How to Write a Paper in a Weekend (By Prof. Pete Carr)

Surviving and Thriving in Higher Education
28 May 201611:39
EducationalLearning
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TLDRProfessor Carr from the University of Minnesota's Department of Chemistry shares insights on writing a research paper. With experience in producing over 400 papers, he addresses common fears and offers strategies to make the process enjoyable and productive. The focus is on creating a first draft efficiently, emphasizing the importance of preliminaries such as reviewing notes and literature search. He advises on understanding the audience and purpose, and presents an algorithm for drafting, which includes starting with an outline, avoiding the introduction initially, and writing the experimental section first. The summary concludes with the importance of critical editing, clear writing, and adhering to journal requirements.

Takeaways
  • 📚 Professor Carr emphasizes the importance of writing a research paper and shares his experience in producing over 400 papers.
  • 🎓 He advises new graduate students to overcome their fear and excitement about writing their first research paper.
  • ✍️ The focus is on producing a first draft efficiently, which is a significant step in the writing process.
  • 🛠️ Reviewing notes and renewing literature search are essential preliminaries before starting to write the paper.
  • 👥 Determining the audience of the paper is crucial, as it helps in tailoring the content to the intended readers and reviewers.
  • 💡 The 'big picture' approach suggests creating an initial draft as the creative part, resisting the temptation to correct mistakes at this stage.
  • 📝 Professor Carr recommends starting with an outline to maintain continuity and organization throughout the writing process.
  • 🚫 He advises against writing the introduction first, as it is the hardest part and may lead to procrastination.
  • 🔬 Writing the experimental section and results is suggested next, as these are the parts the writer is most familiar with.
  • 📈 After completing the experimental and results sections, the focus shifts to critical editing and refining the draft.
  • 📝 The final steps include writing clear conclusions, crafting an introduction with purpose and background, and compiling accurate references.
Q & A

  • Who is the speaker in the provided transcript?

    -The speaker is Professor Carr from the University of Minnesota Department of Chemistry.

  • What is the main topic of the talk given by Professor Carr?

    -The main topic is about how to write a research paper, focusing on producing a first draft.

  • How many papers has Professor Carr and his group produced over the years?

    -Professor Carr and his group have produced about 400 papers.

  • What is the first step Professor Carr suggests in writing a research paper?

    -The first step is to review your own notes and renew your literature search before starting to write the paper.

  • Why is it important to determine the audience of your research paper according to Professor Carr?

    -Determining the audience is important because it helps in understanding the purpose of the paper and addressing the concerns of the primary readers, which are often the reviewers.

  • What does Professor Carr suggest as the creative part of writing a research paper?

    -Producing the initial draft is considered the creative part of the job, where the focus should be on creating a complete draft rather than a perfect one.

  • What is the recommended order of writing different sections of a research paper according to Professor Carr's algorithm?

    -The recommended order is to start with the experimental section, followed by results and discussion, and then write the introduction and conclusion last.

  • Why should the introduction of a research paper be written after the experimental and results sections?

    -The introduction is the hardest part of a paper to write, and writing it last helps to avoid procrastination and ensures that the writer has a clear understanding of the study's purpose and background.

  • What is the purpose of writing conclusions in a numbered format according to Professor Carr?

    -Writing conclusions in a numbered format helps to clearly separate the contributions of the work and makes it easy for readers to understand the study's outcomes.

  • What does Professor Carr advise regarding the collection of references while writing the first draft?

    -Professor Carr advises noting down potential references during the first draft but not to stop and collect them at that time, as it interrupts the flow of work. Exact references should be gathered when the manuscript is almost finished.

  • What is the final advice Professor Carr gives for writing a research paper?

    -The final advice is to always review the manuscript requirements for the journal of interest and to focus on critical skills to ensure scientific arguments are correct and logical.

Outlines
00:00
📚 Overcoming the Fear of Writing a Research Paper

Professor Carr from the University of Minnesota's Department of Chemistry introduces the topic of writing a research paper. With experience from producing around 400 papers, the professor empathizes with the fears and excitement that new graduate students face when writing their first research paper. The focus of the talk is on producing a first draft efficiently, emphasizing the importance of not procrastinating. Preliminary steps include reviewing relevant notes, renewing literature searches, and identifying the paper's audience and purpose. The professor also stresses the importance of addressing the concerns of the primary reader, typically the reviewer, in the first draft to increase the chances of publication.

