英文科技论文写作

本文为学堂在线平台“英文科技论文写作与学术报告”2020春季课程学习笔记，课程链接：
https://next.xuetangx.com/course/XJTU08081000424/1515668

General Instruction and Advice

Scientific Attitude

• Theoretic investigation;
• Experiments;
• Numerical testing or simulation

Logic

• Logical presentation;
• Language flow

Structure and Clarity

Know your readers who want to

• Know the result of the paper to determine to read on - abstract;
• Know intuitively the key ideas behind this paper. how it is derived, what are the significance and implications - introduction ( The most important, summarize the contribution in the introduction);
• Know all the details - whole paper

Writing Papers in English and Chinese

• Culture
  • Confidence versus modesty( more confidence no modesty );
  • “Responsibility” of delivery? (中国：读者看不懂怪读者；外国：读者看不懂怪作者)
• Language
  • Direct translation often do not work;
  • 举例：一些大学的官网上“博士后流动站”翻译为"post-doctor mobile station"，应该是"Postdoctoral program" 先写中文，再翻译"is not a good practice"

Advice in Writing for Beginners

• Avoid direct translation;
• Write simple sentences with present tense;
• Use spelling check to make sure that all words spelled correctly;
• Use grammar check to find out inconsistency;
• Pay particular attention to the spelling of the names in references

Professionalism in Writing

• Consistency in format: font size, space, paragraph, etc.;
• Consistency in punctuation;
• Consistency in equations;
• Consistency in references;
• Consistency in ……

Present Facts Theories, Proof, Experiments, Testing Objectively

• Avoid unnecessary political, religious, emotional comment;
• Avoid bias and discrimination related to race, gender, age and etc. ;
• Sensitive to the comments possibly explained as against the current social ethnics and convention such as those in life and medical science

Content of A Research Paper

Title

• Best representation of the paper: contributions and unique features;
• Generally not a sentence(no verb);
• Importance of right word order;
• No waste of words (中文标题常有“……的研究”，英文标题中不要有"study on ……" “investigation on ……”)

Abstract

• Summary in a few hundred words;
• Very important to attract readers

Introduction( Most Important!!! )

• Motivations and problem descriptions
• Academic and/or industrial impact
• literature reviews
  • Show the state of art (最新的研究)
  • Cite reference available to general public
  • Avoid offensive remarks ( "the existing work is nothing……"very offensive remarks )
  • Use the most recent results
  • Do not cite too many “home-made” references (cite your own paper)
• Summary of the major contribution of the paper
• Organization of the paper (optional)

Problem Description or Formulation

• System configuration, environment, etc.;
• Definition of all notation for variables, symbols, etc.;
• Mathematical models and formulations

Methodology

• Main ideas to solve the problem;
• Theorems and proofs;
• Descriptions of the approach or algorithm;
• Performance analysis;
• Unique features of the method

Results of Application, Experiment or Testing

• Description of the practical or experiment system;
• Description of the data and the associated system;
• Description of the computer system;
• Presentation of the results, tables, figures, etc.;
• Applications and benefits

Conclusions (Not a Repeat of Abstract)

• Summary of your findings;
• Concluding remarks ( 结束语 )

Acknowledgment

• Acknowledge the funding agencies;
• Thanks individuals (sincerely and objectively, not thanks somebody who is not related)

References (Very Important!!!)

• In appropriate format and try to meet the requirements of the journal. (view previous journal or look up the instruction)
• Have recent references if possible
• Give complete information (if the paper have many authors, just list all the name of the author, no etc.)
• List appropriate numbers of references (6 pages paper, but 3 pages list the references 23333)
• Do not list anything that is not refereed to (the listed should be cited)
• Do not list too many “home-made” references

Share Credit and Cite Reference

Importance of Share Credit

• Free sharing of ideas and respect for the intellectual property right of scholars
• Give credit where credit is due (only list in reference is not enough, citing is not copy)

How to Share Credit

• EXPLICITLY acknowledge the source
  • Add a little number at the behind of the sentences you cited;
  • Put quotations on some other people’s words in paper
• Treat other people’s idea and intellectual property with respect and care
  • Respect other people’s idea in academic exchange
  • Ask permission for use of documents, etc.
  • Copyright for use of graphs, etc
• Be careful when taking credit (make sure is your own work)
• Be generous to collaborators who indeed make contributions. Especially deal with the cases where contributions are not clear cut
• Order of authorship
  • Contribution (most common and recommended by IEEE)
  • Alphabet
  • Seniority

Review Process and Response

Review Style and Example

• Anonymous peer review system;
• Frank, brutal, sarcastic, or even occasionally wrong criticisms;
• Revision or rejection is normal

Responses to Reviewers

• Examine carefully all the comments made by the reviewers and by Associate Editor;
• Differentiate those comments that must be fully addressed from those that are desirable to be addressed, try to fully address the former and discuss the latter within your capability;
• Response to each and every point raised by the reviewer/referee;
• Response side by side with the original points raised (reviewer may forgot what he/she has commented);
• If you must disagree with the reviewer on some point. Do it professionally with no rancor or sarcasm;
• A cover letter to the corresponding editor that you have responded to each of the referees in detail and that your revised paper now merits reconsideration and re-review;
• Separate and detailed point-by-point response to every one of the referee’s comments and show HOW YOU REVISE THE TEXT.(don’t need to explain your original idea, just show you have revised the text)

Advice in Responding to Reviewers

• Never argue with reviewers and editor
• Know when to give up for a particular paper, to make more efforts;
• You don’t have to agree every thing (a skill: to clarify something, reviewer misunderstood something due to you didn’t explain clearly)

Procedure to Submit A Paper

• Submit abstract(required only by some conferences);
• Submit entire manuscript(usual);
• Modify based on reviewers’ comments(possibly several rounds);
• Submit final electronic copy;
• Proof reading （校对）
  • return promptly(usually in two days)