IE761 - Part IV

IE761: Research Methods
Part IV: Writing/Presenting Technical Papers
Dr. Sameer Al-Dahidi

Assistant Professor, Exchange Coordinator
Mechanical and Maintenance Engineering Department
German Jordanian University
First Semester 2022/2023

IE761 Course Tree Plan
IE761
Part I Part III Part IV

Part II Part V
An Conference/Journ Writing/Presenting
How to read a Paper? Miscellaneous
Introduction al Publications Technical Papers
• How to write a Technical Paper? (Technical Writing, Paper Contents, etc.)

• Practical Strategies of Literature Review
• Citations Guidelines (APA and IEEE)
• How to Present your Technical Paper?

• Presentations Evaluations
2
How to write a Technical Paper?[1]
• In this series (http://www.elsevier.com/connect/writing-a-science-paper-some-

dos-and-donts), Dr. Angel Borja draws on his extensive background as an author,
reviewer and editor to give advice on preparing the manuscript (author's view),
the evaluation process (reviewer's view) and what there is to hate or love in a
paper (editor's view).
• Four steps to preparing your first draft:
1. Think about the topic you want to present, for some days or weeks.
2. Make Figures and Tables.
3. Then write as quickly as possible, as if thinking out loud. Get everything down,
ignoring spelling, grammar, style and troublesome words.
4. Correct and rewrite only when the whole text is on paper.
Do not split the manuscript among the co-authors. It is better to write a first
complete draft, and then the co-authors can amend and add new text. In this way, the
internal coherence of the paper is ensured. Ask each reviewer to track their changes.
3
General structure of a research article[2]
• Title
• Abstract
• Keywords
• Introduction/Literature Review
• Methodology/Methods
• Results and Discussion
• Conclusions and Recommendations

• Acknowledgements
• References
• Supporting materials
• Appendices
4
General structure of a research article[2]
• Title • The progression of the thematic scope of a

• Abstract paper:
• Keywords
General → Specific → General
• Introduction/Literature Review
• Methodology/Methods • However, we often write in the following
• Results and Discussion order:
• Conclusions and Recommendations o Figures and Tables

• Acknowledgements o Methods, Results, and Discussion
• References o Conclusions and Introduction
• Supporting materials o Abstract and Title
• Appendices
5
What is a typical paper? [2]
• Not the same for all journals, even in the same field:
o “...25- 30 pages is the typical length for a submitted manuscript, including

ESSENTIAL data only.”
▪ Title
▪ Abstract (1 Paragraph)
▪ Introduction (1.5-2 manuscript pages (double-spaced,12pt) 2-4 manuscript
pages) (10 pt)
▪ Methods (2-4 manuscript pages)
▪ Results and Discussion (10-12 manuscript pages)
▪ Conclusions (1-2 manuscript pages)
▪ Figures (6-8 Figures)
▪ Tables (1-3 Tables)
▪ References (20-50 references)
o Letters or short communications have a stricter size limitation – e.g. 3,000

words and no more than 5 Figures/Tables
6
Effective manuscript titles[2]
• Attract reader’s attention

• Contain fewest possible words
• Adequately describe content
• Are informative but concise
• Identify main issue
• Do not use technical jargon and rarely-used abbreviations
• Delete trivial phrases e.g. “Notes on ...” or “A study of...”
• Titles that end with a question mark are seldom acceptable.
7
Title – Some examples[2]
8
Special attention: Authorship[2]
• General principles for who is listed first:
✓ First Author:
➢ Conducts and/or supervises the data generation and analysis and the proper
presentation and interpretation of the results.
➢ Puts paper together and submits the paper to journal.
✓ Any other authors:
➢ Makes intellectual contributions to the data analysis and contributes to data

interpretation.
➢ Reviews each paper draft.
➢ Must be able to present the results, defend the implications and discuss study
limitation.
9
Special attention: Authorship[2]
✓ Avoid
1. Ghost Authorship: leaving out authors who should be included
2. Gift Authorship: including authors who did not contribute significantly
10
Keywords[2]
• Are the labels of the manuscript

• Are used by indexing and abstracting services
• Should be specific
• Should use only established abbreviations (e.g. DNA)
• Check the guide for authors
11
Abstract[2]
• A clear abstract will strongly influence whether or not your work is further
considered...
• Summarize the problem, methods, results, and conclusions in a “single”

paragraph – it must be BRIEF;
• Make it interesting and understandable (Easy to understand without reading

the whole article)
• Make it accurate and specific, say what has been done and what were the main
findings;
• It is freely available through A&I – Advertisement of your article.
12
Introduction[2]
• Provide context to convince readers that you clearly know why your work
is useful:
o What is the problem?

