A manuscript is a written or typewritten document that contains the original text of a book, article, or other piece of literature before it is published. It serves as the author’s initial draft or copy, which may undergo revisions and editing before being finalized for publication. Writing a research manuscript and publishing it in reputed academic journals is an integral part of the research process. However, it is important to note that the rejection rates of esteemed magazines can be as high as 80%-95%, making it a challenging task. Research articles must conform to the proper structure of scientific journals to be considered. This is one of the many crucial submission requirements. For most researchers, writing a manuscript can be a challenging and intimidating endeavour. Especially for novice researchers, the lack of guidance on writing a research article can make the task appear overwhelming.
A “manuscript” is an unpublished piece of writing that incorporates original research or recommendations for new methods or investigations. A manuscript is the term used to refer to an article that is being prepared for publication.
Students in a graduate program, “Writing Educational Research,” frequently inquire about the distinction between a manuscript and an article.
Here is the most straightforward method to understand it:
1. A draft refers to a literary work that is created before it is officially published.
2. A Research article that has been published refers to a written composition.
Undoubtedly, some scholars would eagerly engage in a passionate debate on this topic, as intellectuals thrive on engaging in disputes. I acknowledge that my portrayal may be overly simple. This is not an endeavour to simplify complex ideas; instead, I intend to assist graduate students and novice researchers in gaining a comprehensive understanding of the process of getting their work published.
Manuscript examples
Drafts/Writing-in-progress: These are works that are still in the process of being completed or refined. They are not yet ready for submission or publication.
Work submitted to a publisher under review or not yet published: This refers to manuscripts or articles that have been submitted to a publisher but are still undergoing the peer review process or awaiting publication.
Term papers or elements of your thesis: These are academic works that are part of a student’s academic coursework or thesis. They may eventually be developed into articles or manuscripts for publication in journals.
The term “article”: Typically refers to work published in newsletters, professional publications, edited journals, or peer-reviewed scholarly or scientific journals.
Manuscript: This term is often used to refer to a document that is being prepared for submission or is under review by a publisher. It’s particularly relevant for works that have not yet been published.
Pre-publication article/Article in press: These terms are used to describe articles that have been accepted for publication but have not yet been published.
What is the manuscript of a research paper?
The process of creating a manuscript is indeed crucial for researchers aiming to communicate their ideas and findings effectively to the scientific community and beyond. Here are some key points regarding manuscript preparation:
1. Communication of Ideas Manuscripts serve as a medium through which researchers can share their unique ideas and fresh findings with their peers and the broader audience. They encapsulate the essence of research and contribute to the advancement of knowledge in various fields.
2. Professionalism and Quality: A well-prepared manuscript reflects the researcher’s professional attitude towards their work. It should be meticulously crafted, complete, logically structured, and accurate. Attention to detail is paramount to ensure the credibility and integrity of the research.
3. Compliance with Ethical Rules Scientific: articles must adhere to ethical guidelines to maintain the integrity of the research process. This includes proper citation practices, avoiding plagiarism, and ensuring the accuracy and transparency of the data presented.
4. Language and Structure: Manuscripts should employ a specified language and structure to effectively convey the research results to the scientific community. This includes clear and concise writing, appropriate use of technical terminology, and adherence to disciplinary conventions.
5. Formatting Standards: Manuscripts must adhere to specific formatting standards prescribed by the target journal or publisher. This includes guidelines for title page information, abstract structure, reference style, font size, line spacing, margins, layout, and paragraph style. Adhering to these standards ensures consistency and enhances readability.
6. Time and Effort: Preparing a manuscript can be a time-consuming and challenging process, requiring careful planning, research, writing, and revision. However, the effort invested in crafting a high-quality manuscript is worthwhile, as it enhances the visibility and impact of the research within the scientific community.
In summary, the preparation of a manuscript is a crucial step in the research publication process. By adhering to professional standards, ethical guidelines, and formatting requirements, researchers can effectively communicate their findings and contribute to the advancement of knowledge in their respective fields.
How to structure a manuscript?
The first step in knowing how to write a manuscript for a research paper is understanding how the structure works.
