2020 - Scientific Writing Short Course For PHD Students - WM - Opt

Dr.
Sunu Wibirama
Positions
❑ 2008 – now : Faculty member in Department of Electrical Engineering 
and Information Technology, UGM, Yogyakarta
❑ 2015 : Post-doctoral researcher in Tampere Unit for  
Computer-Human Interaction (TAUCHI),  
Tampere University, Finland
❑ 2016 : Visiting research fellow in Anadolu University, Turkey and Shibaura 
Institute of Technology, Japan
Scientific Writing Crash Course  
Education
for PhD Students
❑ 2014 Dr.Eng. Science and Technology Tokai University, Tokyo, Japan
Sunu Wibirama  ❑ 2010 M.Eng Electronics Engineering KMITL, Bangkok, Thailand
❑ 2007 B.Eng. Electrical Engineering UGM, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
sunu@ugm.ac.id
Interests
Department of Electrical Engineering 
and Information Technology 
❖ Human-computer interaction
Faculty of Engineering   ❖ Eye tracking applications and eye movements analysis
Universitas Gadjah Mada   ❖ Virtual reality and human factors
INDONESIA ❖ Applied artificial intelligence
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Copyrighted © 2020 | Do not distribute without written permission from Dr. Sunu Wibirama Copyrighted © 2020 | Do not distribute without written permission from Dr. Sunu Wibirama
1 2
Peer-reviewer track record

Total: 64 papers 
(journal: 20 articles)  
Scopus h-index: 8
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3 4
ASEAN Engineering Journal
SECTION EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Disclaimer
Sharing session, based on my past experience
Be careful not to generalize or to conclude quickly

Geological and Chemical Natural Civil Computer and
Geo-Resource Disaster Engineering Information
Engineering
Engineering Engineering Engineering It is not a prescription as there is no one solution fits all
Prof. Dr. Luiz Prof. Dr.
Dr. Lucas Prof. Dr. Teerapong Dr. Sunu
Razon Radianta
Donny Setijadji Senjuntichai Wibirama
Triatmadja Writing is not easy, your own experience is your best teacher
De La Salle
Universitas Chulalongkorn Universitas Gadjah
Gadjah Mada, University, Universitas
the Philippines  University, Mada,
Indonesia  Gadjah Mada,
Indonesia 
Thailand  Indonesia  There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation,
hard work, and learning from failure.
SW | Aptikom - FORTEI Doctoral Bootcamp 2020 5 SW | Aptikom - FORTEI Doctoral Bootcamp 2020
5 6
Writing is about surviving academic Citation index services  

life. Writing is your professional job and databases
!
We deal with “writing” as our main job 

during our academic career
7 8
9 10
Alternative journal rank

!
The citation PageRank of a journal calculated on the

basis of the Scopus citation data divided by the
number of articles published by the journal over 3
years.
•Freely available at scimagojr.com

•Covers more journals (~20,000) than JCR because
Scopus covers more journals than Web of Science
•More international diversity
•3 years of citations; no self-citations
11 12
Avoiding predatory journals / publishers Un-solicited invitation through email
(Source: Canadian Association of Research Libraries)

13 14
WHAT TO PUBLISH Criteria of a good technical manuscript

New and original results or methods
Scientific contributions
Reviews or summaries of parBcular subject
Manuscripts that advance the knowledge and understanding in Originality of presentation and contents
a certain scienBfic field
Related and recent references  
What NOT to publish: (not more than 5 years prior to submission)
Reports of no scienBfic interest
Well written introduction and abstract
Out of date work
DuplicaBons of previously published work Clear descriptions of experiments  
Incorrect/unacceptable conclusions (replicability should be the main consideration)
15 16
Three important stages Article preparation: finding supporting literatures
Google scholar / Microsoft Academic Search with

appropriate keywords
Academic social networks:  
Article preparation researchgate, academia, mendeley online
Start from well-known publisher or database:
Scopus
Identify suitable journal Springer Verlag
Sciencedirect (Elsevier)
IEEEXplore à IEEE Transactions
Sending process Website of research groups
Contacting author of the paper
Follow up references in a paper
17 18
Why your research is important for

general society ? What is important
Choose your references wisely 1 General issue in society issue faced by society?
General problem that motivates

