This document provides guidance on how to write a scientific paper for publication in an international journal. It discusses selecting an appropriate journal, structuring the paper using the IMRAD format, and key elements of each section including the title, abstract, introduction, methods, results, discussion, and conclusions. Helpful tips are provided for writing each section clearly and effectively to share new scientific findings with the international community. The presenter is an expert in scientific publishing with experience reviewing papers for several international journals.

1. HOW TO WRITE SCIENTIFIC PAPER IN
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL
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Workshop Penulisan Artikel Ilmiah di Jurnal Internasional
IAIN Walisongo, Semarang, 12-13 Juni 2013
Disampaikan oleh:
I. Istadi
Department of Chemical Engineering, Diponegoro University

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Tentang Presenter (Istadi)
• Nama : Dr. Istadi, ST., MT.
• Jabatan : - Staf Ahli Pembantu Rektor IV Undip;
- Kabid Pengembangan Website UPT Puskom Undip
• Alamat : Jurusan Teknik Kimia, Fakultas Teknik, Universitas Diponegoro
• Email : istadi@undip.ac.id
• Website : http://tekim.undip.ac.id/staf/istadi
• Pengalaman Editorial:
– Editor-in-Chief Bulletin of Chemical Reaction Engineering and Catalysis
(SCOPUS, h-index=2) (http://ejournal.undip.ac.id/index.php/bcrec)
– International Journal Reviewer di: Elsevier (27), Wiley (3), Springer (7),
Taylor & Francis (2), American Chemical Society (2)
• SCOPUS ID : 6506850769
• SCOPUS h-index : 8
• Total Publication in Scopus : 17 articles
• Total Citations in scopus : 173 citations
• Total Citation in Google Scholar : 240 citations
Outline of Presentation
• Scientific Publications of Indonesia in
Internationa Journal
• Why do we have to Publish ?
• Practical Tips Before Scientific writting?
• What Makes a Good Manuscript?
• How to Write Manuscript (IMRAD)

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PERBANDINGAN JUMLAH PUBLIKASI TERINDEKS DI SCOPUS
Sumber: SCIMAGO Journal Ranking (http://www.scimagojr.com)
Profil 142 Universitas di Indonesia di SCOPUS

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Parameter QS WORLD, QS ASIAN, &
QS STARS University Ranking
Jumlah Paper di
SCOPUS
Efek Publikasi
Internasional
(Iklan)
SCOPUS Indexed Indonesian journals per Juni 2013
• Indonesia : 13+2
–ITB : 4; UGM: 3 ; Undip: 1 ; UI: 1 ; UAD : 1 (Compendex) ; Assosiasi : 5

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WHY PUBLISH IN AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL ?
• Scientists publish to share with the Scientific
Community something that advances, not repeats,
knowledge and understanding in a certain fields
• To present new, original results or methods
• To rationalize published results
• To present a review of the field or to summarize a
particular topic
WHAT NOT TO PUBLISH
• Reports of no scientific interest
• Out of date work
• Duplications of previously published work
• Incorrect/unacceptable conclusions
•  You need a GOOD manuscript to present
your contributions to the scientific community

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WHAT MAKES A GOOD MANUSCRIPT?
• Contains a clear, useful, and exciting scientific
message
• Flows in a logical manner that the reader can
follow
• Is formatted to best showcase the material ?
• Is written in a style that transmits the
message clearly ?
WHAT TYPES OF MANUSCRIPT?
• Original Research Articles: the most important papers. Often
substantial and significant completed pieces of research.
• Letters / Rapid Communications / Short Communications: quick
and early communication of significant and original advances.
Much shorter than full articles (check limitations).
• Review Papers / Perspectives: summarize recent developments
on a specific topic. Highlight important previously reported
points. Not the place to introduce new information. Often
invited.
 Self‐evaluate your work. Is it sufficient for a full article? Or are
your results so thrilling that they should be shown as soon as
possible?
 Ask your supervisor and your colleagues for advice on
manuscript type. Sometimes outsiders can see things more
clearly than you.

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Questions to Answer Before You Write
Think about WHY you want to publish your work.
• Is it new and interesting?
• Is it a current hot topic?
• Have you provided solutions to some difficult
problems?
• Are you ready to publish at this point?
If all answers are “yes”, then start preparations
for your manuscript
PUBLICATION PROCESS AT A GLANCE

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General Structure of a Full Article
• Title
• Authors and Affiliation
• Abstract
• Keywords
• Main text (IMRAD)
– Introduction: what question was asked in the research?
– Methods (and Materials): how was it studied?
– Results: what was discovered?
– Discussion : what do the findings mean?
– Conclusions
• Acknowledgements
• References
• Supplementary material
Sequence of Writting Manuscript
Write the manuscript in the following group order:
• Figures and tables
• Methods, Results and Discussion
• Conclusions and Introduction
• Abstract and Title
• Each section has a definite purpose.

