英文文章一般寫法(雜志主編講)

PreparingyourresultsforpublicationHansLambersSchoolofPlantBiologyTheUniversityofWesternAustraliaPerth,AustraliaMaximisingyourchancestogetyourmanuscriptrapidlyacceptedEditor-in-ChiefofPlantandSoil

SeniorAuthorofPlantPhysiologicalEcology

Memberof(Advisory)EditorialBoardsWhattopublish?Full-lengtharticlesareabout5,000words:aseriesofexperimentsmakingacoherentstoryShortnotesareabout200wordsGeneralrule:itisbettertopublishonesolidpaperthantosplititintotwoorthreeshortnotesArticlesinbooksandreportsarelessprestigious:publishyourprimarydataininternationaljournalsWheretopublish?CarefullyselecttherightjournalFromwhichjournalsdoyoucitepapersinyourreferencelist?Whichjournalspublishonasimilartopic?FinaldecisionPrestige(“impactfactor”)Timetopublish(checktimebetweensubmissionofthemanuscriptandpublication)Yourexperiencewithaspecificjournal(attitudeofreviewersandeditors)Whatexactlyisthe“impactfactor”(IF)?Putsimply:IFisaroughindicatorforthequalityofajournalinanarrowlydefineddiscipline,e.g.,AgriculturePlantsciencesMolecularbiologyItissillytocompareimpactfactorsbetweendisciplines,e.g.,EcologyandMolecularBiologyMoreaccurately:IFisthenumberofcitationsofallpaperspublishedinajournalovertwoyearsdividedbynumberofpaperspublishedintheprecedingtwoyears,e.g.,IFfor2001:(numberofcitationsin2001+2000)/(numberofpaperspublishedin2000+1999)PlanyourexperimentsinsuchawaythatthedatacanbepublishedMakesureyouhaveasoundquestion(hypothesis)beforeyoubeginyourresearchThathypothesismaynotbethesameyouwishtousewhenpublishingthedataResearchwithoutasoundhypothesisishardtowriteup,but…sometimestherearegoodreasonstomakean“inventory”(nosoundhypothesisrequired)ThinkthreetimesbeforeyoustartyourexperimentsDatathathavenotbeenpublisheddonotexist!Ifyoudonotpublishyourdata,youmightaswellnotdotheexperimentsPublisheddatacanmakealastingimpression,liketheGreatWallPhotoDrJianboShen,CAU,Beijing,PRChinaThestructureofascientificpaperAuthors+addressesTitle,runningtitleAbstractKeywords,abbreviationsIntroductionMaterialsandmethodsResultsDiscussionAcknowledgmentsReferencesTablesandFigures

WheredoIstart?BeginwiththeResultssectionArrangeyourdatainfiguresandtablesArethedatabestpresentedasfiguresorastables?Decidewhichfigure/tablecomesfirstDecidetheorderofallotherfigures/tablesMakeastructureforyourResultsDecidewhatyouwishtodescribeDesignthesectionsintheResults(“dotpoints”)Thenmakeastructureforeachsection(dotpoint)DecidewhatyouwishtodescribeineachsectionThenstartwritingWriteyourresultsinthepasttenseThechoicebetweenaFigureoraTableThechoicebetweenafewlinesinthetextoraTableTheyieldofricewas1.232,2.798,3.193,1.009and4.272tonha-1forthefarmsofDong,Zhang,Cheng,HuandShen,respectivelyDongZhangChengHuShen1.2322.7983.1931.0094.272TheseresultsareeasiertotakeinwhenpresentedinaTableCanwemakethetableclearerbyalteringtheaxes?DongZhangChengHuShen1.2322.7983.1931.0094.272Dong1.232Zhang2.798Cheng3.193Hu1.009Shen4.272Shouldweorderthedatainadifferentmanner?Cheng3.193Dong1.232Shen4.272Hu1.009Zhang2.798Arrangethefarmersalphabetically?Noimprovement!Shouldweorderthedatainadifferentmanner?Hu1.009Dong1.232Zhang2.798Cheng3.193Shen4.272Arrangeinorderofincreasingyield?Shendidmuchbetterthananyoftheotherfarmers!Doweneedthislevelofprecision?Hu1.009Dong1.232Zhang2.798Cheng3.193Shen4.272Hu1.1Dong1.2Zhang2.8Cheng3.2Shen4.3IncludeasmanydecimalpointsasjustifiedbytheaccuracyofyourdataThecolumnsofatablemustbelabelledappropriately,andtheunitsmustbeincludedtooHu1.1Dong1.2Zhang2.8Cheng3.2Shen4.3Farmer Yield (tonha-1)WecanquicklyseewhytheyieldonHu’sandDong’sfarmswassolow:lowpH!FarmerYield(tonha-1)AveragesoilpHHu1.14.1Dong1.24.2Zhang2.85.1Cheng3.25.5Shen4.36.2Makesureyouuseacceptableunits,notonesthatare“out-of-date”Recommended/preferredSIunitsandnon-SIunitsthatareeitherdiscouragedornotacceptableforPlantandSoilareincludedinInstructionsforAuthors(aTableissenttoauthorsafteraneditorialdecision)Inaddition,doubleprefixesshouldbeavoided,e.g.,usemgg-1,ratherthanmgkg-1ForfurtherinformationonSIconventions,thefollowingWebsitemaybehelpful:/cuu/index.html