2 General problem research in your field
Try not to dump references by saying: 

“A proposed B, resulting X… “  
Choose a good publisher Check the impact factor, SJR
3 Literature synthesis  
Critically analyze advantage and
score and quartile. disadvantage of previous work. FInd
research gap from previous research
4 Research problems List all of research problems that you to

solve with your proposed solution. 
Type of contribution:
- solving new problem with old method 
- solving old problem with new method
Proposed method / solution Your interpretation to answer research

problems (no. 4):
• How far is your improvement, compared

5 Results with previous work?
• Implication of your research to previous
work (support or contradict ? Why?)
(c) sunu wibirama 2019
• Implications to general problem
(answering no. 1 and 2)
• Limitation of your method
6 Analysis and Discussion • Generalization, explanation of any pattern

in your data, how error is produced, how
future work can be done to improve your
work
7 Conclusions Summary of research problem and your solution  

to solve the problem. Take-away message from
your research and general implications of your
research
19 20
Why your research is important for Why your research is important for
general society ? What is important general society ? What is important
1 General issue in society issue faced by society? 1 General issue in society issue faced by society?
General problem that motivates General problem that motivates

2 Literature
synthesis: research in your field
General problem
General issue in society: Try not to dump references by saying: 
Try not to dump references by saying:  Try not to dump references by saying: 
3 Why your research

is important   “A proposed B, resulting X… “   “A proposed B, resulting X… “  
Literature synthesis   “A proposed
3 Literature synthesis B, resulting X…  “  
Critically analyze advantage and Critically analyze advantage and
for general society ? disadvantage of previous work. FInd   disadvantage of previous work. FInd
research gap from previous research research gap from previous research
CriticallyResearch
analyze advantage and disadvantage of
4
What is important issue faced by society?
Research problems List all of research problems that you to 4 problems List all of research problems that you to
previous work. FInd research gap from solve withprevious
your proposed solution. 
- solving old problem with new method research - solving new problem with old method 
- solving old problem with new method

problems (no. 4): problems (no. 4):
• How far is your improvement, compared • How far is your improvement, compared
5 Results with previous work?
5 Research
Results Problems / Scientific Gap:
with previous work?
General problem: • Implication of your research to previous
List all of research problems that you to solve withtoyour
• Implications general problem
General problem that motivates research in your field (answering no. 1 and 2)
proposed solution. Type of contribution:
6 Analysis and Discussion • Generalization, explanation of any pattern

in your data, how error is produced, how 6 Analysis and Discussion
- solving
• Generalization, explanation of any pattern
new problem with old method 
future work can be done to improve your future work can be done to improve your
work - solving old problem with new method
work

your research and general implications of your your research and general implications of your
research research
21 22
Why your research is important for

general society ? What is important
1 General issue in society
Example of flow in Introduction section issue faced by society?
General problem that motivates

Discussion of Results:
Try not to dump references by saying: 
“A proposed B, resulting X… “  
General problem : global warming and energy crisis How3far is your synthesis
Literature improvement, compared with previous
  work?
Critically analyze advantage and
Implication of your research to previous work (supportdisadvantage
or contradict ? Why?)
of previous work. FInd
research gap from previous research
Implications to general problem  
General issues in society : smart home to reduce  4 Research problems
Limitation of your method List all of research problems that you to
Generalization, explanation of any pattern in your data,Type how error is produced,  
electricity usage how future work can be done to improve - your
of contribution:
solving oldwork
problem with new method
Literature synthesis : smart home technology with  problems (no. 4):
• How far is your improvement, compared

artificial intelligence (< 5 years old literatures) 5 Results with previous work?
Research problems / scientific gap : what is the Conclusion: • Limitation of your method
6 Analysis
Summary
and Discussion
of research problem and your solution to solve the problem.  
• Generalization, explanation of any pattern
disadvantages of previous works?