o Are there any existing solutions?
o Which solution is the best?
o What is its main limitation?
o What do you hope to achieve?
13
Introduction[2]
• Some tips:
o Never use more words than necessary.

o Don’t make this section into a history lesson.
o Do not mix introduction with results, discussion, and conclusion.
o Always keep them separate to ensure that the manuscript flows logically from
one section to the next.
o Introduce the main scientific publications on which your work is based.
o Cite a couple of original and important works, including recent review articles
o Avoid too many references irrelevant to the work, or inappropriate judgments
on your own achievements.
14
Methods[2]
o Describe how the problem was studied;

o Include detailed information, so that a knowledgeable reader can reproduce the
experiment;
o Do not describe previously published procedures, however, use references and
supplementary materials to indicate the previously published procedures;
o Do not repeat the details of established methods. A general summary plus
reference is sufficient;
o Reviewers will criticize incomplete or incorrect descriptions and may even
recommend rejection;
o Identify the equipment, materials, algorithms and procedures used.
15
Methods[2]
Methods – ethics committee approval
o Experiments on humans or animals must follow applicable ethics standards;

o Approval of the local ethics committee is required and should be specified in
the manuscript, covering letter, or the online submission system;
o Editors can make their own decisions on ethics.
16
Results[2]
• Results – what have you found?
o Tell a clear and easy-to-understand story.

o Include only data of primary importance – main findings.
o Highlight the main findings.
o Feature unexpected findings.
o Provide statistical analysis.
o Include illustrations and Figures.
17
Graphs[2]
• Un-crowded plots: 3 or 4 data sets per figure; well-selected scales; appropriate

axis label size; symbols clear to read and data sets easy to discriminate.
• Use colour ONLY when necessary e.g. if different line styles can clarify the
meaning, use this instead of colour.
• Figure should be visible and distinguishable when printed out in black & white.
18
Photographs[2]
• Photos: scale marker is very important

• Do NOT ‘selectively adjust’ any image to enhance visualization of results.
19
Tables[2]
• Must be succinct, brief and clearly expressed

• Avoid the use of very long tables.
• Sometimes a table is better than a figure.
20
Tables[2]

21
Tables[2]

22
Tables[2]

23
Discussion[2]
• Interpretation of results;
• Most important section;
• Make the discussion correspond to the results and complement them;
• Compare published results with your own.
24
Discussion[2]
• Be careful not to use the following:
- Statements that go beyond what the results can support

- Non-specific expressions
- New terms not already defined or mentioned in your paper
- Speculations on possible interpretations based on imagination
25
Conclusions[2]
• Be clear;
• Provide justification for the work;
• Explain how your work advances the present state of knowledge;
• Suggest future experiments.
26
Acknowledgments[2]
• Advisors
• Financial supporters and funders
• Proof readers and typists
• Suppliers who may have donated materials
27
References[2]
It is important that you give precise details of all the work by other authors which
has been referred to within the article. Details should include:
• Author’s name and initials

• Date of publication
• Title of the book, paper or journal
• Publisher
• Place of publication
• Page numbers
• Details of the journal volume in which the article has appeared.
28
References[2]
• Do not use too many references
• Always ensure you have fully absorbed the material you are referencing
• Avoid excessive self citations
• Avoid excessive citations of publications from the same region or institute
• Conform strictly to the style given in the Guide for Authors
29
References Styles: Citations Guidelines (APA and IEEE)[3]
• A citation style is a set of rules on how to cite your sources in academic

writing. Citation style guidelines are often published in an official handbook
containing explanations, examples, and instructions. There are two main
aspects that differ between styles:
• In-text citations: How you cite sources when you refer to them in the
text.
• Reference list entries: How you order and format publication information
for each source in the list at the end of your paper.
30
References Styles: Citations Guidelines (APA and IEEE) [3]
• There are many different citation styles, and the preferred style often depends
on your discipline.
• MLA is commonly used in the humanities

• APA is commonly used in psychology and education
• Chicago A (notes and bibliography) is commonly used in history
• Chicago B (author-date) is commonly used in the sciences.
• However, some universities require the use of a single citation style across all
departments. The chart below gives an overview of how often different styles
are used.
31
• Differences between citation styles

