CUFE, Postgraduate Studies,

M Sc. Preparatory/Qualifying Year

2016-2017, Autumn Semester

Gen 600: Technical Writing and Scientific

Publication
(Writing Scientific Publications)
 34 slides
Lecture-1 Week 3, 1-2 hours

Introduces
Course, Objective, ILO, Schedule, Grading
Highlights
Basic Concepts: Systems Thinking, Total
Quality, Relationship With Writing
Outlines
Course Parts
Ethics, through Plagiarism
Tentative Course Plan ~ 20 hours, 10 weeks

Topic Hrs
Introduction
2
Writing a research paper
Writing Effective Sentences
3
Sentence errors
Writing Effective Paragraphs 1.5
Title ,abstract, and Introduction 1.5
Practices & exercises: Instructors choice 10
 Tentative Course Plan (~ 20 hours, 10 weeks)
Topic contact Hrs
Materials and methods 1.5
Results and discussion 1.5
Where and How to summit a
manuscript 3
Review Process
Ethical Guidelines for
1
Publishing
Writing a thesis 3 11
Course Objectives
1. To develop awareness of difficulties
2. To stress the importance of writing
skill
3. To develop awareness of
continuous self-learning habits for
bridging skill gaps in English
4. To polish writing skills
5. To build observation skills.
ILO: Knowledge and Awareness
developed awareness that writing is a
TQ process
recognized personal performance, and
planned for improvement
ILO: Transferable Skills
will have shaped personal attitude and
language for the services of
communication
will be able to plan and write effective
technical texts: audience analysis,
 Grades
Final exam 40
term 60
attendance
Quizzes
Initiatives, participation, writing 40
activities, creativity, positive
attitude, willingness to learn
Mid Term/paper 20
 why scientists publish their
results
1. Advancement of
scholarship/society/mankind
2. personal career progress/assessment
3. stamp claim on work, document results,
4. feedback from peers and scholarly
community,
5. personal satisfaction,
6. enhancement of the reputation of their
institution,
7. other
8
 Technical and cognitive skills in the context
of scientific & technical publishing

1. Advancement of
scholarship/society/mankind
2. personal career progress/assessment
3. stamp claim on work, document results,
4. feedback from peers and scholarly
community,
5. personal satisfaction,
6. enhancement of the reputation of their
institution,
7. other
9
 Technical and cognitive skills in the context
of scientific, technical & medical publishing

1. Types of publications
2. Value impact of publication
3. Literature research,
4. Structure of a publication,
5. Formatting of text and figures
6. Search for fund.
7. Basic and applied research

10
 Factors Influencing Creativity
1. Encouragement or motivation
2. Freedom
3. Resources
4. Security and safety
5. Pressure
6. Education
7. Family
8. Creative-thinking skills
9. Living environment
10. Personality

11
 The Writing Process:
A Systemic Approach
The Communication System
Text, Speech
Speaker, Actor

Sender Message

Code Performance Reader

Spectator
Language

Channel Receiver
Consider: Objective, Size, Time,
Venue, Environment, V-Aids,
 Prerequisite for Essentials of Style
TW: Grammar & (Grammar and Mechanics) is not
Mechanics (TOEFL)
addressed!
Word Classes Abbreviation Dangling Unity
Tenses Capitalization Modifier Cohesion
Articles Numbers Squinting Emphasis
Relative clauses Spelling Modifier Variety
Modal Verbs Punctuation Parallelism Preciseness
Special Verbs Conciseness
2 3 Clarity
1 Mechanics Style
Grammar 4
C R
SM Technical Writing: Sentences
Paragraphs A Systems Approach
* Collecting Data
5
5 * Outlining
Form, length, structure Forms * Organizing
Topic statement
* Introduction/Body/Conclusion
Topic development
* Summary/Attachments t
Types of Paragraphs e x
* Graphs & Tables T
Introductory: Course Objectives, Ethics,
Systems Thinking, Skills,
1- The Communication Model
2- The Writing Process
3- The Structure of an article (miniature of thesis)
4- The Thesis Statement
5- Discovering Ideas
6- Outlining
7- Organizing
8- Paragraphs
9- Sentences
10- Sentence Errors
11- Larger forms
12- Special Parts: Summary, Introduction, Conclusion
13- Miscellaneous: References, Titles, Graphs, Tables,
The Linear Way/Process
1. Define M.
2. Define TS.
3. Collect data about M.
4. Organize M into:
Introduction,
Body, Conclusion.
5. Check the plan.
6. Develop the text.
7. Check.
8. Edit, improve.
9. Rehearse & Deliver.
10. Get feedback.
11. Evaluate, Improve.
Mnemonic for the Linear Process
(A reminder)
P: plan, define SMCR, discover
ideas
O: outline, organize
W: sent/para, special parts
E: evaluate, correct, improve
R: revise, edit. Fine tune
 The Total Quality System
P
Do
D

Plan C C
I
I Total Quality
P
Check P
D Improve D

C
I
Feedback

17
 The 12 Steps Close the Total Quality Loop
1. Define SMCR+ others (OFSET). P
2. Collect Ideas. D
3. Outline. P
4. Organize. P
5. Field check. C, I
6. Write /Type text. P: Plan
D
7. Revise. C, I D: Do
8. Field check. C, I C: Check
9. Edit /Proofread. C, I I: Improve
10. Print, Bind, Distribute. D
11. Collect feedback. C, I
12. Improve. I
18
 Writing: A Total Quality Process
Plan Implement Check Improve
1
Define 2 Collect Check.
SMCR, information Review. Edit.
OSFE , data, .... Revise. Proofread.
Tool, 5
8
Time.
6 Check.
3
Write. 7 Review.
Revise.
Improve
Outline. Type.
skills.
4 Print. 11
Get
Organize. Collate. feedback.
Distribute. 9
10