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Write a TITLE
• This is your opportunity to attract the reader’s
attention.
– Remember: readers are the potential authors who will cite
your article
• Identify the main issue of the paper
• Begin with the subject of the paper
• Should be accurate, unambiguous, specific, and
complete
• Do not contain infrequently-used abbreviations
• Discuss with your co‐authors
Write ABSTRACT
• Should stand alone
• Consider it the advertisement of your article : Should
tell the prospective reader what you did and highlight the key
findings.
• Avoid using technical jargon and uncommon
abbreviations.
• You must be accurate, brief, clear and specific: Use
words which reflect the precise meaning
• Should be precise and honest
• Cites no references
• Follow word limitations (50‐300 words)

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Write KEYWORDS
• These are the labels of your manuscript and critical
to correct indexing and searching.
– Shouldn’t be too broad or too narrow (think Google …)
• Use only those abbreviations that are firmly
established in the field. e.g. DNA
• Check the Guide for Authors
– Number, label, definition, thesaurus, range, and other
special requests
• Check the guideline of keywords separator, i.e.
Semicolon (;) or comma (,): usually semicolon 
related with search engine
Write INTRODUCTION
• Introduce the main scientific
publications on which your work is
based
• Provide sufficient background
information to help readers evaluate
your work  General background
(review articles Cited)
• Editors hate references irrelevant to
the work, or in appropriate
judgments on your own
achievements
• Convince readers that your work is
necessary.: Use words or phrases
like “however”, “remain unclear”,
etc., to address your opinions and
work
• Your chance to convince
readers of the importance of
your work.
• Describe the problem:
– Are there any existing
solutions?
– Which is the best?
– What are their main
limitations?
– And what do you hope to
achieve?
• Provide a perspective
consistent with the nature of
the journal.

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Write METHODS (& MATERIALS) Section
• Details, details, details ‐ a knowledgeable reader
should be able to reproduce the experiment.
• However, use references and Supplementary
Materials for previously published procedures.
– Do not repeat the details of established methods.
– A general summary with reference is sufficient.
• Reviewers will criticize incomplete or incorrect
descriptions.
– and may even recommend rejection
Methods: How did you study the problem?
The basic principle: to provide sufficient information so that a
knowledgeable reader can reproduce the experiment, or the
derivation.
• Empirical papers:
– material studied, area descriptions
– methods, techniques, theories applied
• Case study papers:
– application of existing methods, theory or tools
– special settings in this piece of work
• Methodology papers:
– materials and detailed procedure of a novel experimentation
– scheme, flow, and performance analysis of a new algorithm
• Theory papers:
– principles, concepts, and models
– major framework and derivation

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Methods: The Words and More
• Should be written in past tense
• In some journals, may include subheads
(which can help readers)
• May include tables and figures—for example:
– Flowcharts
– Diagrams of apparatus
– Tables of experimental conditions
The Results Section
• The core of the paper
• Often includes tables, figures, or both
• Should summarize findings rather than
providing data in great detail
• Should present results but not comment on
them
• (Note: Some journals combine the Results and
the Discussion.)

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The following should be included in RESULTS
• Main findings listed in association with the methods
• Highlighted differences between your results and
the previous publications (especially in case study
papers)
• Results of statistical analysis
• Results of performance analysis (especially in the
methodology, or algorithm papers)
• A set of principal equations or theorems supporting
the assumptions after a long chain of inferences
(especially in the theory papers)
Write RESULTS
• Only representative results, essential for the
Discussion, should be presented.
• Show data of secondary importance in
Supplementary Materials.
• Do not “hide” data in the hope of saving it for a later
paper: You may lose evidence to support your conclusion.
• Use sub‐headings to keep results of the same type
together: Easier to review and read.
• Tell a clear and easy‐to‐understand story

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Appearance Counts in Results
• 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.
• Each photograph must have a scale marker of professional
quality on one corner.
• Use color ONLY when necessary. If different line styles can
clarify the meaning, never use colors or other thrilling effects.
• Color needs to be visible and distinguishable when printed
out in black & white.
• Do NOT ‘selectively adjust’ any image to enhance
visualization of results.
• The captions of figures and tables should contain sufficient
information to make the figures self explanatory.
• Do not include long boring tables
Verb Tense for the Results Section:
Past Tense
Examples:
– A total of 417 of the customers replied.
– _____ increased, but _____ decreased.
– The average temperature was _____.
– Three of the dogs died.
– This difference was not statistically significant.