Different citation styles have different rules for in-text citations, reference list
entries, and (sometimes) the formatting of your paper. The differences can be very
subtle, so it’s important to carefully check the rules of the style you are using.
o Types of in-text citation

→ When you refer to a source (for example, by quoting or paraphrasing), you
have to add a brief citation in the text. There are three main types of
citation:
→ Parenthetical citation: You put the source reference in parentheses
directly in your text. This usually includes the author’s last name
along with the publication date and/or the page number.
→ Note citation: You put the source reference in a footnote or endnote.
→ Numeric citation: You number each of your sources in the reference
list and use the correct number when you want to cite a source.
→ APA (Parenthetical (author-date)) and IEEE (Numeric).
32
• Differences between citation styles

Different citation styles have different rules for in-text citations, reference list
entries, and (sometimes) the formatting of your paper. The differences can be very
subtle, so it’s important to carefully check the rules of the style you are using.
o Reference list entries

→ At the end of your paper, you include a list of all the sources you cited.
Each entry on the list corresponds to an in-text citation, and gives the
reader full publication information to easily find the source.
→ Citation styles differ in the naming of this list: in APA it is the reference
page, in MLA it is the works cited, and in Chicago A it is the bibliography.
→ There are also differences in the order of information and how you format
each entry. The format often depends on the type of source (e.g. book,
website, or journal article). The easiest way to create reference entries is to
use a citation generator
→ Examples on the best citation generator are
→ Mendeley - https://www.mendeley.com/newsfeed
→ Endnote - https://endnote.com/
→ etc.
33
APA Citation Style[4]
• APA style was created by the American Psychological Association and was
originally used in psychology and social sciences. Today many other
disciplines also use it. APA citation style uses an author-date system of
parenthetical citation.
• Examples of APA citation style

(see this link https://www.mendeley.com/guides/apa-citation-guide):
o Book
o Journal
o Conference
o etc,
34
IEEE Citation Style[5]
• IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) is a citation style often

used in technical studies, such as IT and electrical engineering. IEEE style has
guidelines for specific types of sources. For source types that are not covered in
IEEE, Chicago style is used. IEEE uses a numeric system.
• Examples of IEEE citation style:

(see this link https://ieee-
dataport.org/sites/default/files/analysis/27/IEEE%20Citation%20Guidelines.pdf):
o Book
o Journal
o Conference
o etc,
35
Appendices[2]
An appendix contains additional information related to the article but which is not
essential to the main findings.
This can be consulted if the reader wishes but the article should not depend on
this.
You could include details of interview questions, statistical data, a glossary of

terms, or other information which may be useful for the reader.
36
Submission[2]
• Final check
37
Cover Letter[2]
• View it as a job application letter; you want to “sell” your work...
• WHY did you submit the manuscript to THIS journal?
• Do not summarize your manuscript, or repeat the abstract
• Mention special requirements, e.g. if you do not wish your manuscript to be

reviewed by certain reviewers.
• Albeit that most editors will not reject a manuscript only because the cover
letter is bad, a good cover letter may accelerate the editorial process of your
paper.
38
Cover Letter[2]
39
Suggested potential reviewers - Opposed reviewers[2]
• Your suggestions will help the Editor to pass your manuscript to the review
stage more efficiently.
• You can easily find potential reviewers and their contact details by mentioning
authors from articles in your specific subject area (e.g., your references).
• The reviewers should represent at least two regions of the world. And they
should not be your supervisor or close friends.
• Generally you are requested to provide 3-6 potential reviewers.
40
41
References
This presentation has been prepared by Dr. Sameer Al-Dahidi. It is a collection of

information adopted/adapted from the following References:
[1] B. Qawasmeh, Research Methodologies Course. M.Sc. Program, University of Jordan,

2019.
[2] P. Arboleya, How to Get Published in an International Journal: Perspectives of the
editor. University of Oviedo, Elsevier Publishing Campus.
[3] https://www.scribbr.com/citing-sources/citation-styles/
[4] https://www.mendeley.com/guides/apa-citation-guide
[5]https://ieee-
dataport.org/sites/default/files/analysis/27/IEEE%20Citation%20Guidelines.pdf
42
Acknowledgment
Special thanks to Dr. Bashar Qawasmeh (Mechanical Engineering

