarise the contents of the Paper. Thiscontents of the Paper. Thisis the first bit a reader reads and must is the first bit a reader reads and must relate directly to the letter'srelate directly to the letter'scontent. content. It is the LAST part usually written.It is the LAST part usually written.

The First PageThe First Page

TitleTitle

Author listAuthor list

Main textMain text

The IntroductionThe Introduction

The introduction sets the story for the physics to follow. Any backgroundinformation is covered at this point, such as

Aims (Why the work is important)

Previous work

Relevance to related areas (examples of real world applications)

ExperimentExperiment

The Experimental The Experimental Procedure describes the Procedure describes the actual experimental actual experimental process and how the data process and how the data was collected.was collected.

For the journal report only For the journal report only a very brief discussion of a very brief discussion of procedures is required. ie procedures is required. ie one diagramone diagram

Main TextMain TextRelevant discussion, Relevant discussion, tables,tables,figure(s), pertinent to the figure(s), pertinent to the aimsaimsand ideas set out in the and ideas set out in the introduction.introduction.

This section is as much This section is as much aboutaboutwhat to leave out as to what to leave out as to what to put in.what to put in.

For Your Journal Report: For Your Journal Report:

Only the most important results Only the most important results are presented (i.e. 2 graphs).are presented (i.e. 2 graphs).

No details of error analysis, just No details of error analysis, just errorerrorbars on graphs and errors onbars on graphs and errors onnumbers (1 significant figure!).numbers (1 significant figure!).

ConclusionConclusion

A report's conclusion is generally short, and summarizes the paper.

It presents every general conclusion found as a result of the work.

It answers every aim given in the introduction.

ReferencesReferences

Contact information

References

ALLALL relevant references relevant references referred to in the referred to in the document are given here.document are given here.

For the Journal Report, All For the Journal Report, All material from the web (or material from the web (or anywhere else) is to be anywhere else) is to be referenced.referenced.

In SummaryIn Summary

• Papers are about the dissemination of information, be it a new result, new technique, comment on previous work, or any combination thereof.

• Papers come in various forms, depending on what the author wishes to impart.

• Papers are as much about what to leave out as to what to put in.

• Authors must be prepared to defend their work, but also admit mistakes in light of new evidence and in good faith.

• Almost all papers are peer-reviewed: they are scrutinised by others before publication.

Problems?Problems?

Please don’t hesitate to contact myself, or speak to any of your demonstrators!

YOUR Journal ReportYOUR Journal Report

No more than 12 pages, ideally much less Times Roman 12 pt, 1.5 line spacingMSWord only*

DUE: Midnight on Thursday 28th May (almost last day of term)

SUBMIT ELECTRONICALLY:part3@physics.unimelb.edu.au

FOR MORE INFORMATION SEE:http://thirdyearlabs.ph.unimelb.edu.au/index.php/Journal_Report_Information

*exceptions can be made for mac and linux users!