future work can be done to improve your
Take-away message from your research and general implications of your research work

your research and general implications of your
research
23 24
Article
140 preparation: scientific gap
Chapter 2
Article preparation: scientific gap
key paper #2 • Scientific gap should fulfill two criterias:  

key paper #1 New and Important
key paper #4 key paper #3 • New: the scientific gap is extracted from previously
published work (not more than 5 years prior to
submission), preferably published in reputable
journals.
• Important: the gap is important to be solved.  

You must explain the implication (impact of your
work toward your field) in the Introduction section
if you can solve the scientific gap.
Reference: M.J. Katz, “From research to manuscript”, 2nd Edition, Springer, 2009
7.5. A Sampler of Introductions
Copyrighted © 2020 | Do not distribute without written permission from Dr. Sunu Wibirama
25
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Scientific papers are written from diverse perspectives and about a wide range
How to show originality / novelty  
of subjects. Although all scientific papers should be built using the same basic
of your work
principles, the particular field and the type of data of each research project shape
the papers individually. Here are examples of how a number of scientific writers
have used the same basic skeleton
A comparaBve analysis with prior state-of-the-art 
A. Background
1.is a powerful tool
Currently-Accepted General Statements
2. Available Supporting Data
B. Gap
C. Your Plan of Attack
to take the reader from a currently-accepted general statement to their proposed
plan-of-attack for a variety of quite different research projects.
• From a report on the role of juvenile hormone during the development of moths
(Williams, 1961):
A. Background
1. Currently-Accepted General Statements
27 28
How to show originality / novelty  
of your work However …
Narrative is king!
….is unknown
To address / to solve 
this research gap…
29 30
ArBcle preparaBon: Abstract

My first paper (2008) My student’s paper (2017)
Abstract
• Completely independent of your
paper
• People read abstract to know if
they will read your paper or not
• Overview of the main story:
• Why you are doing it  
(background, your goal)
• How you are doing it  
(methods, key results)
• How it relates to the real world
(conclusions, implications)
Which one is better?
31 32
ArBcle preparaBon: Abstract Components of Abstract
General problem in your field
Specific problem  
(research gap)
Your proposed solution/ 

Proposed method
Key results / key findings
Brief discussion and  

implications
My first paper (2008) My student’s paper (2017)

R. A. Warman, S. Wibirama, A. Bejo, “Performance Comparison of
Signal Processing Filters on Smooth Pursuit Eye Movements,” presented
in The 2nd International Conference on Information Technology,
Information Systems and Electrical Engineering (ICITISEE 2017), to
SW | Aptikom - FORTEI Doctoral Bootcamp 2020 SW | Aptikom - FORTEI Doctoral Bootcamp 2020 appear in IEEEXplore
33 34
Tables vs. Figures

Tables vs. Figures
Bad figure
Figures
Visual impact
Show trends and patterns
Tell a quick story
Tell the whole story
Highlight a particular result
Good figure
Tables
Give precise values
Display many values/variables
35 36
ArBcle preparaBon: avoid plagiarism
Don’t use a table Keep the similarity score as low as possible.  
Rule of thumb: less than 20%
Use a figure
37 38
ArBcle preparaBon: avoid plagiarism

Ideally, all authors should read and agree on 
Three important stages
the content of the manuscript
Article preparation
Identify suitable journal
Sending process
39 40
Identify suitable journal Identify suitable journal
Peer-reviewed journal and reputaBon
Relevance with topic of manuscript
Review criteria and editorial board
Scope of readership
DuraBon of review
Your   Your journal   Your   Model of publicaBon (regular or open access) and publicaBon fee
paper target audience
Number of publicaBons / volume published by journal.  
Large volume = high possibility
Impact factor of journal

41 42
Identify suitable journal

Identify suitable journal Read author guidelines!
Make an exhaustive list of your journal target,
including frequency of publication / year
43 44
Three important stages Sending process
1. If you are asked for potential reviewers:  

propose authors that are cited in your paper
Article preparation
2. Follow the submission format (paper format, 
Identify suitable journal picture, etc.) 
 