Department, University of Jordan (JU)) for sharing his presentations in
Research Methodologies M.Sc. Course.
43
Technical Writing[1]
• General tips:
1. Active or passive?
→ The active voice reads as follows: “I recommend …”
→ The passive voice reads: “It is recommended that …”
→ The active voice allows you to write short, punchy sentences.
→ The passive appears more formal and considered.
→ Be aware of these differences and avoid mixing the two voices.
2. Simplicity
→ Most written articles should avoid using overly complicated language. If a
report is to persuade, brief or justify, it's message must be clear. Furthermore,
the factual presentation of data should not be swamped with sophisticated,
lengthy sentences.
→ Avoid using unnecessary jargon. This confuses even the most informed reader.
→ Ensure that your abbreviations are standardised. All too often authors invent
their own jargon to ease the pressure on writing things in full. Be cautious of
confusing your reader.
44
Technical Writing[1]
• General tips:
3. Use of language
→ Most reports should avoid the use of subjective language. For example, to
report on a change in colouration from a “amazing green to a beautiful blue" is
to project your own values onto a measurable outcome. What does the term
"beautiful" mean to you? What will it mean to your reader? Such subjective, or
personal language commonly has no place in the more objective field of report
writing.
45
Technical Writing
• See the attached presentation on Technical Writing [2].
46
Literature Review[3,4]
• Literature review is often used to describe the process of finding out about
previous work from a range of sources.
• A literature review provides the readers with a picture of the state of knowledge
and the main questions in the subject area being investigated. (Bell, 1999, p.
93)
• A literature review is “an extensive critical review of the extant literature on the
research topic”. (Clare & Hamilton, 2003, p. 8)
• A literature review “contains a critical analysis and the integration of
information from a number sources, as well as a consideration of any gaps in
the literature and possibilities of future research”. (Manalo & Trafford, 2004, p.
45)
47
Why literature review? [3,4]
• A literature review ensures that you are at least familiar with the body of
research in your field before starting your own investigations. Writing a
literature review also provides practice in critical thinking. Once you have
applied critical thinking skills to the findings of past researchers, you are in a
better position to apply theses same skills to your own work.
• The BIG PICTURE of the phenomenon:
1. To thoroughly understand and describe work done on the specific area
of research you are about to embark on;
2. To evaluate this work, either in terms of content knowledge or the
methodology:
o What was already done?
o Were the studies sufficient to explain the subject matter?
o What more is needed to be done?
It is a must to master the body of knowledge of what you are

specifically researching
48
Benefits of literature review[3,4]
• We will get to know (see examples of previous research works –the instructor):
1. the content variables and the connections among them;
2. the context of study
3. the methodologies and research techniques previously used
4. What is left to be done/gap
5. the popular figures of the subject matter
49
Literature Review[3,4]
• Any good research includes two distinct types of literature review, they are:
1. A preliminary literature study allows the researcher to get a feel for

the topic and the issues involved, and understand how the proposed
research would fit into them.
o One important outcome of the preliminary study is finding out
what further sources need to be consulted in the full study.
2. A full literature study is a far more comprehensive study which is part
of the research process itself rather than part of the preparation for
research. The bulk of this study should be done prior to embarking on
experimentation or data collection, so that the results of the study can be
used during these activities.
50
Sources of Information[3,4]
• The main sources of information available to researchers are:
1. Textbooks;
2. Articles in scientific journals;
3. Conference proceedings;
4. Theses and dissertations;
5. Company reports;
6. People;
7. Magazines and newspapers; and
8. Internet.
51
• The first four items on the list are the most reliable sources of
information, and are the most commonly referenced in scientific reporting.
1. Textbooks
• Textbooks should be the starting place for finding out about a new
field.
• Textbooks do have an inherent disadvantage, though, in that they
often contain out-of-date information, particularly in fast-
developing fields.
52
2. Articles in Scientific Journals

• Journal articles are the bread-and-butter of scientific reporting.
Thousands of journals exist, each publishing new work in a
specific scientific field.
• Articles published in reputable journals have two obvious
advantages as sources of information.
o Such articles tend to be significant as well as reliable, because,
in order to be published in the journal, they have gone through the
peer- review process.
o Journal articles reflect more recent work than textbooks. So the
textbook may be seen as the base for information in a field, while the
journal articles provide the 'top-up' of new information as and when
new results are reported.
o Unfortunately, the staggering increase in scientific progress has led
many prestigious journals to receive papers faster than they can
publish them, and so waiting lists have become a feature in the
very place where one expects to find cutting-edge results.
53
3. Conference Proceedings
• Conferences are gatherings of researchers in a particular field
where scientific results are presented as papers.
• Many conferences publish proceedings, which are collections of
the (major) papers presented at the conference.
54
4. Theses and Dissertations

