How NOT to Write How NOT to Write an Academic Paper?an Academic Paper?

Nguyen Xuan Hoai, Hanoi UniversityNguyen Xuan Hoai, Hanoi University

OutlineOutline

Who am I?Who am I? Why your papers get rejected?Why your papers get rejected? Common pitfalls in writing paper:Common pitfalls in writing paper:

Ethical aspect.Ethical aspect. Presentation aspect.Presentation aspect. Language aspect.Language aspect.

Response to reviewers.Response to reviewers.

Briefs about meBriefs about me I come from the computer science I come from the computer science

background, working at the IT R&D Center, background, working at the IT R&D Center, Hanoi University.Hanoi University.

My publication count is around 80 (27 was My publication count is around 80 (27 was published with Springer!)… not including published with Springer!)… not including many rejected ones!many rejected ones!

I have reviewed hundreds of academic I have reviewed hundreds of academic papers for prestigious academic conferences papers for prestigious academic conferences and journals in my field of study (including – and journals in my field of study (including – IEEE Trans on Evolutionary Computation, IEEE IEEE Trans on Evolutionary Computation, IEEE Trans on Neural Networks, IEEE CEC, ACM Trans on Neural Networks, IEEE CEC, ACM SIGEVO GECCO, EuroGP, ….)SIGEVO GECCO, EuroGP, ….)

DisclaimerDisclaimer

I will be more focused to publication in I will be more focused to publication in natural sciences (in particular Computer natural sciences (in particular Computer Science).Science).

I do not try to over-generalize but only use I do not try to over-generalize but only use my experience; everything said might have my experience; everything said might have counterexamples. counterexamples.

I give some examples of my own and others I give some examples of my own and others without any mean to offense.without any mean to offense.

The list of common pitfalls in paper The list of common pitfalls in paper presentation is far from complete!presentation is far from complete!

So after a long period of hard So after a long period of hard working, you have decided to working, you have decided to submit an academic paper …submit an academic paper …

And wait ….And wait ….

Notification to your submitted Notification to your submitted paper:paper:

Why?Why? Why?Why? Why?Why? … …

Most common reasons Most common reasons for papers get rejectedfor papers get rejected

Does not fit the scope of journal or Does not fit the scope of journal or conference.conference.

Does not make any contribution to the Does not make any contribution to the knowledge of the field.knowledge of the field. Lacking of new ideas/results.Lacking of new ideas/results. Solving insignificant problems.Solving insignificant problems.

Does not meet the ethical standards.Does not meet the ethical standards. Originality.Originality. Ethical issues of research problems.Ethical issues of research problems.

Most common reasons Most common reasons for papers get rejectedfor papers get rejected

Research contents are weakResearch contents are weak Literature review is inadequate.Literature review is inadequate. Methodological problems.Methodological problems. Data/samples are problematic.Data/samples are problematic. Insufficient statistical analysis.Insufficient statistical analysis. Misinterpretation of the results.Misinterpretation of the results. Reproducibility of the results.Reproducibility of the results.

The paper is poorly written.The paper is poorly written. Does not follow the journal’s guidelines for Does not follow the journal’s guidelines for

presentation.presentation.

Badly Written PapersBadly Written Papers

Misconception:Misconception:

“ “My paper should not be My paper should not be rejected as long as the results rejected as long as the results (contents) are good” ….(contents) are good” ….

The truth is:The truth is:

“ “Many papers have been Many papers have been rejected for they are badly rejected for they are badly written” written”

Common Pitfalls Common Pitfalls in Writing Papersin Writing Papers

Ethical AspectEthical Aspect:: PlagiarismPlagiarism

Any text in the paper.Any text in the paper. Tables, figures.Tables, figures. Zero tolerance.Zero tolerance.

Self-plagiarismSelf-plagiarism Is this paper look similar to your previous one?Is this paper look similar to your previous one? Copy-and-paste.Copy-and-paste.

Quotation and Paraphrase.Quotation and Paraphrase. Plagiarism checking tools.Plagiarism checking tools.