SIorrecommended/preferredunitsNon-SIordiscouraged/unacceptableunitsLengthnm,mm,mm,m,km(i.e.m,andupanddownbyfactorsofthousand)cm,dm,dam,hm;inch,foot,yard,mileAreanm2,mm2,mm2,m2,km2(i.e.m,andupanddownlikeforlength)cm2,ha/acreVolumem3(andupanddownlikeforlength);alsoacceptableL(andupanddownbyfactorsofthousand)cm3,gallon,cubicfeetMassg(andupanddownbyfactorsofthousand)bushel,tonneTimes;alsoacceptable:h,day,yearminConcentrationsmolm-3(andupanddownbyfactorsofthousand);alsoacceptable:M(andupanddownbyfactorsofthousand);molckg-1cmolkg-1gkg-1%mgg-1,mmolmol-1ppm,ppbTemperatureKelvin,K;Celcius,oCFahrenheitTranspiration,photosynthesis,respirationmolm-2s-1,nmolg-1s-1(andupanddownbyfactorsofthousand)molcm-2h-1,moldm-2min-1Electricalconductivity,electricityandmagnetismSiemenspermeter,Sm-1(andupanddownbyfactorsofthousand)millimhopercentimeter,mmhocm-1Irradiancemmolm-2s-1;Wm-2,MJm-2day-1luxPressure,waterpotentialPa,kPa,MPahPa,atmosphereTheResultsFigure1DescribewhatitshowsNumberfiguresinorderofappearanceinthetextTable1DescribewhatitshowsLeadthereaderthroughyourdataFromoneFigure(Table)tothenextArrangealogicalflowfromsectiontosection

Thatmakesiteasy!ThencontinuewithwritingtheDiscussionMakeastructureforyourDiscussionDecidewhatyouwishtodiscussDesignthesectionsintheDiscussion(dotpoints)Thenmakeastructureforeachsection(dotpoints)DecidewhatyouwishtodescribeineachsectionPlaceyourresultsinawidercontextCompareyourresultswiththoseintheliteratureThenstartwritingFinishwithaparagraphinwhichyoutellthereaderwhatarethemainpoints(“take-home-message”)TheDiscussion

Figure1ExplainwhatitshowsTable1ExplainwhatitshowsPlaceyourresultsinawidercontextHowdoyourdatacomparewiththoseintheliterature?Finishwiththe“take-home-message”

Soundsexciting!AbitmoreabouttheDiscussionAgoodresearcherisexcitedabouttheresultsMakesurethereaderalsogetsexcitedExplainwhyyourworkisimportantandexciting

‘Selling’mydata!NowtheMaterialsandMethodsOnceyouknowwhichdatayouwillinclude,youwriteupalltheMaterialsandMethodsusedtoacquirethedataMethodsReference,detailsofallmodificationsEquipment,chemicalsManufacturer,city,countryGrowingconditions,treatmentsSpeciesLatinnameAuthority,e.g.,Linnaeus(L.)Cultivar

MaterialsandMethodsIncludeallrelevantdetailsCheckyourchosenjournalfor“howitisdone”Donotuse“modifiedafter”,butdescribethemodificationsDescribesothatsomeoneelsecanrepeatyourexperimentsBeprecise“Roomtemperature”isnotanaccuratedescription