• Theses and dissertations are the finished product, or 'write-up',
of masters and doctoral candidates. In some institutions, the term
'thesis' refers to a masters report and 'dissertation’ to a doctoral one.
• Masters and doctoral theses/dissertations are generally stored in
the libraries of the institutions where they were presented, and are
available via Interlibrary Loans.
55
5. Company Reports
• Many companies commission scientific research into practical
problems.
• Prepared by the researcher(s) for the company.
6. People
7. Magazines and Newspapers
• Some magazines (e.g. National Geographic) have strong track
records of reliable reporting, while others (which we leave the
reader to name) are less reliable.
8. Internet
• The Internet is an excellent way to try to track down information,
but since one cannot always be sure of the correctness of the data
on a site, it should not by itself be a large-scale source of
information.
56
Accessing Information[3,4]
• There are three steps to obtaining information: finding out which reports
(books, articles, etc.) are useful, obtaining copies of them, and then reading
them. The usefulness of the material can be determined from:
1. The title of the report

2. Abstracts: reading through the abstracts is a quick way to determine the
relevance of the work to your own topic. Work referenced by other
people.
3. Summary publications: in many fields there is a journal or
organisation that keeps track of new works published in a particular
subject and provides regularly updated summary lists.
57
Accessing Information[3,4]
• Where one can obtain the various reports we have mentioned.

1. Library
2. Internet
3. People
58
Make a Record[3,4]
• The use of phrases like 'Someone I read said something like…' in your reports
will not endear you to your fellow researchers.
• Your records should also include the information you need to reference each
source, i.e., the title, the author(s), the year of publication, and:
o For books: the publisher and place of publication;
o For journals: the journal name, volume and number; and
o for proceedings: the conference name and the place where it was held.
59
Practical Strategies for Literature Review[5]
• “Without strategy, execution is useless. Without execution, strategy is useless”.

(Morris Chang)
• First and foremost, learn the effective flow of a literature review writing (see
examples from the instructor):
60
Literature Review Organization[5]
• Five common approaches to organizing the body of your paper include:
1. Topical
2. Distant to close
3. Debate
4. Chronological
5. Seminal Study
61
1. Topical
o Most common approach

o Breaks the field into a number of subfields, subject areas, or approaches
o Discusses each subsection individually, sometimes with critiques of each
o Most useful for organizing a large body of literature that does not have
one or two studies that stand out as most important or a clear
chronological development.
▪ Three important areas of this field have received attention: A, B, C.

▪ A has been approached from two perspectives F and G.
▪ The most important developments in terms of B have been…
▪ C has also been an important area of study in this field.
62
2. Distant to Close
o A type of topical organization, with studies grouped by their relevance to

current research.
o Starts by describing studies with general similarities to current research
and ends with studies most relevant to the specific topic.
o Most useful for studies of methods or models.
▪ Method/Model M (slightly similar to current research) addresses …

▪ Drawing upon method/model N (more similar to current research) can
help . . .
▪ This study applies the procedure used in method/model O (most similar to
current research) to . . .
63
3. Debate
o Another type of topical approach, with a chronological component.

o Emphasizes various strands of research in which proponents of various
models openly criticize one another.
o Most useful when clear opposing positions are present in the literature.
▪ There have been two (three, four, etc.) distinct approaches this problem.
▪ The first model posits…
▪ The second model argues that the first model is wrong for three reasons.
Instead, the second model claims…
64
4. Chronological
o Lists studies in terms of chronological development

o Useful when the field displays clear development over a period of time.
▪ This subject was first studied by X, who argued/found…

▪ In (date), Y modified/extended/contradicted X’s work by…
▪ Today, research by Z represents the current state of the field.
65
5. Seminal Study
o Begins with detailed description of extremely important study.

o Later work is organized using another pattern.
o Most useful when one study is clearly most important or central in laying
the groundwork for future research.
▪ The most important research on this topic was the study by X in (date).
▪ Following X’s study, research fell into two camps (extended X’s work,
etc.)
66
Strategies for Literature Review[5]
• Plan your literature review process:
67
• Good literature review does not start with writing it.