Title or heading
A poorly chosen title may deter a potential reader from reading deeper into your manuscript. When an audience comes across your manuscript, the first thing they notice is the title, keep in mind that the title you choose might impact the success of your work.
Abstract
Abstracts are summaries of your paper. The fundamental concept of your research and the issues you intend to answer should be contained within the framework of the abstract. The abstract is a concise summary of the research that should be considered a condensed version of the entire article.
An abstract summarizes your work in one concise paragraph (usually less than 250 words). It should state the object of the study, describe the methods employed, and summarize results and primary conclusions. It is usually easiest to write the abstract after completing the other sections of the paper.
Specific suggestions:
2 sentences — describe the general problem being addressed and then introduce the objectives or hypotheses that your particular study considers.
1-2 sentences — describe the technique(s) used (avoid experimental details).
1-3 sentences — report the most significant results from the experiment.
Last sentence — concluding statement.
References are not cited in an abstract.
Attract the Reader’s Attention with Effective Graphical Abstracts
Introduction
The research objective is revealed in the introduction section. The study’s background material is included to elucidate the rationale behind its execution and the progression of the investigation.
The introduction should provide an overview of the current understanding of your research issue and clearly define the precise area of focus for your study. Information generally follows a specific flow:
Begin by providing a comprehensive overview of the subject matter you are researching. Ensure to incorporate pertinent citations from primary literature and other suitable technical references.
Gradually limit the range of ideas being investigated to guide the reader towards the exact issue that you are investigating. By analyzing primary literature, provide evidence to support the need for further investigation on this subject.
Concisely articulate 1-3 distinct aims or hypotheses that your study addresses in the concluding sentences of the final paragraph. An unambiguous articulation of objectives/hypotheses is crucial. Essentially, all the content in your manuscript should directly relate to these specific objectives and assumptions.
Methods and materials
The technical parts of the research have to be thoroughly detailed in this section. Transparency is required in this part of the research. Colleagues will learn about the methodology and materials you used to analyze your research, recreate it, and expand concepts further.
In writing the Materials and Methods section, you need to describe what you did in such a way that other scientists can follow and duplicate your experiment. One of the most difficult things in writing a Materials and Methods section is deciding how much detail to give the reader. Too much detail can make this section excessively long. You should try to be concise, but complete.
- Write in the third person and past tense.
- Describe what you did.
- Do not tell the reader how to experiment as if you were writing a cookbook or lab manual.
- For field studies, include the locations and times that data were collected.
- Avoid the use of slang or jargon
Results
This is the most important portion of the paper. You should provide your findings and data once the results have been thoroughly discussed. Use an unbiased point of view here; but leave the evaluation for your final piece, the conclusion.
- This section describes the results of your work and includes a summary of the data found in your tables and figures.
- Write with accuracy, brevity and clarity.
- Use a good topic sentence for each of your paragraphs.
- Avoid discussing the results. Save such comments for the Discussion section.
- Summarize statistical analyses.
- About results summarized in tables and figures:
- Construct tables and figures before writing the Results section.
- Include a summary of each table/figure in the Results section.
- Number tables and figures in the same sequence as they are first mentioned in the text.
- Figures and tables should be appropriately cited in the text of the manuscript.
Discussion
This section is often the most challenging section to write. In this section, you should interpret your data and conclude your hypothesis. Avoid repeating the results section –evaluate your data and their implications in a broader context (i.e. why should anyone care about this?).
Key points:
- Key findings should be emphasized first.
- Compare your results and interpretation to other studies in the primary literature:
- Does your data agree with current models or refute them?
- How has your work added to our knowledge of this phenomenon organism or system?
- Provide explanations of any unexpected results and describe any problems encountered during the experiment.
- If you had problems during the experiment or if you are not satisfied with your results, tell how the methods could be altered to provide more definitive results.
- Describe future experiments or the broad meaning of your results.
Conclusion
Finally, explain why your findings are meaningful. This section allows you to evaluate your results and reflect on your process. Remember that conclusions are expressed in a succinct way using words rather than figures. The content presented in this section should solely be based on the research conducted.
References
The reference list contains information that readers may use to find the sources you mentioned in your research. Your reference page is at the end of your piece. Keep in mind that each publication has different submission criteria. For effective reference authentication, journal requirements should be followed.