Ameticulousjob!TheIntroductionisnext

Brieflyreviewtheliteraturethatisrelevantforyourmanuscript(useyourDiscussionasaguideline)DonotjustwritethisIntroductionforhalfadozencolleaguesworkinginexactlythesamefield,but…writeforarangeofinterestedscientistsFinishwiththeaimsofyourworkandpresentaclearhypothesisTheIntroduction

BrieflyreviewtheliteratureAddressawideraudiencethanthoseworkinginexactlythesamefieldGivetheaimsofyourresearchandagoodhypothesisAgoodhypothesisisonethatcanbetested,butitdoesnotneedtobe“correct”

Fascinatingtopic!AbitmoreabouttheIntroduction

ExplainwhyyoudidyourresearchThefactthatnobodyhasdoneitbeforeisnotagoodreasonYourstudymayfollowlogicallyfrompreviousworkYourprojectmayhavebeeninspiredbyapracticalproblem

WhydidIdothis?ReferencesCiteina“balanced”manneranddonotignorespecificgroupsAvoidtoomanyreferencesoftheworkofyourselforyourgroupCitetheprimaryliterature,ifreferringtoakeyfindingCiteareview,ifyouwishtorefertoafactthathasbeenfoundbynumerousauthorsCitetextbooksonlywhenreferringtogenerallyacceptedknowledgeReferencesChecktherequiredformatforthechosenjournalOrder(intextandlist)CorrectabbreviationsofjournalsAddnameofpublisherandcity(notcountry)Areallthecitedreferencesinthelist?Haveallthereferencesinthelistbeencited?

Imustbeprecise!AcknowledgementsAcknowledgetheinputofpeopleandagencieswhoallowedyoutowritethismanuscriptYoursupervisor(ifnotaco-author)Yourtechnician(ifnotaco-author)Yourcolleague,whogaveyousomebrightideasorcriticallyreadyourmanuscriptSomeonewhohelpedyouwiththelanguageGrantingagenciesOthersThetitleItshouldcoverthemainaimsand/ormessageItshouldappealtoyouraudienceItshouldnotbetoolongAvoidtitleswithanumberedsubtitleSubtitlesmaygetlost,andhenceyourpapermaynotbefoundinsearchesTherunningtitleSomejournalalsorequireasubtitleItcannotexceedacertainnumberofcharacterscheckinstructionsforauthorsofthejournalshouldcoverthemainaimsand/ormessageItisanabbreviatedversionofyourtitleItisonlyprintedabovesomepagesofyourpaperItisnotusedforliteraturesearchesItisthereforelessimportantthanagoodtitleUseyouractualtitleasaguidelineTheAbstractItshouldcontaintheaimofyourresearchDonotusereferencesinthispartIfyoumustusethem,thenalldetailsmustbethere(asinthereferenceslist,butwithoutthetitle)becauseanabstractmuststandonitsownMakesurethemainresultsandtake-home-messagearethereKeywordsChoosealimitednumberofkeywordsthatadequatelycoveryourresearchDonotusewordsthatalreadyappearinthetitleThinkofwordsthatyouwouldlookforwhendoingaliteraturesearchArrangealphabetically

LetmethinkAbbreviationsAllabbreviationsmustbeexplainedThisiscommonlydoneinasectionwithaseparateheading:AbbreviationsSometimesitisbetterto(also)haveaseparateTablewithalltheabbreviationsAvoidusingabbreviationsintheAbstractIfyoumust,theseabbreviationsmustbeexplainedwhenusedthefirsttimeWhoaretheauthorsandtheiraddresses?MakesurethatallauthorshaveachancetoreadyourmanuscriptbeforeyousubmititNeveraddanauthor,ifthispersonhasnothadachancetoreadthemanuscriptIncludethenameoftheinstitute/laboratorywheretheworkwasdoneasthefirstaddressIfyouhavemoved,alsoadd“presentaddress”Whatistheorderoftheauthorsofyourpaper?Thepersonwhodidtheworkandwrotethemanuscriptshouldbefirst(=senior)author

CorrespondingauthoristheonethatwillbethecontactforthejournalandcorrespondencethatmayfollowafterpublicationThatmaybethegroupleaderSeniorauthorandcorrespondingauthorcanbethesameTheresearch-teamleaderappearsasthelastauthorFrequentlymademistakes