• It starts with a good selection of research area/topic.
• Since databases work in keywords, the phenomenon under study has to be
scoped down to specific variables. Find the keyword terms.
• A good research topic may not end up on a good proposal unless it is built on a
good backbone literature. Good literature review starts with good search of
literature.
• You will be surrounded by a sea of literature. Now which one is worth looking
deeper into? Sifting, reorganising, recategorising.
• Now that you have reorganise and recategorise, find the gap. Mind-map the
gap!
Remember:
• To seek to understand the whole theories and models → textbooks
• To explore what has been studied. The recent 10 years. The whole world, also
in your population of study → review papers (a smart short-cut)
68
69
How to Present a Technical Paper? [6]
• Tips to be covered:
o Outlines
o Slide Structure
o Fonts
o Colour
o Background
o Graphs
o Spelling and Grammar
o Conclusions
o Questions
70
Outline [6]
• Make your 1st or 2nd slide an outline of your presentation (for example: the
previous slide)
• Follow the order of your outline for the rest of the presentation
• Only place main points on the outline slide (for example: use the titles of each
slide as main points)
71
Slide Structure - GOOD [6]
• Use 1-2 slides per minute of your presentation

• Write in point form, not complete sentences
• Include 4-5 points per slide
• Avoid wordiness: use key words and phrases only
72
Slide Structure - BAD [6]
• This page contains too many words for a presentation slide. It is not written in
point form, making it difficult both for your audience to read and for you to
present each point. Although there are exactly the same number of points on
this slide as the previous slide, it looks much more complicated. In short, your
audience will spend too much time trying to read this paragraph instead of
listening to you.
73
Slide Structure - GOOD [6]
• Show one point at a time:

o Will help audience concentrate on what you are saying
o Will prevent audience from reading ahead
o Will help you keep your presentation focused
74
Slide Structure - BAD [6]
• Do not use distracting animation
• Do not go overboard with the animation
• Be consistent with the animation that you use
75
Fonts - GOOD [6]
• Use at least an 18-point font

• Use different size fonts for main points and secondary points
o this font is 24-point, the main point font is 28-point, and the title font is
36-point
• Use a standard font like Times New Roman or Arial
76
Fonts - BAD [6]
If you use a small font, your audience will not be able to read what you have written
CAPITALIZE ONLY WHEN NECESSARY. IT IS DIFFICULT TO READ
Don’t use a complicated font
77
Colour - GOOD [6]
Use a colour of font that contrasts sharply with the background

Ex: blue font on white background
Use colour to reinforce the logic of your structure

Ex: light blue title and dark blue text
Use colour to emphasize a point

But only use this occasionally
78
Colour - BAD [6]
• Using a font colour that does not contrast with the background colour is hard to
read
• Using colour for decoration is distracting and annoying.
• Using a different colour for each point is unnecessary

o Using a different colour for secondary points is also unnecessary
• Trying to be creative can also be bad
79
Background - GOOD [6]
• Use backgrounds such as this one that are attractive but simple
• Use backgrounds which are light
• Use the same background consistently throughout your presentation
80
Background - BAD [6]
• Avoid backgrounds that are distracting or difficult to read from

• Always be consistent with the background that you use
81
Graphs - GOOD [6]
• Use graphs rather than just charts and words

o Data in graphs is easier to comprehend & retain than is raw data
o Trends are easier to visualize in graph form
• Always title your graphs
82
Graphs - BAD [6]
January February March April

Blue Balls 20.4 27.4 90 20.4
Red Balls 30.6 38.6 34.6 31.6
83
Graphs - GOOD [6]
Items Sold in First Quarter of 2002
100
90
80
70
60
Blue Balls
50
Red Balls
40
30
20
10
0
84
Graphs - BAD [6]
100
90
90
80
70
60
Blue Balls
50
Red Balls
38.6
40
34.6
30.6 31.6
30 27.4
20.4 20.4
20
10
0
85
Graphs - BAD [6]
• Minor gridlines are unnecessary

