MANUSCRIPT WRITING

Basic Course in Bio-Medical Research

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Session objectives

Basic Course in Bio-Medical Research

At the end of this session, you must have a basic
understanding of how to do the following in your
manuscript
• Organize the ideas logically and sequentially within
a defined structure
• Furnish additional information before submission
• Articulate the content to deliver the message
effectively

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Manuscript

Basic Course in Bio-Medical Research

• A document submitted for publication
Scientific manuscripts
• Original article
• Review
• Correspondence
• Perspective
• Editorial
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Merriam-Webster dictionary
Before we begin writing

Basic Course in Bio-Medical Research

• Product of the analysis
• Tables and figures
• Key points and recommendations
• Central 2 to 3 ideas
• Outline of the argument

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Session objectives

Basic Course in Bio-Medical Research

At the end of this session, you must have a basic
understanding of how to do the following in your manuscript
✓ Organize the ideas logically and sequentially within a
defined structure
• Furnish additional information before submission
• Articulate the content to deliver the message effectively

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The IMRD structure

Basic Course in Bio-Medical Research

• Introduction
• Why did you start?
• Methods
• What did you do?
• Results
• What did you find?
• Discussion
• What does it all mean?
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Example

Basic Course in Bio-Medical Research

• Choose an original article of your choice

• My article for demo

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Introduction

Basic Course in Bio-Medical Research

• Zooming in
• Background
• Knowledge gap
• Rationale
• Objectives

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Example

Basic Course in Bio-Medical Research

Knowledge gap
Zooming in

Rationale & objective

Background

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Jeyashree K, Shanmugasundaram D, Rade K, Gangakhedkar RR, Murhekar MV. Impact and operational
feasibility of TrueNat™ MTB/Rif under India’s RNTCP. Public Health Action. 2020 Sep 21;10(3):87-91.
Methods

Basic Course in Bio-Medical Research

• Explain what was done in simple terms
• Reflects on credibility and reliability
• May vary from study to study

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Methods

Basic Course in Bio-Medical Research

Provide key information
• Study settings
• Study design
• Operational definitions
• Sampling strategy
• Sample size
• Study procedures
• Data management (collection, analysis)
• Human participants protection
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Methods

Basic Course in Bio-Medical Research

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Jeyashree K, Shanmugasundaram D, Rade K, Gangakhedkar RR, Murhekar MV. Impact and operational feasibility of
TrueNat™ MTB/Rif under India’s RNTCP. Public Health Action. 2020 Sep 21;10(3):87-91.
Results

Basic Course in Bio-Medical Research

• Present the study findings
• Tables, Figures, Images
• Title, footnote, abbreviations
• Colour & Resolution
• No interpretations or comments

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Results

Basic Course in Bio-Medical Research

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Jeyashree K, Shanmugasundaram D, Rade K, Gangakhedkar RR, Murhekar MV. Impact and operational
feasibility of TrueNat™ MTB/Rif under India’s RNTCP. Public Health Action. 2020 Sep 21;10(3):87-91.
Discussion

Basic Course in Bio-Medical Research

• Summary of findings

• Interpret and infer

• Compare

• Strengths & Limitations

• Conclusions

• Recommendations nie.gov.in
Discussion

Basic Course in Bio-Medical Research

summary

Compare
Interpret and infer

nie.gov.in
Jeyashree K, Shanmugasundaram D, Rade K, Gangakhedkar RR, Murhekar MV. Impact and operational
feasibility of TrueNat™ MTB/Rif under India’s RNTCP. Public Health Action. 2020 Sep 21;10(3):87-91.
Abstract or Summary

Basic Course in Bio-Medical Research

• Miniature manuscript
• Structured or unstructured
• Most commonly read
• Usually 100- 350 words long
• Plain language summary

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Abstract or Summary

Basic Course in Bio-Medical Research

nie.gov.in
Jeyashree K, Shanmugasundaram D, Rade K, Gangakhedkar RR, Murhekar MV. Impact and operational
feasibility of TrueNat™ MTB/Rif under India’s RNTCP. Public Health Action. 2020 Sep 21;10(3):87-91.
Keywords

Basic Course in Bio-Medical Research

• Help indexers and search engines
find relevant papers
• More reads, more citation

Jeyashree K, Shanmugasundaram D, Rade K, Gangakhedkar RR, Murhekar MV. Impact and operational nie.gov.in
feasibility of TrueNat™ MTB/Rif under India’s RNTCP. Public Health Action. 2020 Sep 21;10(3):87-91.
References

Basic Course in Bio-Medical Research

• All sources of information referred
• Relevant and recent
• Bibliography management
• Styles- Vancouver, Harvard, Chicago
manual etc
• Software

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References

Basic Course in Bio-Medical Research

References and In-text citations

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Jeyashree K, Shanmugasundaram D, Rade K, Gangakhedkar RR, Murhekar MV. Impact and operational
feasibility of TrueNat™ MTB/Rif under India’s RNTCP. Public Health Action. 2020 Sep 21;10(3):87-91.
Organizing the ideas within the structure

Basic Course in Bio-Medical Research

Argument matrix
• A framework that
• Respects the structure of the various sections
• Develops few ideas (2 or 3) logically and sequentially
• Used to prepare the outline of the manuscript

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Argument matrix template

Basic Course in Bio-Medical Research

Ideas Intro Methods Results Discussion Limitations Conc Recs

Idea #1

Idea #2

Idea #3

1. Direction used to construct the ideas developed

(Follow this in the preparation to remain logical)
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Argument matrix template

