Academic writing

Assalam.

Today lets change our topic. Lets discuss about academic matters. This is based on the Academic writing workshop with Prof Victor Mbarika, a Fullbright Visiting Scholar from USA.

His advice:

Publish your paper in a top 5 good journal in your field.

When a paper is submitted the editor will first look at your list of reference. The reference will tell whether your paper is of a good quality or not.
If you refer to bad journals, your paper will be deemed as a bad article as well and will be rejected straight away.

In research, it is unreasonable to have too many research question. Not even 4 research questions. 2 is the most.

To come out with a strong theoretical paper.
Your title should capture your theory. Always reflect the theory in the title; the extension that you make.

Focus on the rigor in enhancing a theory. Do not focus on the domain problem because research is not to solve the problem but to enhance a work which would later down the road solve the problem.

ABSTRACT

Abstract has to be interesting to attract the readers. Go straight to the points with no jargons. Use simple words.

Abstract can be descriptive or informative.
Descriptive: before a project is completed. Emphasis is placed on problem and method.
Informative: after a project has been completed. Emphasized on the results and conclusion of the project.

Follow the guidelines stated by the journal. Reviewers are always looking for a reason to reject a paper.

INTRODUCTION

Introduction gives a relevant background of the research. But do not overly expressed things that you did not do
- state the objective: should be numbered; something measurable
- state the motivation
- why the research must be done; the importance of the research
- what you have know about the research

DO NOT HAVE JOINT SENTENCES. EACH SENTENCES MUST BE RELATED. WITH SENTENCE TRANSITION.

Paragraph must be related as well and must be well transferred.

LITERATURE REVIEW

Unwritten rules of LR:
LR should come from a highly recognised journal. Most good journals are US based. Include the journal where you want to publish in your LR.
LR proofs the gap.

Do not forget to publish the review paper. The work based on your LR. It can become a major review paper and people may heavily refer to the review paper.

LR serves as:
1. Information seeking
2. Research
3. Critical appraisal

Goto chitu.okoli.org - he might help in how to develop good systematic LR.

METHODOLOGY

Is about HOW you do your research.
Eg. How data is collected
Must inform why the procedure is chosen.
It must be appropriate to the study.
Describe the methodology in detail.

Experimental setup must be discussed in the methodology in detail.

Use active verbs not passive verbs.

Well... this is my world. Academics world. Academician not only lectures, teach, but we write, search and re-search. And... it happen in cycles.

Wassalam.