how to write a good paper dr. a.k. mahapatra department of neurosurgery all india institute of...

HOW TO WRITE A GOOD PAPER

Dr. A.K. MahapatraDepartment of Neurosurgery

All India Institute of Medical SciencesNew Delhi-110029, India

AKM 2012

HOW TO WRITE A SCIENTIFIC PAPERAims and Objectives

. Different at different level of training and for faculty. To familiarize how to collect and analyze data. How to write discussion comment and conclusions. Spread a new knowledge, describe a new technique. Report a new case for the first time. Or to enhance existing knowledge AKM 2012

HOW TO WRITE A SCIENTIFIC PAPER

. There is a big competition

. There must be a message

. It has to be high priority

. It must be appropriate for the readers of that Journal

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HOW TO WRITE A SCIENTIFIC PAPERWhy people do not write?

. It takes time

. There is a fear that paper will get rejected

. People not in academic think it is not necessary

. People in academic do not write as many medical colleges/ Institute do not give significance to publications as there is deficiency in faculty no. and people leaving academic and going to private practice.

. Example : Dec. 2006 – 126 Prof. promoted DPC after 1 hour meeting. AKM 2012

HOW TO WRITE A SCIENTIFIC PAPER

Is it needed, why?

. Keep to academic per-suite alive

. For keeping up to date by reading and writing

. From job satisfaction point of view

. It keep you occupied rather then getting involved in other things

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HOW TO WRITE A GOOD PAPERPapers can be

. Original paper Prospective

Retrospective data

. Review article

. Editorial metanalysis

. Case report

. Case note

. Letter to editor

. Image of the month

. Book review, or commentary to an article published

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HOW TO WRITE A GOOD PAPERWhat is ideal ?

. Write an original article with level I evidence

. Write a technical development, describing a new technique or new surgical procedure

. Review article/ meta analysis

. Describing a new case report etc.AKM 2012


Select Journal. Should select journal where it is most likely

get published. Select most appropriate journal even if low

impact factor. Initially when you start your carrier do not

always be ambitious to get best journal. Even publications in Indian Journal give to

moral boosting and enhance your confidence AKM 2012


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HOW TO WRITE A GOOD PAPERDo not get dejected or depressed if a paper is rejected

from a journal

Example – Over 12000 article are received by Neurosurgery (2006)

. 80% are America

. 10% are Europe

. 5% Asia

. <1% India

. 5% Rest of the world

In an average in 12 issue 200-250 articles get published

More than 98% get rejected, and most by the manuscript are from US

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. Journal like Child’s Nervs system get 1000-1200 manuscripts

. 25-30% get accepted

. Chance of an a article published iN CNS is higher than Neurosurgery

. Hence, number of publications, no. of manuscripts has a big role in acceptance.

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HOW TO WRITE A GOOD PAPER. Some time depends on Chief Editor. Country from which the paper’s sent. Person who review the article Example 1996-12 Case intramedullary

tuberculosis (J.Neurosurgery) Prof. John Jaine 3 referee two accepted with

good comments

3rd rejected, finally rejected by Editor.

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. Send the paper where the editor is not obsessed

. The manuscript must be as per instruction to author

. See that as little mistake as possible

. Quoting the reference and listing the reference is important, commonly over looked.

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HOW TO WRITE A GOOD PAPER. Many authors keep on repeating the same sentences

in abstract, introduction, discussion

. Manuscript must be as per journal instructions and guide lines

. It should be to the point and crisps and not very lengthy

. There must be appropriate number of tables not too many or to little

. Illustration must be appropriate and good quality, histology, immuno histochemistry and EM illustration

. Reference must be recent, appropriate, must be as per journal norms. All ref. listed must be quoted in text appropriately AKM 2012


Abstract / Summary. Must be as per journal norms

. It should be 200-250 words with aim and objective, to the point results and short conclusion

. Key words must be appropriate 6-8,words

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Introduction. It must be one paragraph or two

paragraphs. It must provide very brief view on about

the subject. Few appropriate reference must be

quoted to strong then your statement. At the end of the introduction highlight

the topic with purpose AKM 2012


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Material, methods, observation

. Must be appropriate

. Must not be very lengthy

. Observations must be carefully highlighted

. The percentage must be in round figure

. In table total number and 100% must be correct

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Result and conclusions. This is most important part of the paper

. Result must be carefully analysed

. Significance if any must be highlighted

. Positive results and negative result are equally important

. Do not try to justify result by adding false data

. % and P value must be correct

. Some reviewer at time can verify to find out accuracy of data and p value.

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. Conclusion must be drawn from data under publication rather than what is available in literature

. Conclusions must be few and important ones

. Less important points must be avoided in conclusion

. Putting unnecessary points and making conclusion lengthy is bad

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HOW TO WRITE A GOOD PAPERReference

. Must be recent

. It must be listed as per journal instruction

. No. of reference must not be too many or too little

. All reference listed must be quoted in the text

. Month of publication, number is not necessary

. Must quote your own publications relevant to topic

. Do not only quote your publications

. If possible quote, publication from India on the subject

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Who Should be Authors. Not too many. All must contribute. Everyone contribution must be mentioned. Who will be the first author?. Who is corresponding author?. According international journal editor

guild. All authors are equal.

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Correction by Senior Faculty. Some people read in detail correction and if

necessary rewrite. Some read few para or pages then return. Some never read and then keep for days to

weeks and return without doing anything. It must be done quick and 2-3 corrections

are adequate for final manuscript

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HOW TO WRITE A GOOD PAPER. By and large we write poor English

. Most of the time the comment by reviewer about the grammatical mistakes and typographical errors

. It is always advisable to get the manuscript corrected by someone with good command in English

. Many times it is difficult find your own mistake

. All comments by colleague on figure table and conclusion must be considered

. Inspite of all efforts a good manuscript may get rejected

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Ethical Issue- Not to copy- Take permission for book or journal- Obliging people- Stealing the Data

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- Acknowledgement - Disclosure - Conflict of interest - Avoid Plagiarism

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HOW TO WRITE A GOOD PAPER - I review 100 articles for 12-14

Journals- I correct by Department 30-40 papers- Go through 12-15 thesis

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HOW TO WRITE A GOOD PAPER - My experience

- Need to be careful- Do not repeat- Arrange Ref. as per the statement- Quote reference properly- Statistical Analysis must be correct- Do not Bluff

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HOW TO WRITE A GOOD PAPERConclusions

. It is always good to write a paper

. Good paper terminology is misnomer

. It is a learning process for all

. Competition is high, to be kept in mind

. Hence only 10-30% paper is accepted

. Selection of journal is very important

. For a beginner it is good to start publication in Indian Journal

. Do not get dejected if a paper is refused send at to other journal after modification as per need

. With effort and practice over the years it is possible to write a good paper. AKM 2012

THANK YOU

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