Basic Course in Bio-Medical Research

Ideas Intro Methods Results Discussion Limitations Conc Recs

Idea
#1

Idea
#2

Idea
#3

2. Direction that the paper will follow

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(That is what the reader will see)
Optional sections

Basic Course in Bio-Medical Research

• Highlights
• List key messages from your research
• Bullet points (5 to 6)
• Research in context
• What was already known?
• What your study adds?
• Graphical abstract
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Highlights

Basic Course in Bio-Medical Research

Jeyashree K, Abdulkader RS, Kathirvel S, Chinnakali P, Kumar A. Profile of and expenditure on morbidity and hospitalizations
among elderly—Analysis of a nationally representative sample survey in India. Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics. 2018 Jan nie.gov.in
1;74:55-61.
Research in context

Basic Course in Bio-Medical Research

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Murhekar MV, Kamaraj P, Kumar MS, Khan SA, Allam RR, Barde P, Dwibedi B, Kanungo S, Mohan U, Mohanty SS, Roy S. Burden of
dengue infection in India, 2017: a cross-sectional population based serosurvey. The Lancet Global Health. 2019 Aug 1;7(8):e1065-73.
Graphical abstract

Basic Course in Bio-Medical Research

• Single, concise, pictorial and visual
summary of the main findings

Ugarenko M, Nudelman A, Rephaeli A, Kimura KI, Phillips DR, Cutts SM. Liu W, Tang Y, Feng J. Cross talk between activation of
ABT-737 overcomes Bcl-2 mediated resistance to doxorubicin–DNA microglia and astrocytes in pathological conditions in the
adducts. Biochemical pharmacology. 2010 Feb 1;79(3):339-49. central nervous system. Life sciences. 2011 Aug 1;89(5- nie.gov.in
6):141-6.
The special case of thesis

Basic Course in Bio-Medical Research

• Dissertation - an extended, usually
written treatment of a subject

• A dissertation embodying results of

original research and substantiating a
specific view especially : one written by a
candidate for an academic degree
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Merriam-Webster dictionary
Manuscript Vs Thesis
Manuscript
• Voluntary/Mandatory
• Can be primary research or
reviews, perspectives etc
• Led by the first author
• Contributions from all authors
• Timelines
• Bound by journal guidelines
Basic Course in Bio-Medical Research
Thesis
• Mandatory for PG/doctoral degree
• Always primary research
• Led by the resident/ scholar
• Mentored by the guide/ supervisor
• Timelines
• Bound by university guidelines
• Thesis as a manuscript
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Writing a manuscript Vs thesis

Basic Course in Bio-Medical Research

• Word limit and length
• Target audience
• Thesis committee
• Peers/ experts/ community
• Structure and sections
Basic principles of scientific writing are similar

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Session objectives

Basic Course in Bio-Medical Research

At the end of this session, you must have a basic
understanding of how to do the following in your
manuscript/thesis
✓Organize the ideas logically and sequentially
✓Furnish additional information before submission
• Articulate the content to deliver the message
effectively
nie.gov.in
Additional information

Basic Course in Bio-Medical Research

• Title page
• Cover letter
• Funding
• Conflicts of interest
• Author contributions
• Appendices
• Supplementary files
• Acknowledgement
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Title Page

Basic Course in Bio-Medical Research

• Title
• Authors
• Addresses, affiliations, qualifications
• Corresponding Author
• Word count
• Key words
• Short running title

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Additional information

Basic Course in Bio-Medical Research

• Title page
• Cover letter
• Funding
• Conflicts of interest
• Author contributions
• Appendices
• Supplementary files
• Acknowledgement
• Table of contents
• List of abbreviations, tables, figures nie.gov.in
 Basic Course in Bio-Medical Research
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Plagiarism

Basic Course in Bio-Medical Research

• Recommended before submission

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Session objectives

Basic Course in Bio-Medical Research

At the end of this session, you must have a basic
understanding of how to do the following with
reference to your manuscript/thesis
✓Organize the ideas logically and sequentially
✓Furnish additional information before submission
✓Articulate the content to deliver the message
effectively
nie.gov.in
Tips for making your writing clearer

Basic Course in Bio-Medical Research

• Use simple, specific and necessary words
• Use consistent terminology; avoid synonyms
• Use inclusive, non-offensive language
• Use precise word order
• Avoid passive voice
• Be mindful of sentence length and structure
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Scientific language editing

Basic Course in Bio-Medical Research

• Spell check
• Grammar
• Sentence structure
• Punctuation

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Formatting guidelines

Basic Course in Bio-Medical Research

• Font style and size
• Indent and Spacing
• Heading style
• Paragraphs

Follow standard formatting styles as recommended by university or the journal eg.

American Psychological Association (APA) style 7th edition
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The six “s” of scientific writing

Basic Course in Bio-Medical Research

1. Simple
2. Short
3. Structured
4. Sequential
5. Strong
6. Specific
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Review drafts

Basic Course in Bio-Medical Research

• Write
• Rewrite
• Read
• Review
• Revise
• Submit
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Take home messages

Basic Course in Bio-Medical Research

• Identify 2-3 central messages
• Structure and sections- IMRD
• Fit ideas logically within structure- Argument matrix
• Improve your scientific writing style
• Adhere to guidelines
• Write, review, revise

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 Basic Course in Bio-Medical Research
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