Preparation and Revision of Scientific Manuscripts
A scientific manuscript is an essential part of conducting research, as it allows the scientist to finally be able to communicate an idea that will add to the plethora of knowledge that already exits and potentially revolutionize current modes of thinking. Although most scientists understand the significance of publishing a paper, they often overlook the fact that scientific papers are unnecessarily complex and difficult to read. Science may involve abstract concepts and convoluted experiments, but creating a written manuscript with technical jargon is counterproductive. Writing a scientific manuscript involves keeping in the mind that reader will only understand what the writer can successfully communicate. This simply means to express scientific thought, however complex, in a clear, concise, and organized manner. In this way, writing a scientific paper can be challenging. However, the scientific method follows a series of logical steps and, accordingly, scientific writing itself is highly structured. These facts facilitate the daunting process of preparing a scientific manuscript.
Electronic Resources
Format & Style: International Committee of Medical Journal Editors
http://www.icmje.org/index.html#state
Scientific manuscripts must be written in a specific manner with essential components of the scientific method in mind. This is important because it makes the process of conducting and publishing research easier to write about, read, and edit as needed. The International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) is a group of individuals that establish guidelines for the format of manuscripts submitted to journals. The Uniform Requirements for Manuscripts Submitted to Biomedical Journals outlines an easy to follow format that is adhered to by most journals, including the Journal of the American Medical Association. It includes a thorough explanation of each section of a scientific paper and provides a general format used to cite references. The Uniform Requirements allow both authors and editors to publish studies that are easy to read and access.
Instructions to Authors
http://mulford.mco.edu/instr/
What format is appropriate for a particular paper depends on which journal a researcher whishes to publish in and what type of a manuscript is being submitted. Each journal has its own criteria and specification in terms of format and style that varies with whether the manuscript is an original research article, a review, or a case report. This website allows authors to look up guidelines for writing, formatting, and submitting a scientific manuscript by the particular journal of interest.
Writing a Scientific Manuscript
http://www.stanford.edu/~jhj1/teachingdocs/Jones-PaperStyleGuide2005.pdf
http://sepwww.stanford.edu/ftp/prof/Intro.html
http://abacus.bates.edu/~ganderso/biology/resources/writing/HTWtoc.html
http://www.tkk.fi/Yksikot/KieVie/KieCafe/en/dp/scipaper.html
http://www.oup.com/us/samplechapters/0841234620/?view=usa#COMP
The first two cites from Stanford University provide general guidelines on writing a scientific paper. The next three sites are helpful in providing a step-by-step template for creating a manuscript.
Submission & Revision of Scientific Manuscript
http://www.mcmaster.ca/inabis98/keynote/bloom/two.html
An important aspect of scientific writing or any type of writing is revising. Just as creating a scientific manuscript is a structured process, revising a scientific manuscript is also highly organized and procedural. When an author submits a paper for publication he/she chooses a particular journal depending on the type of research and audience one wishes to reach. The paper is submitted to the journal, either electronically or manually, and is then reviewed by a group of selected reviewers. The journal then decides whether they want to accept the paper or reject the paper depending on whether the paper meets the journals’ goals. During this evaluation process reviewers scrutinize the paper for scientific integrity and make suggestions to the authors as needed. The site above is an excellent source that diagrams the review process in its entirety, from the creation of a manuscript to submitting, revising, and publishing a manuscript.
The Journal of the Medical Association as an Example for the Preparation & Revision of Scientific Manuscripts
Instructions for Authors
http://jama.ama-assn.org/misc/ifora.dtl
Instructors for Authors and Reviewers
http://jama.ama-assn.org/misc/ifora.dtl
The Review Process
http://manuscripts.jama.com/cgi-bin/main.plex?form_type=display_rev_instructions
Document Resources
Scientific Manuscript: Significance, Structure, Content & Format
This document briefly discusses the importance of publishing in terms of what the author wants to accomplish, what the editors are looking for, and what the general public is expecting. It also provides hints on how to get the writing process started. An explanation of each aspect of a scientific manuscript is provided along with examples of how to cite references for some common sources. Lastly, a general a template for writing a scientific manuscript is also included.
Revision of a Scientific Manuscript
This document outlines aspects of submitting a scientific manuscript, discusses the review processes, and states the most common reasons for why papers are rejected. It also addresses the issue of why revisions are important and to what extent the researcher should take into consideration the reviewers’ suggestions. Lastly, it provides a flow chart to outline the review process.
