How to Write a Scientific Paper

Title  In preparing a title for a paper, the author would do well to remember one salient fact: That title will be read by thousands of people. Perhaps few people, if any, will read the entire paper, but many people will read the title, either in the original journal or in one of the secondary (abstracting and indexing) services. Therefore, all words in the title should be chosen with great care, and their association with one another must be carefully managed.

题目  作者在准备论文题目时，应该记住一个明显的事实：论文的题目将被成千上万人读到。如果有能够完整地读完整篇论文的人的话，也可能只是少数几个人。大多数读者或者会通过原始期刊，或者会通过二次文献（文摘或索引）阅读到论文的题目。因此，题目中的每一个词都应该仔细地推敲，词与词之间的关系也应该细心处理。

The meaning and order of the words in the title are of importance to the potential reader who sees the title in the journal table of contents. But these considerations are equally important to all potential users of the literature, including those (probably a majority) who become aware of the paper via secondary sources. Thus, the title should be useful as a label accompanying the paper itself, and it also should be in a form suitable for the machine-indexing systems used by The Engineering Index, Science Citation Index, and others. Most of the indexing and abstracting services are geared to "key word" systems. Therefore, it is fundamentally important that the author provide the right "keys" to the paper when labeling it. That is, the terms in the title should be limited to those words that highlight the significant content of the paper in terms that are both understandable and retrievable.

对于可能阅读期刊目录中论文题目的读者来说，题目中每个词的含义和词序是很重要的。这对于所有可能使用文献的人，包括通过二次文献查找论文的人（可能是大多数）也同样重要。因此，题目不仅仅作为论文的标记，它还应该适合于工程索引、科学引文索引等机器索引系统。大多数索引和摘要都采用“关键词”分类法。因此，在确定论文题目时，最重要的是作者应该提供能够正确表达文章内容的“关键词”，也就是说文章的题目用词应该限于既容易理解，又便于检索，还能使文章的重要内容突出的那些词。

Abstract  An Abstract should be viewed as a mini-version of the paper. The Abstract should provide a brief summary of each of the main sections of the paper. A well-prepared abstract enables readers to identify the basic content of a document quickly and accurately, to determine its relevance to their interests, and thus to decide whether they need to read the document in its entirety. The Abstract should not exceed 250 words and should be designed to define clearly what is dealt with in the paper. Many people will read the Abstract, either in the original journal or in The Engineering Index or one of the other secondary publications.

摘要  摘要应该是论文的缩写版本。它应该是论文各主要章节的简要总结。一篇写得好的摘要能使读者迅速而又准确地了解论文的基本内容，以决定他们是否对此论文感兴趣，进而决定他们是否要阅读全文。摘要一般不超过250个单词，并应该清楚地反映论文的内容。许多人会阅读原始期刊或工程索引或者另外一种其他二次出版刊物上刊登的摘要。

The Abstract should (Ⅰ) state the principal objectives and scope of the investigation, (Ⅱ) describe the methodology employed, (Ⅱ) summarize the results, and (Ⅳ) state the principal conclusions.

The Abstract should never give any information or conclusion that is not stated in the paper. References to the literature must not be cited in the Abstract except in rare instances, such as modification of a previously published method.

摘要应该：(1)阐述该项研究工作的主要目的和范围；(2)描述所使用的方法；(3)总结研究成果；(4)阐述主要结论。

摘要决不应该提及论文中没有涉及的内容或结论。在摘要中不要引用与该论文有关的参考文献（在极少的情况下除外，例如对以前发表过的方法的改进）。

Introduction  The first section of the paper should, of course, be the Introduction. The purpose of the Introduction should be to supply sufficient background information to allow the reader to understand and evaluate the results of the present study without needing to refer to previous publications on the topic. Above all, you should state briefly and clearly your purpose in writing the paper. Choose references carefully to provide the most important background information.

引言  当然，论文的第一部分应该是引言。引言的目的是向读者提供足够的背景知识，使读者不需要阅读过去已经发表的有关此课题的论文，就能够了解和评价目前的研究成果。最重要的是，你应该简要地说明写这篇论文的目的。应该慎重地选择参考文献以提供最重要的背景资料。

Experimental Procedure  The main purpose of the Experimental Procedure section is to describe the experimental design and then provide enough detail that a competent worker can repeat the experiments. If your method is new (unpublished) you must provide all of the needed detail. However, if a method has been previously published in a standard journal, only the literature reference should be given.

实验过程  在“实验过程”一节中你应该提供详细的实验细节。“实验过程”一节的主要目的是描述实验过程和提供足够的细节，以使有能力的研究人员可以重复这个实验。如果你的方法是新的（从未发表过的），那你就应该提供所需要的全部实验细节。然而，如果这个实验方法已经在正规的期刊上发表过，那么只要给出参考文献就可以了。

Careful writing of this section is critically important because the cornerstone of the scientific method requires that your results, to be of scientific merit, must be reproducible; and, for the results to be adjudged reproducible, you must provide the basis for repetition of the experiments by others. That experiments are unlikely to be reproduced is beside the point; the potential for producing the same or similar results must exist, or your paper does not represent good science.

认真地撰写这一节是非常重要的，因为科学方法的核心就是要求你的研究成果不仅有科学价值，而且也必须是能够重复的。为了判断研究成果能否重复，就必须为其他人提供进行重复试验的依据。不太可能重复的实验是不可取的，必须具有产生同样或相似结果的可能性，否则你的论文的科学价值就不大。

 When your paper is subjected to peer review, a good reviewer will read the Experimental Procedure carefully. If there is serious doubt that your experiments could be repeated, the reviewer will recommend rejection of your manuscript no matter how awe-inspiring your results are.