Common Pitfalls Common Pitfalls in Writing Papersin Writing Papers

Presentation AspectPresentation Aspect:: Write paper for you only! Write paper for you only!

Suppose reviewers/readers have known Suppose reviewers/readers have known everything you know.everything you know.

Lacking of contextLacking of context Lacking of problem definition or crowded with Lacking of problem definition or crowded with

them.them. Lacking of literature review or unfairly diminish Lacking of literature review or unfairly diminish

others work.others work. Purely descriptivePurely descriptive

No alternative, no comparison, no comments No alternative, no comparison, no comments just “we did this, we did that…”just “we did this, we did that…”

Common Pitfalls Common Pitfalls in Writing Papersin Writing Papers

Presentation AspectPresentation Aspect:: Bad structuredBad structured

Unbalance in parts.Unbalance in parts. Include irrelevant or unnecessarily long Include irrelevant or unnecessarily long

contents.contents. Incoherence.Incoherence.

Obscure writingObscure writing Many acronyms and abbreviations.Many acronyms and abbreviations. Inconsistence in notation usage.Inconsistence in notation usage. Use footnote more than text.Use footnote more than text.

Common Pitfalls Common Pitfalls in Writing Papersin Writing Papers

Language AspectLanguage Aspect::

Academic writing is a discipline!Academic writing is a discipline! Writing paper with colorful languageWriting paper with colorful language

Straight and simple.Straight and simple. Write long and complex sentencesWrite long and complex sentences

KISS – Keep it short and simpleKISS – Keep it short and simple Context repetitionContext repetition

Should not repeat ourselves.Should not repeat ourselves. Inconsistent tense in a paragraphInconsistent tense in a paragraph

Common Pitfalls Common Pitfalls in Writing Papersin Writing Papers

Language AspectLanguage Aspect::

Academic writing is a discipline!Academic writing is a discipline! Active vs. Passive voiceActive vs. Passive voice

Vietnamese tends to use more active voice Vietnamese tends to use more active voice while formal English tends to use passive.while formal English tends to use passive.

Bad word choiceBad word choice Over-sell/over-generalize words (e.g Over-sell/over-generalize words (e.g

“paradigm”)“paradigm”) Buzz words (cool but shallow).Buzz words (cool but shallow). Controversy words.Controversy words.

Typos and bad graphicsTypos and bad graphics

Response to Response to ReviewersReviewers

But if you have a chance to response But if you have a chance to response to the reviewers of your paper …to the reviewers of your paper …

Response to Response to ReviewersReviewers

Don’tDon’t:: Use aggressive or defensive tone. Use aggressive or defensive tone. Use one reviewer’s response against Use one reviewer’s response against

another.another. I am right because the reviewer is wrong!I am right because the reviewer is wrong! Say things like “we agree” or “this is Say things like “we agree” or “this is

excellent ..” if you are going to change the excellent ..” if you are going to change the paper as suggested by reviewers.paper as suggested by reviewers.

Referring back for similar commentsReferring back for similar comments ““See my response to comment X above..”See my response to comment X above..”

Submit same version to other journals.Submit same version to other journals.

Response to Response to ReviewersReviewers

DoDo:: Give thanks to the reviewers and editor.Give thanks to the reviewers and editor. Understand and address all points raised Understand and address all points raised

by the editor and reviewers.by the editor and reviewers. Pick your battle and present your Pick your battle and present your

disagreement in a polite way!disagreement in a polite way! Restate the comments and clearly show Restate the comments and clearly show

your major revisions.your major revisions. Resubmit your paper and response-Resubmit your paper and response-

to-reviewers on time.to-reviewers on time.

THANK YOU !THANK YOU !

AcknowledgementAcknowledgement – apart from my own – apart from my own experience, I have consulted various writings experience, I have consulted various writings related to the topic on the internet; in related to the topic on the internet; in particular, particular, www.vietphd.org

Prof. McKay from SNU should be thanked for Prof. McKay from SNU should be thanked for giving his experience on the common giving his experience on the common academic language mistakes committed by academic language mistakes committed by Asian researchersAsian researchers