Writing Academic Papers

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Writing Academic Papers
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Overview

• Presentation of Information
• Style
• Format
• Structure of a paper
• Title
• Introduction
• Structured body
• Conclusion/Summary
• References
• Abstract
• Abstract example

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Presentation of Information

• Writing can vary in two ways
• style of writing
• formatting of text
• There is often a formula for writing
• structure of the document

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Style

• Audience
• Their experience
• What they want to get from it
• Different Media require different styles
• Journal
• Conference
• Dissertation
• Report

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Format

• Requirements
• Length
• Font
• Layout
• Diagrams
• References
• Sections
• Keywords
• Theme
• Topic

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Structure of a paper

• What needs to be in any paper
• Title
• Introduction
• Structured Body
• References
• What should be left out of your paper
• Footnotes
• What may be required
• Abstract (normally there)
• Figures/tables
• Dissertation or long reports over 20 pages ONLY
• Table of Contents
• Chapters (dissertation only)
• Bibliography (treat with caution)
• Appendices.

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Title

• Short
• Describe the paper
• Include all key words

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Introduction

• IMPORTANT
• Place the paper in context
• Set the scene
• Introduce major concepts
• Hypothesis
• What is coming next
• Should answer
• Why am I reading it?
• What is it all about?

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Structured body

• Hierarchical decomposition
• sections, subsections
• Cohesion, Coupling
• Compare/contrast
• Description is NOT enough
• Balanced argument, Make a decision
• Critical appraisal
• Positive and negative
• Question sources, Interpret their findings your
  way - with justification
• Referencing
• Should come across as your work
• Read, Think, Decide, Argue

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Conclusion/Summary

• Conclude or Summarise
• What are the key decisions reached?
• Do not introduce new important arguments at this
  point.
• No research is complete
• Future work
• Limitations of current work

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References

• Referencing in the body of the text (citation)
• The university uses the Harvard System
• e.g. (Smith, 1999), (Smith and Jones, 1967),
  (Smith et al, 1990)
• e.g. (Smith, 1999 Lincoln and Washington, 1845).
• The Reference section
• See information on the Harvard system (in
  programme handbook, and on web)
• e.g.
• Smith, A (1999). A very important book.
  Publishing press, Anytown.
• Smith, A and Jones, B (1967). A seminal journal
  paper. The International Journal of Very
  Important Things, Vol 134, No 3, pp66-84.
• Smith A, Jones, B and Black, C. (1990). What we
  did in the summer. Proceeding of the Fourth
  International Conference on Places to See,
  Thomson and Sons, Hetton-le-Hole, pp33-56.

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Abstract

• Often comes at the front - probably written last
• Should be read separately
• Not an Introduction
• A summary
• An advert
• Avoid future tense - the paper exists
• Avoid This paper - the paper may not be there.
• No references - references may not be there.
• (Usually in italics - given in format).

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Abstract an example

• A critical appraisal of software engineering
  practices and approaches to the assessment of
  software quality is presented. Sources of
  information are identified, examples of changes
  that have taken place are presented and a view of
  the current state of the industry is given.
  Suggestions are also made regarding actions that
  need to be taken now and in the future.