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8/8/2019 Anatomy of a Manuscript How to Write a Manuscript
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Anatomy of a Manuscript
How to write a manuscript in 19sentences
David Bangsberg, MD, MPH
Director Massachusetts General Center for Global Health
Harvard Medical School
Harvard Initiative for Global Health
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Types of Manuscripts
Full research report
3000 words
3-4 main/supporting points
3-4 tables figures
Brief report
1800 words
1-2 main/supporting points
1-2 table/figure Research letter
800 words
1 point
0-1 table/figures
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Types of Manuscripts
Review Article
Editorial
Case report
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Anatomy of a Manuscript
Title page
Abstract
Introduction
Methods
Results
Tables/Figures Discussion
Acknowledgements
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Which to write first?
Title page
Abstract
Introduction
Methods
Results
Tables/Figures Discussion
Acknowledgements
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Writing Order
Introduction (brief literature review)
Ghost Tables/Figures (analytic plan)
Methods Tables/Figures
Results
Discussion
Abstract
Title page
Acknowledgements
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Introduction
Nature of problem and significance
Context within prior knowledge
Specific research objectives and preplanned
analyses, including subgroup analyses
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Introduction
3 paragraphs Paragraph #1: What we know
Limit to only pertinent references
Paragraph #2: What we dont know.
Paragraph #3: What we did to find out
Primary and secondary research objectives
Preplanned subgroup analyses
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Figures/Table
Aim for 3-4 total
Table 1: Patient characteristics
Table 2-4: one each research objective
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Tables
Purpose
Concise display of info
Provide several levels of detail
Reduces length of text
Restrict table/figures to explain argument
and assess report
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Tables
Double space on single page
Number consecutively in order of first citation in
text Title should summarize data
Do not use horizontal lines
Give each column a brief/abbreviated heading
Footnote explanatory matter
Identify statistical measures of variation
Double space legend on separate page
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Methods
Technical information
Variable definition and measurement
Reference well known procedures Briefly describe and reference less known procedures
Describe in detail new procedures
Provide rationale for procedure selection
Apparatus: manufacturer name and city in parentheses
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Methods
Statistical/Analytic methods
Provide enough detail for a knowledgeable
reader with access to original data to verifyresults
Specific analytic methods
Software
Approach to bias/confounding
Human subjects approval
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Methods
3-5 paragraphs Paragraph #1: participant selection
Paragraph #2-4: variables and procedures
for each primary and secondary objective
Last paragraph: analytic methods
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Results
Narrative should be same logical sequence
as tables/figures
Summarize rather than repeat all data fromtables in text
Include absolute numbers with percentages
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Results
3-4 paragraphs Paragraph #1
Patient recruitment Accept/decline
Patient characteristics
Paragraph #2
Evidence for first objective
Paragraph #3 Evidence for second objective
Paragraph #4
Evidence for third objective
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Discussion
Summarize new and important findings
Conclusions should follow objectives
Suggest mechanism
Suggest clinical implications
Discuss limitations
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References
Cite primary work over review articles
Avoid abstracts when possible
in press articles require permission Avoid personal communication unless it
provides essential information not available
from a public sourceinclude person anddate
Check accuracy and formatting
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Title Page Concise title that includes important info
Study design
Research question/finding
Makes electronic retrieval sensitive and specific
Authors names and institutional affiliations
Corresponding author: name, mailing address, fax,email
Sources of grant support
Running head (
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Key Words
3-10 works that capture main topics for
indexing
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Acknowledgement
Individuals who made essential
contributions
Funding source
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Cover letter
Format of article
Brief summary of finding
Statement of non-redundancy of submission
of publication
Conflict of interest
Read and approved by all authors
Contact info for corresponding author
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Authorship Criteria
Substantial contribution to
Conception and design, or
Acquisition of data, or
Analysis and interpretation
Drafting and critical revision of manuscript
for intellectual content
Final approval of submitted version
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Corresponding Author
Usually first or senior author
Submits manuscript
Corresponds with publisher/editor
Revision
Gallies
Receives subsequent correspondence from
outside investigators
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Redundant Publication
Substantial overlap with another manuscript inprint or electronic media
Preliminary reporting to media, governmentagencies or manufactures violates editorial policyof many journals
Related work should be referred to and referenced
Consider including copies of related material Does not apply to presentations at scientific
conferences
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Embargo
Defined date of release of published
information
Determined by publisher
Creates level playing field amongst news
agencies
Minimizes chaos of economically charged
findings
Submission Process
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Submission Process6-15 months
Approval of co-authors of final manuscript
Submission of manuscript and cover letter
Editorial review (2-3 weeks)
Reject
Send out for review 1st review (6-12 weeks)
Reject
Reject and revise
Conditionally accept Accept
2nd Review (2-8 weeks)
Gallies (2-6 months)
Publication (1-3 months)
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Strategies For Success
2 uninterrupted hours per day
Write intro/methods while collecting data
Consider opinion/review paper while
collecting data
Prepare ghost tables to guide analysis
Write topic sentence for each paragraph
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Simple as 19 Sentences
One topic sentence per paragraph
Introduction #1: What we know
#2: What we dont know.
#3: What we did to find out
Methods #4: participant selection
#5-9: variables and procedures for each primary and secondary objective #10: analytic methods
Results #11 Patient recruitment and characteristics
#12 Evidence for first objective
#13 Evidence for second objective
#14 Evidence for third objective
Discussion #15 Summarize main finding
#16 Summarize supporting findings
#17 What are the implications/how does it change practice?
#18 Limitations
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