Scientific Writing, HRP 214 Weekly Quiz. Scientific Writing, HRP 214 A. My counselor recommended a...

Scientific Writing, HRP 214Weekly Quiz

Scientific Writing, HRP 214

A. My counselor recommended a vacation.

B. My councilor recommended a vacation.


A. My A. My counselorcounselor recommended a vacation. recommended a vacation.

B. My councilor recommended a vacation.


A. He owed over $1000 to the doctor.

B. He owed more than $1000 to the doctor.


A. He owed over $1000 to the doctor.

B. He owed B. He owed more thanmore than $1000 to the doctor. $1000 to the doctor.


A. The city counselor was re-elected.

B. The city councilor was re-elected.


A. The city counselor was re-elected.

B. The city B. The city councilorcouncilor was re-elected. was re-elected.


A. The negotiators effected an agreement.

B. The negotiators affected an agreement.


A. The negotiators A. The negotiators effectedeffected an agreement. an agreement.

B. The negotiators affected an agreement.


A. D-day was a historic day.

B. D-day was a historical day.


A. D-day was a A. D-day was a historichistoric day. day.

B. D-day was a B. D-day was a historicalhistorical day. day.

Actually both!


A. Your procrastination had an averse effect on your grade.

B. Your procrastination had an adverse effect on your grade.


A. Your procrastination had an averse effect on your grade.

B. Your procrastination had an B. Your procrastination had an adverseadverse effect on your grade.effect on your grade.


A. The bacteria were treated gently.

B. The bacteria was treated gently.


A. The bacteria A. The bacteria werewere treated gently. treated gently.

B. The bacteria was treated gently.


A. We will give you a loan irregardless of your income.

B. We will give you a loan regardless of your income.


A. Fewer men are in the class than women.

B. Less men are in the class than women.


A. A. FewerFewer men are in the class than women. men are in the class than women.

B. Less men are in the class than women.


A. I’m averse to banana flavor.

B. I’m adverse to banana flavor.


A. I’m A. I’m averseaverse to banana flavor. to banana flavor.

B. I’m adverse to banana flavor.


A. That man and I were talking.

B. That man and me were talking.


A. That A. That man and Iman and I were talking. were talking.

B. That man and me were talking.


A. Their data was intriguing.

B. Their data were intriguing.


A. Their data was intriguing.

B. Their data B. Their data werewere intriguing. intriguing.


A. She told Bob and me that the end was near.

B. She told Bob and I that the end was near.


A. She told A. She told Bob and meBob and me that the end was near. that the end was near.

B. She told Bob and I that the end was near.


A. I always thought it was further to the moon.

B. I always thought it was farther to the moon.


A. I always thought it was further to the moon.

B. I always thought it was B. I always thought it was fartherfarther to the moon. to the moon.


A. That 17th-century pot is a historical piece.

B. That 17th-century pot is a historic piece.


A. That 17A. That 17thth-century pot is a -century pot is a historicalhistorical piece. piece.

B. That 17th-century pot is a historic piece.


A. Between you and I, we should have it done in no time.

B. Between you and me, we should have it done in no time.


A. Between you and I, we should have it done in no time.

B. Between B. Between you and meyou and me, we should have it , we should have it done in no time.done in no time.


A. He died of unknown causes.

B. He died from unknown causes.


A. He A. He died ofdied of unknown causes. unknown causes.

B. He died from unknown causes.


A. Binge drinking causes adverse health effects.

B. Binge drinking causes averse health effects.


A. Binge drinking causes A. Binge drinking causes adverseadverse health health effects.effects.

B. Binge drinking causes averse health effects.


A. To whom did you betray my secret?

B. To who did you betray my secret?


A. A. To whomTo whom did you betray my secret? did you betray my secret?

B. To who did you betray my secret?


A. The person about who you speak is a fool.

B. The person about whom you speak is a fool.


A. The person about who you speak is a fool.

B. The person B. The person about whomabout whom you speak is a you speak is a fool.fool.


A. It’s my reputation on the line.

B. Its my reputation on the line.


A. A. It’sIt’s my reputation on the line. my reputation on the line.

B. Its my reputation on the line.


A. The 20-pound weight loss helped his self-confidence.

B. The 20 pound weight loss helped his self-confidence.


A. The A. The 20-pound weight loss20-pound weight loss helped his self- helped his self-confidence. confidence.

B. The 20 pound weight loss helped his self-confidence.


A. Its head was on the chopping block.

B. It’s head was on the chopping block.


A. A. ItsIts head was on the chopping block. head was on the chopping block.

B. It’s head was on the chopping block.


A. She is the candidate who we hope to elect.

B. She is the candidate whom we hope to elect.


A. She is the candidate who we hope to elect.

B. She is the candidate B. She is the candidate whomwhom we hope to we hope to elect.elect.


A. The prevalence of autism is 10 out of 1,000 people.

B. The incidence of autism is 10 out of 1,000 people.


A. The A. The prevalenceprevalence of autism is 10 out of 1,000 of autism is 10 out of 1,000 people.people.

B. The incidence of autism is 10 out of 1,000 people.


A. She could have made it further in life.

B. She could have made it farther in life.


A. She could have made it A. She could have made it furtherfurther in life. in life.

B. She could have made it farther in life.


A. That strata includes most of the elderly patients.

B. Those strata include most of the elderly patients.



B. Those strata includeThose strata include most of the elderly most of the elderly patients.patients.



B. That stratum includes most of the elderly patients.



B. That That stratumstratum includes most of the elderly includes most of the elderly patients.patients.


A. Asilomar was a peremptory strike aimed at shielding science from the public and its elected representatives.

B. Asilomar was a preemptive strike aimed at shielding science from the public and its elected representatives.


A. Asilomar was a Asilomar was a peremptoryperemptory strike aimed at shielding strike aimed at shielding science from the public and its elected representatives.science from the public and its elected representatives.