Invalidstatisticse.g.,

presentinglinearregressionswhenoneaxisisnotscaled(e.g.,sites,species)UnitslackingintablesorfiguresIncorrectunits:s(=seconds)insteadofS(=Siemens)thereshouldbeaunitlengthinconductivityaswellKginsteadofkgUnitsoftimemustappearattheendmmols-1m-2shouldbemmolm-2s-1

ug,umolanduM,insteadofmg,mmolandmMmMm-2s-1shouldbemmolm-2s-1

mMisshortformmoll-1NonumbersorlegendsfortablesorfiguresFrequentlymademistakes

(cont’d)High,ratherthanlow(verynegative),waterpotentialCitedreferencesnotgiveninreferencelistIncorrect/sloppystyleofreferencingThedatashows…(insteadofthedatashow….)Anthropomorphicreasoning

“plantsattempt…”Toomanydecimalplaces0.239876(SE=0.052501)shouldbe0.23(SE=0.05)Nospacebetweenvaluesandunits,orbetweendifferentunits20m;shouldbe20m(but20%should,indeed,be20%)10mmolm-2s-1;shouldbe10mmolm-2s-1SomethingyoumustneverdoNevercopywholesentencesorparagraphswithoutreferringtotheoriginaltextThisiscalledplagiarismItisoneoftheworsts“crimes”inscienceItwillmakeyoulookbad,whendiscovered(whichwillprobablyhappen)ItmayruinyourscientificcareerJustdon’tdoit!FraudinsciencePublicationofresultsthatyouhavenotreallyacquiredisconsideredfraudThereareexampleswhere“scientists”havepublishedresultsthatwerecopiedfromotherjournalsOther“scientists”havepublishedresultsthatwerenotreallybasedonactualexperimentsItisoneoftheworsts“crimes”inscienceYouareboundtogetcaught:Justdon’tdoit!Finally,afewcommentsonlanguageandthestructureofsentencesandparagraphsAfewhintsAvoidcomplicatedsentencesDonotusewordsthatyouthinkyouunderstand,buthavenotreallycheckedcarefullyTooeasytodowhenusingyourcomputerprogram,withoutcheckinginadictionaryDonotmakesentencesthataretoolongUseaspellchecker,anduseeitherUKEnglish,orUSEnglish,butnotamixtureofbothSpellingcheckerspickupsomemistakes,butnotall

Sauna

Barber

Ball

Guest“Theinformationthatbeginsasentenceestablishesforthereaderaperspectiveforviewingthesentenceasaunit.”Gopen,G.D.&Swan,J.A.1990.AmericanScientist78:550-558.Anexampleofhow(not)tobeginasentence

2.

ThePconcentrationsinroothalvessuppliedwith1μMPwereinvariablylow,regardlessofthePconcentrationsuppliedtotheotherroothalf.1.RegardlessofthePconcentrationsuppliedtotheotherroothalf,

thePconcentrationsinroothalvessuppliedwith1μMPwereinvariablylow.In2.,theimportantpartisplacedatthebeginning.Therefore,thatisthesentenceorderthatyoushoulduse!“Beginningwiththeexcitingmaterialandendingwithalackoflusteroftenleavesusdisappointedanddestroysoursenseofmomentum.”Gopen,G.D.&Swan,J.A.1990.AmericanScientist78:550-558.Therefore,thestructureoftheDiscussionshouldbebothlogicalandexcitingBeginwithwhatneedstobeaddressedfirstandcontinuetoexplaintherestHidewhatmustbeincluded,butisnotreallyexcitingThiscanbedonebypresentingitinaTableinResults,withoutfurtherdiscussinginDiscussionFinishwiththemostimportantandexcitingaspectsThestructureofaparagraphTextisorganisedinparagraphsParagraphshaveadistinctstructureTheyarenotarrangedsoastohaveacertainnumberofsentencesorlinesParagraphsbeginwithasentencethat“setsthescene”AnintroductiontowhattheparagraphisaboutParagraphsfinishwithaconclusionAsentencethatrefersbacktothefirstsentenceAfinalcheckChecktheinstructionsforauthorsagainDidyoufollowallinstructionsproperly?Remember:itis