Editor will directly reject your manuscript if the 
Sending process manuscript is not formatted according to 
guidelines for author
45 46
Sending process
Sending process
make sure you know  
the name  
COVER LETTER
of the editor-in-chief
introduce yourself,   closing statement

your co-author,  
and your manuscript
complete information 
about affiliation of  
corresponding author
summarize the  
content of your paper,  
what is your contribution,  
what is its implication
47 48
Take home messages
Sending process • Scientific writing is a skill and an art:
• Skill side: crafting a better paper with zero typos is the first phase on
writing. You need to learn proper academic writing, english grammar,
Be prepared to   a bunch of scientific publications vocabs. You can get them through
be rejected   books or workshops.
• Art side: the second phase is developing a good story. The second
Don’t take reviewers’   phase should be obtained by experience.
comments personally • Writing for impact:
• Try to submit a paper to a journal with suitable readership (e.g., a

Revise your manuscript  journal with narrow or specialized topic for a specialized research).
according to reviewers’   • If your research’s impact is useful for broader community, try writing
comments an article for a journal with broad impact (e.g., Nature, Scientific
Reports)
49 50
“Thank You”
sunu@ugm.ac.id
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Dr.

Peer-reviewer track record

Be careful not to generalize or to conclude quickly

Writing is about surviving academic Citation index services

We deal with “writing” as our main job

Alternative journal rank

The citation PageRank of a journal calculated on the

•Freely available at scimagojr.com

(Source: Canadian Association of Research Libraries)

WHAT TO PUBLISH Criteria of a good technical manuscript

Google scholar / Microsoft Academic Search with

Why your research is important for

General problem that motivates

Try not to dump references by saying:

4 Research problems List all of research problems that you to

Proposed method / solution Your interpretation to answer research

• How far is your improvement, compared

6 Analysis and Discussion • Generalization, explanation of any pattern

7 Conclusions Summary of research problem and your solution

General problem that motivates General problem that motivates

3 Why your research

Proposed method / solution Your interpretation to answer research

6 Analysis and Discussion • Generalization, explanation of any pattern

7 Conclusions Summary of research problem and your solution

Why your research is important for

General problem that motivates

Proposed method / solution Your interpretation to answer research

Literature synthesis : smart home technology with problems (no. 4):

• How far is your improvement, compared

disadvantages of previous works?

7 Conclusions Summary of research problem and your solution

key paper #2 • Scientific gap should fulfill two criterias:

• Important: the gap is important to be solved.

ArBcle preparaBon: Abstract

General problem in your field

Your proposed solution/

Key results / key findings

Brief discussion and

My first paper (2008) My student’s paper (2017)

Tables vs. Figures

ArBcle preparaBon: avoid plagiarism

Identify suitable journal

Relevance with topic of manuscript

Review criteria and editorial board

Impact factor of journal

Identify suitable journal

1. If you are asked for potential reviewers:

introduce yourself, closing statement

• Try to submit a paper to a journal with suitable readership (e.g., a

SW | Aptikom - FORTEI Doctoral Bootcamp 2020

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Writing is about surviving academic Citation index services  

We deal with “writing” as our main job 

Try not to dump references by saying: 

7 Conclusions Summary of research problem and your solution  

7 Conclusions Summary of research problem and your solution  

Literature synthesis : smart home technology with  problems (no. 4):

7 Conclusions Summary of research problem and your solution  

key paper #2 • Scientific gap should fulfill two criterias:  

• Important: the gap is important to be solved.  

Your proposed solution/ 

Brief discussion and  

1. If you are asked for potential reviewers:  

introduce yourself,   closing statement