A Practical Guide to Scientific Writing in Chemistry Successful completion of postgraduate studies, especially PhD, and career advance- ment in academia strongly depend on the ability to publish scientific papers or books and attract research grants. However, many chemical scientists find preparing scien- tific papers and research grant and book proposals difficult; partly because of insuf- ficient training in writing and partly because there are few practical books to enable them to learn the art. This step-by-step practical guide is intended mainly for post- graduate students and early career researchers in chemical science and the libraries that serve them but will also be useful to other scientists. Key Features: • Improves the reader’s chances of getting their manuscript published in chemistry journals. • Increases the likelihood of winning research grants in chemistry. • Takes a “lead by the hand” approach. • Contains chapters on the preparation of graphical abstracts and research highlights. • Uses sketches and other illustration styles to aid mental visualization of concepts. • Contains practical examples taken from published papers and successful research grant proposals. A Practical Guide to Scientific Writing in Chemistry Scientific Papers, Research Grants and Book Proposals Andrew Terhemen Tyowua Department of Chemistry, Benue State University, Makurdi, Nigeria “No one succeeds by complaining about challenges, All successful people succeed by surmounting challenges” Andrew Terhemen Tyowua Designed cover image: © Shutterstock First edition published 2023 by CRC Press 6000 Broken Sound Parkway NW, Suite 300, Boca Raton, FL 33487-2742 and by CRC Press 4 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 4RN CRC Press is an imprint of Taylor & Francis Group, LLC © 2023 Andrew Terhemen Tyowua Reasonable efforts have been made to publish reliable data and information, but the author and publisher cannot assume responsibility for the validity of all materials or the consequences of their use. The authors and publishers have attempted to trace the copyright holders of all material reproduced in this publication and apologize to copyright holders if permission to publish in this form has not been obtained. If any copyright material has not been acknowledged please write and let us know so we may rectify in any future reprint. Except as permitted under U.S. Copyright Law, no part of this book may be reprinted, reproduced, transmitted, or utilized in any form by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying, microfilming, and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without written permission from the publishers. For permission to photocopy or use material electronically from this work, access www.copyright. com or contact the Copyright Clearance Center, Inc. (CCC), 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, 978-750-8400. For works that are not available on CCC please contact m pkbookspermissions@ tandf.co.uk Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks and are used only for identification and explanation without intent to infringe. ISBN: 9781032033181 (hbk) ISBN: 9781032033204 (pbk) ISBN: 9781003186748 (ebk) DOI: 10.1201/9781003186748 Typeset in Times by codeMantra To my wife (Pharmacist Maryam), three children (Aondover, Kumawuese and Aondoso) and my parents (Tyowua Ibier and Icher Ibier) Contents Preface......................................................................................................................xv Author ....................................................................................................................xvii Acknowledgments ..................................................................................................xix Chapter 1 Concept and Overview .........................................................................1 1.1 Scientific Writing .......................................................................1 1.2 Overview of Scientific Writings ................................................2 1.3 Why is Writing and Publishing Important to Scientists? ..........4 1.4 Characteristics of Scientific Writings ........................................5 1.5 Writing Scientifically .................................................................6 Further Reading ..................................................................................13 References ..........................................................................................14 Chapter 2 Getting Ready .....................................................................................15 2.1 T he Research Stage .................................................................15 2.2 M anuscript Planning Stage......................................................15 2.3 M anuscript Preparation Stage .................................................16 Further Reading ..................................................................................17 References ..........................................................................................17 Chapter 3 Research Paper Title ...........................................................................19 3.1 F unctions of the Title ...............................................................19 3.2 T ypes of Titles .........................................................................19 3.3 G rammatical Structure of Titles ..............................................19 3.4 W riting the Title ......................................................................20 Further Reading ..................................................................................21 References ..........................................................................................21 Chapter 4 Authorship, Acknowledgments, Competing Interests and References .....................................................................23 4.1 A uthorship ...............................................................................23 4.2 C ompeting Interests .................................................................26 4.3 A cknowledgment(s) Section ....................................................27 4.4 R eferences................................................................................27 Further Reading ..................................................................................28 References ..........................................................................................29 vii viii Contents Chapter 5 Textual and Video Abstracts ..............................................................31 5.1 Functions of