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Facing "Publish or Perish"in English
John Y. HungVisiting Professor
NTUSTTaiwan
ProfessorAuburn University
USA
1
My Past That is Relevant
• Associate Editor– Trans. Control Systems Technology– Trans. Industrial Electronics
• Special Section Editor (4)
• > 15 years Conference Organization
2
Publishing in IEEE
Language is English, and
editorial culture favors USA.
Yet Asian authors publish equally well !!
3
USA Asia
Editors-in-Chief > 70% 4%
Authors 33% 33%
Some Facts of Life
1. Good research is objective
BUT
2. Publication follows different rules
AND
3. Processes are not perfect!
4
Some process imperfections
• Small sample size
• Human behavior– we tend to be subjective, not objective
• Volunteer-based system– publication is a high priority, BUT– reviewing tends to be low priority
• Blind vs non-blind review
5
We Write Many Things
• These serve different purposes:– Proposal– Thesis/dissertation– Research report– Conference or Journal Paper
• They are NOT written the same way!
6
My First Recommendation
Volunteer as a Reviewer / Assoc. Editor• Helps bring relevant papers TO you• You see both "good" and "bad" writing• Your review is a way to practice writing
– brief assignment– more forgiving regarding English
• Contact editor/professor – offer your abilities
7
My Second Recommendation
Write as if reporting the news!
To publish in a Journal,
Write like a Journalist!
8
Journalists Understand These
• Audience Background
• Structure
• Front and Back Materials
• Terminology, Notation, Math
• Figures and Tables
9
Understand Your Audience
All works receive different reactions...
The Railway Crossing, Fernand Léger (1919), The Art Institute of Chicago.10
The Engineering Spectrum
puretheory
purepractice
11
Where do you fit?
The Engineering Spectrum
puretheory
purepractice
12
Where do you fit?
Where is the audience?
The Engineering Spectrum
puretheory
purepractice
13
Who is my audience?
• Attend the related conferences– Study people– Compare topics to your interests
• Review papers in the journal
• Study the editorial board– What are their interests?– What are their experiences and strengths?
14
IEEE Control Systems Society
• Transactions on Automatic Control– Panos Antsaklis (PhD, Brown)
• Trans. on Control System Technology– Thomas Parisini (PhD from Italy)
• In 2008-09, eighteen (18) journal and conference papers (very impressive)
• Zero (0) papers with experimental work• He has never published in the journal...
15
Trans. on Industrial Electronics
• IES science is not the "best" in any field
• But 2008 impact factor is #1 in IEEE!
16
Some technical interest Other IEEE society members
control systems Control System 8,800
power electronics PELS and IAS 7,000 / 10K
robotics / mechatronics Robotics & Automation 7,300
neuro-fuzzy-genetic Computational Intelligence 6,700
Industrial Electronics Society 4,900
Journalists Understand These
• Audience Background
• Structure
• Front and Back Materials
• Terminology, Notation, Math
• Figures and Tables
17
Steps in the Scientific Method
1. Make Initial Observation
2. Form Hypothesis
3. Conduct Experiments
4. Analyze Data
5. Accept or Reject Hypothesis
18
Steps in the Scientific Method
1. Make Initial Observation
2. Form Hypothesis
3. Conduct Experiments
4. Analyze Data
5. Accept or Reject Hypothesis
OK structure for Project Report...
19
Steps in the Scientific Method
1. Make Initial Observation
2. Form Hypothesis
3. Conduct Experiments
4. Analyze Data
5. Accept or Reject Hypothesis
OK structure for Project Report...
NOT good for Most Journals!20
Purpose of a Journal Paper
Record scientific data? NO...
Most journal papers report
new, good ideas.
Try to convince the reader:
• the idea is new
• the idea is good
21
Basic Parts of an IEEE Paper
Part Why does it exist?
Title / Abstract Capture attention!
Introduction Show you understand the problem.
Body Explain the principles underlying the innovation.
The Proof Convince reader you did a thorough study.
Summary Tell the good news again, and suggest new directions.
References Complements the introduction.
22
Creating a Draft
• Linear Approach– start from the beginning (title, abstract ...)– seems "logical"
• Inside-Out Approach– start with the easy-to-write parts– I advise students to follow this
23
Creating a Draft: Linearly
Part Which part do I write first? second? ... last?
Title / Abstract Most people start here...
Introduction Then work on this ... seems easy (no new ideas)
Body Most people can do this part well, but it takes time.
The Proof By now, the author is tired, and quickly puts together some figures.
Summary The end is near! Oh just repeat the abstract ...
References Some people really struggle here.
24
Creating the Draft: Inside-Out
Part Which part do I write first? second? ... last?
Title / Abstract Do this last – it is hardest. Less than 100 words to convince the world you have new, good idea.
Introduction #4 – Holding reader attention is not easy.
Body #3 – You know the new idea well, so it is not too difficult to describe. But, good development does require planning.
The Proof #1 – Simulations and experiments are easiest to explain, especially to other engineers.
Summary #2 – Almost as easy as #1, but must be concise.
References #4 – Must understand key contribution of others.
