Discussion: How to write a research paper?

Discussion: How to write a
research paper
Nguyen Van Du – duk48d@gmail.com
Department of Information Processing
Website for seminar resources:
www.coltech.vnu.edu.vn/~tantd

Contents
• Research paper
• The writing problem
• Writing progress
• Structure
• Some tips.
• Conclusion

Why we have to write a
research paper
• For publication: gain recognition, get
promoted.
• Sharing idea, contribute for community.
• Durable document, help improving later work.
• Convey your idea (your head to reader’s
head)
• “The greatest ideas are worthless (literally) if
you keep them to yourself”

Writing problem
• Poor English skills
• Lack of proper training
• Lack of method

Is writing paper boring
• “Writing is easy. All you do is stare at a
blank sheet of paper until drops of
blood form on your forehead” --- Gene
Fowler
• But It’s my big challenge now.

Writing progress
• “Writing paper is how to develop the
idea in the first place”

Writing steps
• Writing the complete first draft of your paper,
except for the Introduction and Conclusion
• Present the big picture, then towards the details.
• Make sure the ideas are in the right order “Can
the reader understand every passage strictly from
the material up to that point”
• Transitions between ideas.
• Write the Conclusion
• Write the Introduction

Conveying the idea
It’s It’s interesting
problem.
• Introduce the problem It’s an
interesting problem
• It’s an unsolved problem
• Here is my idea
• My idea works (details, data)
• Compares to other people’s
approaches.
I I need need it. it.

Structure
• Abstract.
• I. Introduction
• II. Formulation of the Problem
• III. Results
• IV. Conclusions

Abstract
• Very important (reader read it first to
decide which paper to read; submitting
paper..)
• Structure (about 4 sentences)
• State the problem
• Say why it’s an interesting problem.
• Say what your solution achieves
• Say what follows from your solution

I. Introduction
• Open up to subject
• Survey past work relevant
• Describe the assumptions
• Overview of contents (section I, II, …)

II. Formulation of the problem
• Define the problem
• Define all terminology and notation
• Develop the equation The result will
be based.

III. Results
• Presents the detailed results.
• Clear what point convey to the
reader.
• Contribution of the results

IV. Conclusion
• Summarize (what has been done) in the
paper.
• Conclusion (and Introduction) are
important to the reader (many of reader
will read Introduction & Conclusion
first).

Giving credit
• “Giving credit to others does not diminish the
credit you get from your paper”
• “Credit Is not like money”
• If you imply that an idea is yours, and the
referee knows it is not, then either
• You don’t know that it’s an old idea (bad)
• You do know, but are pretending it’s yours (very
bad)

Some tips
• 1. Get rid of as many passive verbs as
possible
• 2. Use verbs more than nouns
• 3. Get rid of as many abstract words as
possible.
• 4. Check for consistent use of verb tense
• 5. Get your paper read by as many friends as
possible.

Conclusions
• Beginner need methods and tips
• Structure
• Avoiding mistakes.
• General requirements.
• It’s better if we
• follow the rules
• Practice more
• Start writing paper early.
• There are many sources for learning writing.

Proposal
• Create the sources for younger writer
(books, tips, links…)
• Internet folder.
• Seminar, discussion.
• Encourage the helping, giving talk from
prominent researchers – the very good
writers.

References
• How to write a great research paper –
S.P. Jones
• Fourteen Steps to a Clearly Written
Technical Paper – R.T. Compton
• Some hints to Improve Writing of
Technical Papers – P. Valduriez .et al
• Element of Style - William

Thanks for your attention!