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Mentioning Tables and Figures:
Some Writing Advice
• In citing tables and figures, emphasize the
finding, not the table or figure.
– Not so good: Table 3 shows that researchers who
attended the workshop published twice as many
papers per year.
– Better: Researchers who attended the workshop
published twice as many papers per year (Table 3).
SHOULD BE

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Figures: A Few Suggestions
• Use figures (graphs, diagrams, maps,
photographs, etc) only if they will help convey
your information.
• Avoid including too much information in one
figure.
• Make sure any lettering will be large enough
once published.
• Follow the journal’s instructions.

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DISCUSSION – What the results mean
• It is the most important section of your article. Here you get the
chance to SELL your data
• Make the Discussion corresponding to the Results.: But do not
reiterate the results  What?
• Often should begin with a brief summary of the main findings
• Check for the following:
– How do your results relate to the original question or objectives outlined
in the Introduction section?
– Do you provide interpretation scientifically for each of your results
presented? Why?
– Are your results consistent with what other investigators have reported?
Or are there any differences? What else?
– Can you reach your conclusion smoothly after your discussion?
– Are there any limitations? Any suggestion to next works?
• You need to compare the published results with yours: Do NOT
ignore work in disagreement with yours –confront it and
convince the reader that you are correct or better

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In Summary: Results and Discussion
• In Results and Discussion section should
include:
– What ?  describe the result findings
– Why ?  please justify why the findings trend
scientifically (connected with theory and philosophy)
– What else?  compare your findings with other
researchers (about the trend and scientific reasons) and
Possible reasons for similarities and differences
– Any limitations?  limitation of your findings, next
research
Discussion: Scientific Language ‐Tenses
• Present tense for known facts and hypotheses:
– “The average life of a honey bee is 6 weeks”
• Past tense for experiments you have conducted:
– “All the honey bees were maintained in an environment
with a consistent temperature of 23 degrees centigrade…”
• Past tense when you describe the results of an
experiment:
– “The average life span of bees in our contained
environment was 8 weeks…”

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Write CONCLUSIONS
• Should answer the objectives of research
• Tells how your work advances the field from the
present state of knowledge
• Without clear Conclusions, reviewers and readers
will find it difficult to judge the work, and whether or
not it merits publication in the journal.
• Do NOT repeat the Abstract, or just list
experimental results: Trivial statements of your results
are unacceptable in this section.
• Provide a clear scientific justification for your work,
and indicate possible applications and extensions:
You should also suggest future experiments and/or point out
those that are underway.
Example of Good Conclusions

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Acknowledgements
• Recognize those who helped in the research
(you want them to help again, don’t you?)
• Include individuals who have assisted you in
your study:
– Advisors
– Financial supporters
– Proofreaders
– Typists
– Suppliers who may have given materials
References
• Cite the main scientific publications on which your
work is based. Cite only items that you have read
• Do not inflate the manuscript with too many
references – it doesn’t make it a better manuscript
• Avoid excessive self‐citations
• Avoid excessive citations of publications from the
same region
• Check each reference against the original source
(authors name, volume, issue, year, DOI Number)
• Carefully follow the journal’s instructions to authors.
• Use other articles in the same journal as models

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Placement of Citations
• Ambiguous:
– This disease has been reported in humans, dogs, rabbits,
and squirrels (Tuda and Gastel, 1997; Xie and Lozano,
2008; Flores, 2002).
– This disease has been reported in humans, dogs, rabbits,
and squirrels.1,4,7
• Clear:
– This disease has been reported in humans (Tuda and
Gastel, 1997), dogs (Xie and Lozano, 2008), and rabbits and
squirrels (Flores, 2002).
– This disease has been reported in humans,1 dogs,4 rabbits,7
and squirrels.7
Typing Citation & References
• Use tools available in Microsoft Word
(References  Insert Citation  Choose Style
of References: APA, MLA, Harvard, etc. 
Insert Bibliography)
• Use Mendeley Plugin (References  Insert
Mendeley Citation  Choose Style of
References  Insert Bibliography)

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Any Questions ?
• istadi@undip.ac.id