25
#1: The Proof Section
• Usually simulations or experiments
• Easiest part for non-English writers– usually less text, less math, and more
figures
• Do this first – gives feeling of accomplishment !!
26
A Good Proof Section
• Describe so that it can be reproduced
• Compare to an accepted "standard"– means at least two sets of tests
• Design figures carefully (more on this later...)
• Try to highlight differences between old and new
27
#2: The Summary
• Restate the main results – concisely– Avoid terms only understood by specialists
• Highlight one or two special points"...this approach has several advantages, but
the most significant is ..."
• Acknowledge weak points– as directions for future study
28
#3: The Body
• First, explain how you plan to explain...
• May need several sections
• Carefully define symbols and terms
• Design good figures
• Be careful not to "lose the reader"– Car B follows Car A, but Car A cannot go
too fast... must warn the follower of turns.
29
Journalists Understand These
• Audience Background
• Structure
• Front and Back Materials
• Terminology, Notation, Math
• Figures and Tables
30
Front and Back Materials
• People “judge a book by its cover”– Reviewers decide “accept/reject”, then look
for evidence to support their decision
• What are “front and back” materials?• Title• Abstract• Introduction• References
31
Reviewer Psychology
32
If the front and back material is then Reviewers tend to
good, interesting • accept the body and proof sections• not so critical of small errors• be more helpful
poor, suspicious • reject the body and proof sections• highlight even small errors• be more hurtful
#4: Introduction
Goals:
• Convince the reader the work is interesting
• Convince the reader you understand the issues
• Draw reader's curiosity
• Convince him your story will be good
33
Introduction "Do Nots"
• Never use the words "novel" or "new" or "important"
• Avoid creating new abbreviations
• Make claims without references
• Cite references with weak explanation"The problem...has been studied [1-10]"
34
The 6 W’s of Journalism
"W" words Suggested usage in the INTRODUCTION
Who Who else is working on this or related problems?
What What is the problem? What are the issues? What have others contributed? What is the approach you are using? What is a good result of your work?
When When does the problem occur?
Where Where is the problem found?
Why Why is the problem "hard"?
How How are you approaching the problem? How do you plan to present the work?
35
(The Background Section)
• Useful for demonstrating your knowledge of the problem & issues
• Can be used to define terminology
• Complement with good references
• Tends to make Introduction too long– Consider making it a section by itself
36
#4: References "Do"
• Relevant to the problem and reader– Don't cite math paper for non-math reader– Try to be current, but also keep classics.
• Have sufficient references
• Accessible to most readers– theses and dissertations are useless– web pages have unpredictable lifespan
37
Journalists Understand These
• Audience Background
• Structure
• Front and Back Materials
• Terminology, Notation, Math
• Figures and Tables
38
Terminology, Notation, Math
• Explain unusual terms
• Abbrv. (abbreviations) must be spelled out the first time
• Equations are seldom easy to follow– use sparingly– symbols must be explained– offer an interpretation of the equation
39
Figures and Tables
"A picture is worth a thousand words"
• Assumes a well-constructed figure.– Poor figures are WORTHLESS
• Same is true for a Table
40
Figures by Software
• Optimized for computer screen– 10 point font is OK on 17-inch screen– Screen has lots of space– Colors are wonderful
• Usually not good for IEEE paper– column is narrow, space is small– scale the figure: 12 pt. font becomes tiny
41
Hints for Figures
• Spend time on the "little things"– choosing line styles
• some require color (expensive)
– rescaling text– Choose caption carefully
• Highlight difference between "old" and "new" results
42
Line Drawings
Default in PSPICE Redrawn
43
Same Data: Different Plots
2 curves are similar here Different story here!
44
Color vs Line Style
This is expensive This may be good enough
45
Font Size
Default in Excel Manually adjusted
46
Flag raising on Iwo Jima, WW-II
This was the SECOND flag raising event!Joe Rosenthal, Feb. 23, 1945, Mt. Suribachi
47
Journalists Understand These
• Audience Background
• Structure
• Front and Back Materials
• Terminology, Notation, Math
• Figures and Tables
48
Ask Often This Question
Will this paper create a
“good picture”
in the reader’s mind?
• will he "see" the state-of-the-art?
• will he see how your work stands out?
49
My Third Recommendation
Find a co-author who writes well !
• Less expensive than professional writer
• Good for practicing English
• Builds your professional circle
• Builds friendship
• 1/2 cookie is better than 0 cookie50
Where to find a friend?
• Conferences
• Reviewing others
• Strengths Taiwan (you) can offer– Good in mathematics– Good laboratories– Good work spirit
51
Long Term Advice
• A man’s life is 70 years
• Today affects tomorrow
• Be careful of fast solutions
52
Summary
1. Volunteer to review other works.
2. Learn skills of a Journalist.
3. Build partnerships.
4. Build for the Long Term.
53
Resources / References
• IEEE Trans. on Education• IEEE Trans. on Profession Communication
– Editor-in-Chief (Auburn University)– Pierson & Pierson, v. 40, n. 4, pp. 200-304.
54