the Textual Abstract............................................31 5.2 Types of Textual Abstracts ......................................................31 5.3 Writing the Textual Abstract ...................................................33 5.4 Video Abstracts .......................................................................37 5.4.1 Types of Video Abstracts ...........................................37 5.4.2 Benefits of Video Abstracts ........................................39 5.4.3 Contents of Video Abstracts .......................................39 5.4.4 Materials for Making a Video Abstract .....................40 5.4.5 Making a Video Abstract ...........................................41 Further Reading ..................................................................................41 References ..........................................................................................42 Chapter 6 Keywords and Phrases .......................................................................43 6.1 Functions of Keywords and Phrases........................................43 6.2 Selecting Keywords and Phrases .............................................43 Further Reading ..................................................................................45 References ..........................................................................................45 Chapter 7 Graphical Abstract .............................................................................47 7.1 Functions of the Graphical Abstract ........................................47 7.2 Types of Graphical Abstracts ..................................................47 7.3 Creating a Graphical Abstract .................................................55 7.4 Software for Creating Graphical Abstracts .............................58 Further Reading ..................................................................................58 References ..........................................................................................59 Chapter 8 Highlights ...........................................................................................61 8.1 Functions of Highlights ...........................................................61 8.2 Writing Highlights ...................................................................61 Further Reading ..................................................................................62 References ..........................................................................................63 Chapter 9 Introductory Section of a Research Paper ..........................................65 9.1 Functions of the Introductory Section of a Research Paper .........65 9.2 Writing a Move-Based Introductory Section of a Research Paper ........................................................................66 9.3 Use of Tenses and References in the Introductory Section of a Research Paper ....................................................69 Further Reading ..................................................................................71 References ..........................................................................................71 Contents ix Chapter 10 Materials and Methods Section of a Research Paper .........................73 10.1 Functions of the Materials and Methods Section ....................73 10.2 Writing the Materials and Methods Section ............................74 10.3 Using Geographical Maps in Materials and Methods Section .....76 Further Reading ..................................................................................77 References ..........................................................................................77 Chapter 11 Results Section of Research Papers ...................................................79 11.1 Functions of the Results Section of a Research Paper ............79 11.2 Results: Photographs, Sketches, Flowcharts, Tables or Graphs? .....................................................................79 11.3 Preparation of Photographs .....................................................80 11.4 Drawing Sketches and Flowcharts ..........................................81 11.5 Drawing Graphs ......................................................................84 11.6 Drawing Tables ........................................................................86 11.7 Writing Captions for Figures and Tables .................................89 11.8 Presenting Figures and Tables .................................................90 11.9 Credit Line in Figure and Table Captions ...............................92 Further Reading ..................................................................................94 References ..........................................................................................94 Chapter 12 Discussion Section..............................................................................97 12.1 Functions of the Discussion Section ........................................97 12.2 Writing the Discussion Section – Telling the Story ................97 12.3 Detailed Elements of the Discussion Section ........................100 Further Reading ................................................................................101 References ........................................................................................101 Chapter 13 Conclusion Section ...........................................................................103 13.1 Function of the Conclusion Section of a Research Paper ......103 13.2 Writing the Conclusion Section .............................................103 Further Reading ................................................................................106 References ........................................................................................106 Chapter 14 Summary of Research Paper Sections .............................................107 Further Reading ................................................................................109 Chapter 15 Short Communication Papers ...........................................................111 15.1 Research Papers versus Short Communication Papers .........111 15.2 Writing a Short Communication ...........................................111 15.3 References..............................................................................120 References ........................................................................................121 x Contents Chapter 16 Review Papers ..................................................................................123 16.1 Functions of a Review Paper .................................................123 16.2 Types of Review Papers .........................................................123 16.2.1 Method of Preparation..............................................124 16.2.2 Specific Objective of Review ...................................125 16.2.3 Mandate of Review...................................................126 16.3 Writing a Review Paper .........................................................127 16.3.1 Preparation ...............................................................127 16.3.2 Writing and Referencing ..........................................128 16.4 Elements of a Review Paper ..................................................128 Further Reading ................................................................................133 References ........................................................................................133 Chapter 17 Perspective Papers ............................................................................137 17.1 Functions of a Perspective Paper ...........................................137 17.2 Writing a Perspective Paper...................................................137 Reference ..........................................................................................138 Chapter 18 Cover Letters ....................................................................................139 18.1 F unctions of a Cover Letter ...................................................139 18.2 W riting a Cover Letter for Research and Communication Papers ...........................................................139 18.3 W riting a Cover Letter for Review and Perspective Papers ........143 References ........................................................................................144 Chapter 19 The Publishing Process ....................................................................145 19.1 P rocesses Published Papers Undergo ....................................145 19.2 T he Submission Process ........................................................145 19.3 T he Peer-Review Process ......................................................145 19.3.1 Editorial Assessment ................................................147 19.3.2 Peer-Review ..............................................................147 19.3.3 Responding to Peer-Review Comments ...................149 19.4 P ublication of Manuscript .....................................................149 Further Reading ................................................................................150 References ........................................................................................150 Chapter 20 Poster Presentation ...........................................................................153 20.1 S cientific Posters ....................................................................153 20.2 F eatures of an Effective and an Appealing Scientific Poster ......153 20.3 S oftware Packages for Preparing Scientific Posters ..............155 20.4 G etting Started with the Poster .............................................156 20.5 C omponents of Scientific Posters ..........................................157 Contents xi 20.5.1 Poster Format and Layout Design ............................158 20.5.2 Excessive Information Load .....................................160 20.5.3 Inappropriate Color Choice and Color Overuse .......162 20.5.4 Poster Size, Title, Section Headings, Authors and Their Addresses and Body Text ................................164 20.5.5 Background, Objective, Methodology and Results Sections .........................................................166 20.5.6 Conclusion Section and QR Code ............................167 20.6 Poster Presentation ................................................................168 Further Reading ................................................................................170 References ........................................................................................170 Chapter 21 Oral Presentations ............................................................................173 21.1 Oral Presentation in Science .................................................173 21.2 Features of a Good Scientific Oral Presentation ...................173 21.3 Software Packages for Preparing Scientific Oral Presentations ..................................................................174 21.4 Parts of a Scientific Oral Presentation ....................................174 21.5 Getting Started with Oral Presentation ..................................174 21.5.1 Planning ....................................................................174 21.5.2 Creating .....................................................................176 21.5.3 Practicing ..................................................................178 21.5.4 Presenting .................................................................178 Further Reading ................................................................................180 References ........................................................................................181 Chapter 22 Research Grant Proposals ................................................................183 22.1 Research Grant Proposals versus Research Papers ...............183 22.2 Components of a Research Grant Proposal ...........................184 22.3 Winning a Research Grant ....................................................184 22.3.1 Eligibility Criteria ....................................................185 22.3.2 Funder Objectives .....................................................185 22.3.3 Funding Merit of Research .......................................186 22.3.4 Proposal Prepared According to Guidelines ............186 22.4 Writing a Research Grant Proposal .......................................186 Further Reading ................................................................................187 Reference ..........................................................................................187 Chapter 23 Grant Proposal Title and Applicants’ Details ..................................189 23.1 Function of a Grant Proposal Title and How to Write a Grant Proposal Title ...............................................................189 23.2 Details of Applicant(s) ............................................................189 Further Reading ................................................................................190 References ........................................................................................190