05:02
📝 The Algorithm for Drafting a Research Paper

The professor outlines a step-by-step algorithm for drafting a research paper. The process begins with starting the draft without procrastination and working from an outline, which is crucial for resuming work at the point where one left off. The recommended order of writing is to first draft the experimental section, followed by the results and discussion, as these are based on familiar material. The introduction, which is often the most challenging part, should be written last, after the paper's purpose and essential background information have been determined. The final steps involve critical editing to ensure clarity, conciseness, and coherence, as well as writing conclusions in a numbered format for clarity. The professor also advises against collecting references during the first draft to maintain the writing flow, instead suggesting that exact references be gathered towards the end of the manuscript preparation.

10:04
📖 Final Thoughts on Writing and Resources

In the concluding part of the script, the professor emphasizes the importance of adhering to the manuscript requirements of the target journal to avoid rejection. The professor also references Sir Francis Bacon, highlighting that writing is an exacting part of a scientist's work that requires critical skills to ensure scientific arguments are correct and logical. To aid the audience, the professor recommends several classic books on writing, particularly for chemistry papers, and a short but valuable paper by Professor Royce Murray on skillful writing of research papers, which provides seven rules to follow and humorously points out common mistakes to avoid in manuscript writing.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Research Paper
A research paper is a scholarly article that presents original research results and is typically published in academic journals. In the video, the theme revolves around the process of writing a research paper, which is a fundamental task for scientists and researchers to communicate their findings. The script emphasizes the importance of producing a first draft and the subsequent editing process to refine the paper.
💡First Draft
The first draft refers to the initial version of a written work, which is a crucial step in the writing process. The script highlights the importance of creating a first draft without focusing on perfection, as the goal at this stage is to generate a complete document that can later be refined through editing.
💡Procrastination
Procrastination is the act of delaying or postponing tasks or actions. In the context of the video, it is identified as a common issue that researchers face when starting to write their papers. The speaker suggests strategies to overcome procrastination, such as beginning with an outline and working through the paper section by section.
💡Outline
An outline is a structured plan or summary of the main points of a piece of writing. The script mentions the importance of creating an outline before writing the paper, as it helps in organizing thoughts and ensures that the writing process is systematic and coherent.
💡Audience
Understanding the audience is key to effective communication. The script points out that determining the intended readers of the research paper is essential, as it influences the style, language, and content of the paper. The primary audience includes the journal's readership and the peer reviewers, who act as gatekeepers to publication.
💡Critical Editing
Critical editing involves revising and refining a written work to improve its clarity, coherence, and correctness. The script emphasizes that after producing the first draft, the hard work of critical editing begins, which is essential for transforming the draft into a polished, publishable paper.
💡Experimental Section
The experimental section of a research paper details the methods and procedures used in the study. The script suggests starting the writing process with this section because it is often the most familiar part to the researcher, making it an easier section to write and helping to build momentum in the drafting process.
💡Results and Discussion
In a research paper, the results and discussion sections present the findings of the study and interpret their significance. The script advises writing these sections after the experimental section, using the outline as a guide, to maintain a logical flow of information.
💡Introduction
The introduction of a research paper sets the stage by providing background information and stating the purpose of the study. The script advises against writing the introduction first, as it is often the most challenging part, and instead recommends writing it after the first draft has been completed.
💡Conclusions
Conclusions summarize the key findings and implications of the research. The script suggests writing clear, numbered conclusions to make the contributions of the work easy to understand and follow.
💡References
References are the citations of the literature that a research paper is built upon. The script advises noting potential references during the first draft but collecting the exact references only after the manuscript is nearly finished, to ensure that the paper is well-supported and that readers can locate the cited works.
Highlights

Professor Carr from the University of Minnesota shares insights on writing a research paper.

Over 400 papers produced by Professor Carr and his group.

Addressing the fear and excitement of writing a research paper, especially the first one.

Focusing on producing a first draft quickly to overcome procrastination.

Importance of reviewing notes and renewing literature search before writing.

Determining the audience and purpose of the research paper is crucial.

The primary reader of any paper is the reviewer.

Creating an initial draft is the creative part of the job.

Resist the temptation to correct mistakes during the first draft.

Develop an algorithm for writing research papers.

Start writing without procrastination and work from an outline.

Writing the introduction should be avoided in the first draft.

Focus on writing the experimental and results sections first.

Hard critical editing comes after the first draft is complete.

Writing conclusions in a numbered format can be effective.

Introduction should cover the study's purpose and essential background.

Producing references should be the final step in the writing process.

Reviewing the manuscript requirements for the target journal is essential.

Sir Francis Bacon's quote on the importance of reading and writing in science.

Recommendations for further reading on writing research papers.

A paper by Professor Royce Murray on skillful writing of a research paper.

Transcripts

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Research WritingAcademic TipsFirst DraftWriting StrategyProcrastinationScientific PapersChemistry DeptMinnesota UWriting ProcessCritical Editing