CUFE, M. Sc.

MPM, 2014-2015

The Scientific Article

Dr. Maha Moddather
Structural Engineering Department
Faculty of Engineering Cairo University
mahamoddather@eng.cu.edu.eg
Spring 2015

Why Do We Need
Technical Writing?

Example
Strengthen was needed when live loads are
increase or the design of the structure was
inadequate or happen local failure and must be
take the cost into consideration because may
be more economical to replace the member or
element that problem rather than strengthen.

Grammatical Errors
Strengthen was needed when live loads are
increase or the design of the structure was
inadequate or happen local failure and must be
take the cost into consideration because may
be more economical to replace the member or
element that problem rather than strengthen.

Part II Outline

Outline

The Scientific Article

Paragraph Types

Paragraph Development

Effective Sentences

Sentence Errors

Titles and References

Scientific Writing

Scientific Writing
Question

Preliminary Research
Yes

No
New
Research

Scientific Writing
New Research

Project Design
Lab Work

Manuscript

Analytical Work

Results &
Conclusions

Reasons for Writing

To advance knowledge

New scientific data (original research)

New finding (case report)

Interpretation of existing knowledge (review article)

To advance your institution

Prestige

Funding

Reasons for Writing

To advance yourself

Achieving promotion (CV building)

Enhancing your profile (reputation)

Increasing your research ability (practice makes perfect)

Types of Writing

Different kinds of scientific and technical writing

include:

Scientific Articles

Research Papers

Proposals

Types of Writing
Scientific Articles:
Published
They

in journals, magazines and newspapers.

are normally intended to reach a wider

audience than research papers.

How

scientific articles are written depends on who

the readers are likely to be.

Types of Writing
Research
Research

Paper:
papers are generally written for scientists

working in the same field and therefore have a

more limited, and more specialised, readership
than articles.
Research

papers can appear in specialist journals

or be presented at conferences.

Types of Writing
Proposal:
Proposals

may well be the least popular form of

writing for researchers but they are necessary.

The

purpose of a proposal is to ask for funding in

order to make research possible.

The Scientific Article

The Scientific Article

Contains information about progress and
achievements.
Engages the author's responsibility.
The initiative comes from the author.

The Scientific Article

Is backed up by other work.
Receives wide circulation.
The writer follows a template planned by
the publisher.

Paper layout
Length: Limited pages.
Form: Follows specifications.
Paper Organization: Defined by the publisher.
Title: short; attracts attention; informative; with names &
affiliations

The Abstract: Usually descriptive; Is limited in words;

summarizes objectives, results and conclusions.

Sections Of A Manuscript
Title

Discussion

Abstract

Conclusion

Introduction

Nomenclature

Methods

Acknowledgement

Results

References

Text
Tables
Figures

Paper layout
Title
-The title should inform accurately about the content of
the manuscript.
- It must be informative, brief, specific, and accurate.

Paper layout

Title

Paper layout
Authors Names & Affiliations
- Use always the same name (signature) to avoid any
confussion within the scientific community.
- Identify the author for correspondence (with *).
- Give the complete name and address of the
institutions or centers the authors belong to.
- Currently e-mails are also given.

Paper layout

Paper layout

Abstract
- The abstract is one element within the manuscript of
relevant importance.
- The retrieval of the paper and its reading depend
greatly on it.
- It should provide the concise information to indicate
whether the paper fulfils our expectations.
- The main feature of an abstract is its size. In very few
words (200-300) the abstract should inform about the
main aspects of the manuscripts and respond to why,
what, how and the results and their interpretation.

Paper layout

Paper layout
Introduction
- Outlines topic.
- Mentions background.
- Briefly presents the contents.
- Prepares readers to the topic.

Paper layout
The Body
- Develops the topic.
- Explains the theory behind.
- Analyses situations.
- Describes equipment/procedures.
- Presents data.
- Shows illustrations.
- Interprets & discusses results.
- Supports conclusions/ recommendations.

Paper layout
The Conclusion:
- Condenses results, and recommendations of the work.
- Should not show new information.

Nomenclatures:
Define symbols and abbreviations in a formal way.

Acknowledgments:
Cite and acknowledge help given by others.

References:
Show consulted work, directly related by to the topic.

Citation
S. Harvard
(Name and year)
......These results agreed with
previous works (Smith, 1996;
Brown et al., 1998)....

S. Vancouver

(numerical sequence)
......These
results
agreed with previous
works 1,2......

Citation

Paper layout
Appendixes:
Contain details; not necessary for the body.

Tables and Figure:

Group tables and illustrations.

Conversion Factors:
convert units used to equivalent metrics.

Quality of Manuscript
Scientific

Content

Compliance

Originality

Language

Applicability

Validity

Timeliness

Adherence

of Conclusions
to

Instructions

Structural Engineering
Journals

Structural Engineering
Journals

Example:

Structural Engineering
Journals

Title

Publisher

ISSN

Country

Impact
Factor

ACI
STRUCTURAL
JOURNAL

AMER
CONCRETE
INST

0889-3241

UNITED
STATES

0.964

ADVANCES IN
MULTISTRUCTURAL
SCIENCE
1369-4332
ENGINEERIN
PUBL CO LTD
G

UNITED
STATES

0.603

Example:

Structural Engineering
Journals

Title

Publisher

ISSN

Country

Impact
Factor

JOURNAL OF
STRUCTURAL
ENGINEERIN
G

ASCE-AMER
SOC CIVIL
ENGINEERS

0733-9445

UNITED
STATES

1.488

ENGINEERIN
G
STRUCTURES

ELSEVIER
SCI LTD

0141-0296

ENGLAND

1.767

Grammatical Review

Common Grammar Mistakes

ERROR NO. 1
Rachel is very smart, she began reading when she was three years
old.
Error #1: Run-on Sentence or Comma Splice

Common Grammar Mistakes

ERROR NO. 2
Him loves his father.
Joe loves I.
Him drove I to work.
Error #2: Pronoun Errors

Common Grammar Mistakes

ERROR NO. 3
My mothers cabin is next to his cabin.

Error #3: Mistake in Apostrophe Usage

Common Grammar Mistakes

ERROR NO. 4
The recipes is good for beginning chefs.
Error #4: Lack of subject/verb agreement

Formal & Informal Language

Importance of Punctuation