Structure & Writing Style

Research Methodology
MEM 501
Dr I Majid
 Structure
• Abstract
• Introduction
• Body
• Conclusion
• Appendices
• References
 Hilaire Belloc’s – Lecture/Report Writing
Methodology
• First of all tell your audience what you are
going to tell them (Introduction)
• Tell it then (Body)
• And then tell then what you have told them
(Conclusion)
 Abstract
Purpose
• This paper aims to provide a technical insight into a selection of recent developments and
applications involving terahertz sensing technology.
Design/methodology/approach
• Following an introduction, the first part of this paper considers a selection of research
activities involving terahertz radiation sources and detectors. The second part seeks to
illustrate how the technology is exerting a commercial impact and discusses a number of
product developments and applications.
Findings
• Terahertz sensing is a rapidly developing field and a strong body of research seeks to
develop sources and detectors with enhanced features which often exploit novel materials,
phenomena and technologies. Commercialisation is gathering pace, and a growing number
of companies are producing terahertz sensing and imaging products which are finding a
diversity of applications.
Originality/value
• This provides details of recent research, product developments and applications involving
terahertz sensing technology.
 Introduction
• State in the first sentence or paragraph the
background relevant to the topic
• Next provide necessary background information –
such as sequence of past events leading to the
present problem
• AVOID SKETCHING HISTORICAL BACKGND AT GREAT
LENGTH
• Finally, inform reader what is your contribution and
contribution. Also how to develop the subject under
discussion and provide an outline .
 Body
• Issues outlined in introduction are elaborated
• Main requirements :
– Development should be logical
– Evidence marshaled should be relevant
– Reasoning clear to the readers

Logical Order should be from the general to the

specifics. Justify the inclusion of ideas using
references.
 Conclusion
• Summarize the main sections
• It is included in the main body as marshalling of
evidence may lead to a conclusion which is stated
• It should NOT conclude any new ideas although
the style could be unique and applications and
further work can be discussed
• To make recommendations one needs to be
tenative, Aggressive or Conciliatory
 Appendices
• Experimental results
• Statistical Data
• Tables and Graphs not directly relevant
• Correspondences
• Worked Examples

• Reader under no obligation to read it, but the

pages are to be numbered and Appendix A, B, C
to be followed
 Research Questions
• When few studies exist on topic we describe
and specify what we want to know about it –
Qualitative.
– Electric car Culture using ethnography
• When description of topic provide the basis
for asking more limited questions (with prior
information in hand), you can ask factual
questions and use thesis to answer them.-
Quantitative
 Research Questions
• In some situations the topic is so researched
before hand that research questions are
formulated as one or more hypotheses. And
purpose is to add new knowledge
 Style
Case 1
• Components are soaked here after washing in cold water to
facilitate drying when removed.
• After being washed in cold water, components are soaked here.
This facilitates drying them when they are removed.
Case 2
• The delay seems to be caused by the reluctance of the Machine
shop to collect the castings as the necessary paper work has
been completed.
• As the necessary paper work has been completed, the delay
seems to be caused by the reluctance of the Machine Shop to
collect these castings.
 Style ... ctd
Case 3
• In conclusion the Method Engineers
responsibilities continue until the aircraft
leaves the production line, which includes the
incorporation of all modifications
• Finally the Method Engineer is responsible for
the incorporation of all modifications to the
aircraft till it leaves the production line
Style - Analysis
Style – Analysis ctd
Tenses
Tenses ctd
Tenses ctd
Style- Conclusion
Style-Conclusion… ctd
 Outline for Presentation
• Introduction and motivation: Explain what motivated
you to carry out your project.
• Background: Provide information that typical listeners
will need in order to understand what you did.
• Design and procedures: Explain what you built or used
in order to investigate your question.
• Results and analysis: Explain the data or results you
obtained, and whether or not they are significant.
• Conclusion: Provide final comments you would like to
make, including thanks and acknowledgments.
 Checklist
Please use this checklist to help you ensure that your paper meets the standards we expect from submitted papers:
1. Novelty: This is the most important factor that we ask referees to consider when reviewing for Electronics
Letters. We are interested in work that is novel, original and where rapid publication would be of benefit to the
engineering community. Papers should provide significant results and the reporting of incremental work is
discouraged. Authors should not submit work merely because they need the paper to be published quickly (e.g.
in order to graduate or before applying for a new job or promotion).
2. Scientific merit: is the work scientifically rigorous, accurate and correct?
3. Originality and justification: is the work relevant? Does the work contain significant additional material to that
already published and has its value been demonstrated?
4. Referencing: has reference been made to the most recent and most appropriate work? Is the present work set in
the context of the previous work?
5. Appropriateness: is the material appropriate to the scope of the journal?
6. Clarity: is the English clear and well-written? Poorly written English may obscure the scientific merit of your
paper and can lead to rejection. Are the ideas expressed clearly and concisely? Are the concepts
understandable? Is the discussion written in a way that is easy to read and understand?
7. Title: is it adequate and appropriate for the content of the article?
8. Abstract: does it contain the essential information of the article? Is it complete? Is it suitable for inclusion by
itself in an abstracting service?
9. Diagrams, figures, tables and captions: are they clear and essential? Are all figures and tables labelled and
referred to in the text?
10. Graphs and tables: are these clear and necessary? Are the numbers in the tables readily understandable?
Explanations should be in the caption, or in the immediately surrounding text.
11. Mathematics: is the mathematics necessary? Does it use commonly understood symbols? Are equations
numbered if referred to in the text?
12. Conclusion: does the paper contain a carefully written conclusion, summarising what has been learned and why
it is interesting and useful?
 Copyright and Open Access License
(example IET Letters)
Right to publish
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assume that all co-authors have agreed to the submission of any paper received.
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