Prof. Pete Carr offers an algorithm for writing a research paper in a weekend, emphasizing the importance of producing a complete first draft, working from an outline, and addressing the concerns of reviewers. He advises against procrastination and urges writers to resist the urge to edit as they go. He also provides tips for writing the introduction and producing clear, concise language, as well as references for further reading.
Professor Carr discusses the preliminaries of writing a research paper
Producing a first draft is important and doesn't take much time
Reviewing notes and literature search are important preliminaries
Determining the audience and purpose of the paper is crucial
To write a paper, it's important to know the type of paper, intended journal, and primary readers; create the initial draft first, resist correcting mistakes, and work from an outline.
Consider the type of paper, intended journal, and primary readers
Create the initial draft without correcting mistakes
Editing is the second stage of work
Work from an outline
Writing an outline before starting the paper can help you pick up where you left off and make it fun to write.
Outlining is easy and helps you arrange your data in a logical sequence.
Do not start with the introduction as it is the hardest part to write.
Start with the experimental, which is the easiest part to write.
Focus on writing the results and discussion, which is a little more difficult than the experimental.
The final steps to write a paper include cleaning up the conclusion, writing a clear introduction, and producing accurate references.
The conclusion should be in a numbered format with clear separation between each point.
The introduction should explain the purpose of the study and provide relevant background information.
Take notes on needed references while writing the first draft, but collect them later to avoid interrupting the flow.
Accurate references are crucial for reviewers and readers to find information easily.
Writing is the most exacting part of being a scientist, and it is important to review manuscript requirements and follow the given rules.
Reading and writing are crucial parts of doing science.
Writing a paper requires focusing on critical skills to ensure scientific arguments are correct and logical.
Always review the manuscript requirements for the journal of interest to avoid rejection.
There are classic books and relevant books on writing a paper on chemistry, and a short paper by Professor Royce Murray is a gem that gives seven rules to follow for skillful writing of an awful research paper.a