• Font is too small
• Colours are illogical
• Title is missing
• Shading is distracting
86
Spelling and Grammar [6]
• Proof your slides for:

o spelling mistakes
o the use of repeated words
o grammatical errors you might have make
• If English is not your first language, please have someone else check your
presentation!
87
Conclusion [6]
• Use an effective and strong closing

o Your audience is likely to remember your last words
• Use a conclusion slide to:

o Summarize the main points of your presentation
o Suggest future avenues of research
88
Questions [6]
• End your presentation with a simple question slide to:

o Invite your audience to ask questions
o Provide a visual aid during question period
o Avoid ending a presentation abruptly
89
Presentation Evaluation [6]
90
References
This presentation has been prepared by Dr. Sameer Al-Dahidi. It is a collection of

information adopted/adapted from the following References:
[1] https://eclass.aueb.gr/modules/document/file.php/ME342/Report%20Drafting.pdf
[2] B. Qawasmeh, Research Methodologies Course: Technical Writing: Definitions, Goals,
and Writing Process. M.Sc. Program, University of Jordan, 2019.
[3] B. Qawasmeh, Research Methodologies Course: What is Literature Review?. M.Sc.
Program, University of Jordan, 2019.
[4] B. Qawasmeh, Research Methodologies Course: Strategies for Writing Literature
Reviews. M.Sc. Program, University of Jordan, 2019.
[5] M. S. Ishak, N. Fauzan, Writing Effective Literature Review: Some practical Strategies
for Beginners, November 2015, University Malaysia.
[6] B. Qawasmeh, Research Methodologies Course: Making PowerPoint Slides - Avoiding
the Pitfalls of Bad Slides. M.Sc. Program, University of Jordan, 2019.
91
Acknowledgment
Special thanks to Dr. Bashar Qawasmeh (Mechanical Engineering

Department, University of Jordan (JU)) for sharing his presentations in
Research Methodologies M.Sc. Course.
92
Thank You
Associate Professor, Exchange Coordinator
Mechanical and Maintenance Engineering Department
GJU
sameer.aldahidi@gju.edu.jo

IE761 - Part IV

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

IE761 - Part IV

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

IE761: Research Methods

Part IV: Writing/Presenting Technical Papers

Dr. Sameer Al-Dahidi

Dr. Sameer Al-Dahidi

Part I Part III Part IV

• How to write a Technical Paper? (Technical Writing, Paper Contents, etc.)

• How to Present your Technical Paper?

• In this series (http://www.elsevier.com/connect/writing-a-science-paper-some-

• Four steps to preparing your first draft:

• Conclusions and Recommendations

• Title • The progression of the thematic scope of a

• Conclusions and Recommendations o Figures and Tables

o “...25- 30 pages is the typical length for a submitted manuscript, including

o Letters or short communications have a stricter size limitation – e.g. 3,000

• Attract reader’s attention

• General principles for who is listed first:

✓ Any other authors:

➢ Makes intellectual contributions to the data analysis and contributes to data

• Are the labels of the manuscript

• Summarize the problem, methods, results, and conclusions in a “single”

• Make it interesting and understandable (Easy to understand without reading

• It is freely available through A&I – Advertisement of your article.

o What is the problem?

o Never use more words than necessary.

o Describe how the problem was studied;

Methods – ethics committee approval

o Experiments on humans or animals must follow applicable ethics standards;

• Results – what have you found?

o Tell a clear and easy-to-understand story.

• Un-crowded plots: 3 or 4 data sets per figure; well-selected scales; appropriate

• Photos: scale marker is very important

• Must be succinct, brief and clearly expressed

• Must be succinct, brief and clearly expressed

• Must be succinct, brief and clearly expressed

• Must be succinct, brief and clearly expressed

• Most important section;

• Make the discussion correspond to the results and complement them;

• Compare published results with your own.

• Be careful not to use the following:

- Statements that go beyond what the results can support

• Provide justification for the work;

• Explain how your work advances the present state of knowledge;

• Suggest future experiments.

• Financial supporters and funders

• Proof readers and typists

• Suppliers who may have donated materials

• Author’s name and initials

• Do not use too many references

• Avoid excessive self citations

• Avoid excessive citations of publications from the same region or institute

• Conform strictly to the style given in the Guide for Authors

• A citation style is a set of rules on how to cite your sources in academic

• MLA is commonly used in the humanities

• Differences between citation styles

o Types of in-text citation

• Differences between citation styles

o Reference list entries

• Examples of APA citation style

• IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) is a citation style often

• Examples of IEEE citation style:

You could include details of interview questions, statistical data, a glossary of

• View it as a job application letter; you want to “sell” your work...

• WHY did you submit the manuscript to THIS journal?

• Do not summarize your manuscript, or repeat the abstract