19
 Objectives Define, Clarify,
a Effectiveness
of writing Prioritize,

Plan Do
Define:
PDCI Quality
Sender
Check Improve
Message
B The Approach: Systemic Code
Receiver
Sender Message Form
Performance Size
Channel Timing
Receiver
Environment
a Objectives Clarify, Define
Systemic
b Define: SMCRFSET,
Approach
Collect

The Process of Writing

c about b
information
d Outline Step c
e Organize d Intro Body Conclusion
f Check Organized d & e
g Write Expand checked f
Check, Revise,
h Against a & b
Edit, Improve
a Objectives Clarify, Define

b Systemic Approach Define: SMCRFSET,

Collect
c
information About:
Message, Readers, Environment,
Use Discovering Ideas:
Brainstorming
Qs
P DCI Break thesis statements
into Topic Statements
a Objectives Clarify, Define

b Systemic Approach Define: SMCRFSET,

c Collect information about b

d Outline Info collected (c):

Topic outline (T)
Use sentence outline (S)
P DCI Mixture of T & S
e Organize Outline (d)
Introduction, Body, Conclusion
Use * Natural
* Logical Techniques
* Psychological
a Objectives Clarify, Define

b Systemic Approach Define: SMCRFSET,

c Collect information about b

d Outline c

e Organize d into I B C
PD CI
Check for R & M
adequacy of Field check
f
the organized Improve
outline Multiply C & I
a Objectives Clarify, Define d Outline c
b Systemic Approach Define: SMCRFSET,
e Organize d into I B C
Collect
c
information
about b
PDCI f Check Organized d & e

g Write s Expand Topic Statements s

Choose Statement WTB WTD
Action, Process X X
Ways-To-Begin (WTB), Advice X
Ways-To-Develop (WTD) Background X X
Call for action X X
Signal words/verbs Command/Request X
All suitable for TS Comparison-contrast X X
Definition/classification X X
Then, and, or, nor for, but, Early theory and technique X X
so yet, therefore, Forecast and hypothesis X X
however, further, if, Illustration/exemplification X X
Listing X X
because, first, finally, Point of view x x
cause, define,
a Objectives Clarify, Define d Outline c
b Systemic Approach Define: SMCRFSET,
e Organize d into I B C
Collect about b
c
information f Check Organized d & e

g Write s Expand Topic Statements s

PD CI
Write Effective
h To Develop Topic Statements
Sentences
Emphasis Cohesion Variety
Conciseness Preciseness
Word Propriety Clarity & Unity
Check, Revise,
i Against a & b
Edit, Improve
a Objectives Clarify, Define d Outline c
b Systemic Approach Define: SMCRFSET,
e Organize d into I B C
Collect about b
c
information f Check Organized d & e

g Write s Expand Topic Statements s Emphasis Observe Cohesion

Write Effective To Develop the Topic Snt. Variety Conciseness Preciseness

g
Sentences
Check, Revise, Word Propriety Clarity & Unity
h Against a & b
Edit, Improve

Introduction Conclusion Abstract

Defines Restates TS 1- Descriptive
problem Summarizes 2- Informative
background conclusions 3- Indicative
Presents TS Shows New Tables Figures
States purpose Recommends
Presents text Titles References
contents. Equations
Appendixes
 Different forms of scientific documents

1. Research paper
2. Review article
3. Rapid communication
4. Short communication
5. Technical note
6. Letter to the editor
7. Book review
8. Theses and dissertations
9. Reports (pre-prints, preliminary progress
and advanced reports, technical reports,
statistical reports, state-of-the art reports,
contractor reports)
 Forms of Scientific Writing
The Scientific Article
The Scientific Report
Dissertations: M. Sc. & Ph. D.
Descriptive layout
Apply Course Contents to
Sections of the Forms.
 Ethical Guidelines
for Publishing
Institutions such as universities should
not only demand publications, they
should in parallel establish ethical
guidelines for publications and clear
procedures on how to investigate and
react on unethical scientific behavior
 Plagiarism

According to the Oxford English

Dictionary: to take and use as ones
own the thoughts, writings, or
inventions of another.
River college Plagiarism Policy, Sep. 2014
http://www.rrc.mb.ca/files/File/policies/C7-AcademicIntegrity.pdf
 Definitions
Plagiarism is using words, ideas, data or product without
appropriate acknowledgement of authors of words.

Fabrication is intentional misrepresentation or invention of

any information such as falsifying research or inventing or
exaggerating data.

Multiple Submission Authors should never submit the same

manuscript to different journals at the same time .

Self-plagiarism occurs when reusing previously written own

work in a new written product without saying that this
material has appeared elsewhere.
 Plagiarism Guidelines
Rephrased from Miguel Roig

1. Acknowledge the contributions of others

ideas.
2. Enclose verbatim text in quotation marks.
3. acknowledge every source whether we
paraphrase it, summarize it, or enclosed in
quotations.
4. Reproduce the exact meaning of other
authors ideas.
5. When reducing a text, have a thorough
understanding of the ideas and terminology
used.
Miguel Roig, Ph.D , Avoiding plagiarism, self-plagiarism, and other
questionable writing practices: A guide to ethical writing, First on-line version
published in September, 2003; Revised on-line version published in August, 2006;
http://facpub.stjohns.edu/~roigm/plagiarism/Index.html 33
 What to avoid:
1. Cutting and pasting from the internet
without reference to the source material
2. Borrowing others work without
authorization
3. Trying to help someone a little too much for
something he is personally supposed to do,
and he is supposed to take credit for.
4. Photocopying
5. Violating copy rights