Guidelines for composing a manuscript
While formatting is crucial, it is equally necessary to devise a strategy that will distinguish your work from the multitude of scholars competing for publication. Below is a set of instructions to follow to create writing of exceptional quality:
1. Please examine the manual.
Researchers have access to a yearly print and online version of the “Guide for Authors” for numerous journals. Acquire all the necessary knowledge about the journal’s range and areas of interest, the many types of submissions they accept, and the correct formatting requirements for your submission in our extensive Guide for Authors.
2. It is crucial that you give your complete focus to the part about methods and materials.
The most vital aspect of the study is its section on procedures and materials. The report should provide a precise account of the findings from your investigation. The typical length for this section is less than 1,000 words. To facilitate the replication of the study by a colleague, it is imperative to provide a thorough description of the processes and materials used.
3. Take note of and explain your findings.
The results portion of your manuscript holds equal significance. After discussing the approach and materials used, it is now appropriate to review the findings. Pay attention to the way you organize your findings so that they may be comprehended even without any further information.
4. Focus and scope of the research
It is crucial to carefully focus on the specifics, as this is where the content and design of your manuscript’s main text and cover will be developed.
5. Validate the criteria for promptly rejecting submissions.
Once you have completed the crucial components of your investigation, it is advisable to reevaluate it by employing the Rapid Rejection Criteria. The occurrence of “Rapid Rejection Criteria” errors leads to immediate rejection.
The following are the criteria:
· The solution to the question was not sufficiently captivating.
· This question has already been sufficiently resolved.
· Incorrect presumption
· The methodology is insufficient to address the research question.
· The level of academic prowess is inadequate.
· Contradictory document
· The conclusion lacks sufficient evidence to support it.
6. Manuscript Revising
Upon completing the manuscript, proceed to modify it. Acquire the skill of becoming your own most severe evaluator. Reading the paper aloud may be beneficial as it allows for the detection of any erroneous assertions or abrupt breaks in the logical flow.
Revise, scrutinize, and revise further.
Acquire knowledge about the fundamental principles of publishing.
You need to familiarize yourself with publication ethics. Any form of intellectual property infringement should be strictly condemned. When writing your manuscript, remember the following common statements:
Disclosing any potential conflicts of interest in a straightforward manner
Indicating the presence or absence of human or animal subjects,
It is highly recommended to obtain signed “Informed consent letters” from both participants and authorities to uphold publication ethics effectively.
Acquire the necessary licenses and permissions.
It is important to remember that a text requires legal protection at all times. To safeguard your written work, it is advisable to take preventive measures to protect it as intellectual property, thereby reducing the risk of potential future legal claims. Hence, you must refrain from duplicating someone else’s work without obtaining their explicit permission. Acquiring a license is crucial to transform your thoughts into actuality. To obtain legal protection for your text, you must pay the specified fee. However, it is important to exercise caution and avoid plagiarizing the work or ideas of others.
The manuscript must be copyrighted.
Publishers generally possess the rights to your manuscript under their brand. Currently, the publisher is effectively appropriating your stuff without your awareness or permission. Ensuring copyright protection for your book should be of utmost importance if you choose not to give permission. To achieve this objective, it is imperative to complete the process of applying, remitting payment, and acquiring copyright from the government.
Avoid engaging in plagiarism.
Engaging in any form of plagiarism, such as copying and pasting, is always seen as unacceptable in written communication. Ensure that every word and sentence you utilize in writing the manuscript is essential to your original concept. Always obtain explicit consent before using another individual’s verbiage or information. This constitutes a severe violation of intellectual property and legal rights, and it entails significant consequences. Refrain from engaging in any form of plagiarism.
Born with a relentless thirst for knowledge, I ventured into academia, mastering the art of PHD thesis and dissertation writing. Fuelled by curiosity, I embraced digital marketing, deciphering its nuances to become an expert in SEO, content strategies, and social media management. Alongside, I delved into the intricacies of nursing assignments, leveraging my multidisciplinary insights to assist students. Each endeavor shaped my journey, blending scholarly pursuits with practical applications.