当你的论文受到同行们的审核时，一个好的审稿人会认真地阅读“实验过程”这一节。如果他确实怀疑你的实验能够被重复，不管你的研究成果多么令人敬畏，这个审稿人都会建议退回你的稿件。

Results  So now we come to the core of the paper, the data. This part of the paper is called the Results section. There are usually two ingredients of the Results section. First, you should give some kind of overall description of the experiments, providing the "big picture," without, however, repeating the experimental details previously provided in Experimental Procedure. Second, you should present the data.

结果  现在我们进入论文的核心部分－数据。论文的这部分被称为“结果”。“结果”一节通常由两部分组成。首先，你应该对实验作全面的叙述，提出一个“大的轮廓”，但不要重复已经在“实验过程”一节中提到的实验细节。其次，你应该提供数据。

Of course; it isn't quite that easy. How do you present the data? A simple transfer of data from laboratory notebook to manuscript will hardly do. Most important, in the manuscript you should present representative data rather than endlessly repetitive data.

当然，这部分的写作不是一件很容易的事。你会如何提供数据呢？通常不能直接将实验笔记本上的数据抄到稿件上。最重要的是，在稿件中你应该提供有代表性的数据，而不是那些无限重复的数据。

 

The Results need to be clearly and simply stated, because it is the Results that comprise the new knowledge that you are contributing to the world. The earlier parts of the paper ( Introduction, Experimental Procedure) are designed to tell why and how you got the Results; the later part of the paper (Discussion) is designed to tell what they mean. Obviously, therefore, the whole paper must stand or fall on the basis of the Results. Thus, the Results must be presented with crystal clarity.

“结果”一节应该写得清晰和简练，因为“结果”是由你提供给世界的新知识组成。论文的前几部分（“引言”“实验过程”）告诉人们你为什么和如何得到这些结果的；而论文后面的部分（“讨论”）则告诉人们这些结果意味着什么。因此，很明显，整篇论文都是以“结果”为基础的。所以“结果”必须以确切而清晰的形式给出。

Discussion  The Discussion is harder to define than the other sections. Thus, it is usually the hardest section to write. And, whether you know it or not, many papers are rejected by journal editors because of a faulty Discussion, even though the data of the paper might be both valid and interesting. Even more likely, the true meaning of the data may be completely obscured by the interpretation presented in the Discussion, again resulting in rejection.

讨论  与其他章节相比，“讨论”一节所写的内容更难于确定。因此，它是最难写的一节。不管你知道与否，在许多论文中尽管数据正确，而且能够引起人们的兴趣，但是由于讨论部分写得不好也会遭到期刊编辑的拒绝。甚至更为可能的是，在“讨论”中所作的阐述使得数据的真正含义变得模糊不清，而使论文遭到退稿。

What are the essential features of a good Discussion? I believe the main components will be provided if the following injunctions are heeded：

一个好的“讨论”章节的主要特征是什么呢？我认为它应该包括以下几个方面：

1. Try to present the principles, relationships, and generalizations shown by the Results. And bear in mind, in a good Discussion, you discuss-you do not recapitulate the Results.

2. Point out any exceptions or any lack of correlation and define unsettled points. Never take the high-risk alternative of trying to cover up or fudge data that do not quite fit.

3. Show how your results and interpretations agree (or contrast) with previously published work.

4. Don't be shy; discuss the theoretical implications of your work, as well as any possible practical applications.

5. State your conclusions as clearly as possible.

6. Summarize your evidence for each conclusion.

1. 设法给出“结果”一节中的原理、相互关系和归纳性解释。应该记住，一个好的“讨论”应该对“结果”进行讨论和论述，而不是扼要重述。

2. 要指出任何的例外情况或相互关系中有问题的地方，并应该明确提出尚未解决的问题。绝不要有着很大的风险去采取另一方式，即试图对不适合的数据进行掩盖或捏造。

3. 要说明和解释你的结果与以前发表过的研究结果有什么相符（或者不相符）的地方。

4. 要大胆地论述你的研究工作的理论意义以及任何可能的实际应用。

5. 要尽可能清晰地叙述你的结论。

6. 对每一结论要简要叙述其论据。

In showing the relationships among observed facts, you do not need to reach cosmic conclusions. Seldom will you be able to illuminate the whole truth; more often, the best you can do is shine a spotlight on one area of the truth. Your one area of truth can be buttressed by your data; if you extrapolate to a bigger picture than that shown by your data, you may appear foolish to the point that even your data-supported conclusions are cast into doubt.

在描述所观察的事物之间的相互关系时，你并不需要得出一个广泛的绪论。你很少有能力去解释全部真理。通常，你尽最大努力所做的就是像探照灯那样照耀在真理的某一方面。你在这个方面的真理是靠你的数据来支持的，如果你将你的数据外延到更大的范围，那就会显得荒唐，这时甚至连你的数据所支持的结论也可能会受到怀疑。

When you describe the meaning of your little bit of truth, do it simply. The simplest statements evoke the most wisdom; verbose language and fancy technical words are used to convey shallow thought.

当叙述你的这一点点真理的意义时，应该尽可能地简单。最简单的语言可以表达最多的学识；啰唆的语言或者华丽的技术术语常常只表达肤浅的思想。