B. Asilomar was a preemptive strike aimed at shielding science from the public and its elected representatives.

"Peremptory" -- Latin "perimere” -- "to take entirely"

--comes from "per-" ("thoroughly") and "emere" ("to take")

--implies removal of one's option to disagree or contest something

--sometimes suggests an abrupt dictatorial manner combined with an unwillingness to tolerate disobedience or dissent

--as in "he was given a peremptory dismissal"

“Preemptive" -- Latin "praeemere" --"prae-" ("before") plus "emere."

--means "marked by the seizing of the initiative"

--as in "a preemptive attack"


A. The president launched a preemptive attack.

B. The president launched a peremptory attack.


A. The president launched a A. The president launched a preemptivepreemptive attack.attack.

B. The president launched a peremptory attack.


Lecture Eight:

Wrap up of scientific manuscripts; Overview of Grant Proposals

Scientific Writing, HRP 214Scientific Manuscripts

Submission process

1. Identify a journal for submission

2. Follow that journal’s style guidelines (online)

3. Submit your manuscript with a cover letter

• some require written signature from all authors

4. Possible outcomes: accepted, accepted pending revisions, rejected but re-submission possible, no resubmission possible

5. Revision and resubmission: re-submit with cover letter that addresses reviewers critiques point by point

6. Once accepted, author approves final proofs

Scientific Writing, HRP 214Resubmission Cover LetterDateEditorEditor’s AddressSubject: Revised Manuscript, MS#:

Dear Dr. Editor,Enclosed are xx copies of the revised paper (changes are highlighted on one of the copies), “Title.” We appreciate your helpful comments and those of the reviewers.

Correspondence should be sent to: Corresponding Author’s: Address, Email, Phone, Fax

We have made revisions based on the comments/suggestions of Reviewers I and II. The comments of each reviewer are numbered below, with our response (clarifications and changes) following.

Scientific Writing, HRP 214Resubmission Cover Letter, Continued

Reviewer I: 1. There is little discussion of xxx

We agree with Reviewers I and II that the section on xxx was too abbreviated. Therefore, we have added a paragraph that highlights xxx (paragraph 33).

2. Could you comment on xxWe have added a sentence to paragraph 9 in Methods/Materials that comments on xx...

Thank you again for your helpful comments. Please let us know if any other revisions are required.

Regards,

Corresponding Author

Scientific Writing, HRP 214Authorship

1. Who gets authorship?

Any author listed on the paper’s title page should take public responsibility for its content.

2. In what order? Order implies authors’ relative contributions Keep in mind: visibility often goes three deep. In some labs, the head of the lab or research team is automatically included on any

paper coming from the lab, as senior author, second author, or last-listed author For fairness, alphabetical or reverse alphabetical order may be used if researchers

have contributed equally. Large working groups may be cited as a group


Authorship

Conflict of Interest. Most journals ask authors to disclose relevant conflicts of interest, including specific financial interests relevant to the subject of their manuscript, in their cover letter or on a specific form.


Acknowledgements

• Funding sources• Contributors who did not get authorship (e.g. offered

materials, advice or consultation that was not significant enough to merit authorship).


References

• Use a computerized bibliographic program.• Follow journal guidelines (may request alphabetical listing

or order of appearance in the text).• Follow standard abbreviations (can be found online).• Some journals limit number of references allowed.


Besides research papers,

Other types of articles include:• The case report• The review article or meta-analysis• The opinion paper/editorial


Grant Proposals (will primarily review NIH-type proposals here)

Scientific Writing, HRP 214NIH grants overview

NIH funding criteria:

1. Significance: ability of the project to improve health

2. Approach: feasibility of your methods and appropriateness of the budget

3. Innovation: originality of your approach4. Investigator: training and experience of

investigator(s)5. Environment: suitability of facilities and adequacy

of support from your institution

Scientific Writing, HRP 214NIH grants overviewNIH Grant Proposals:

• Title• Abstract• Specific Aims• Background & Significance• Preliminary Studies• Experimental Design and Methods• Appendix

Scientific Writing, HRP 214Grants help online

NIH Grant Proposalshttp://grants1.nih.gov/grants/oer.htm

“All About Grants” tutorials:http://www.niaid.nih.gov/ncn/grants/default.htm

http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/oer.htm

http://www.niaid.nih.gov/ncn/grants/default.htm

http://www.niaid.nih.gov/ncn/grants/default.htm

Scientific Writing, HRP 214NIH grant-writing tips

Writing tips straight from the NIH website:

Scientific Writing, HRP 214Summary of NIH grant-writing tips

A few reviewers will be familiar with your techniques or field, but the majority will not be

Write to teach your audience (like a Scientific American article) Write and organize your application so the primary reviewer can

readily grasp and explain what you are proposing. Most likely the other reviewers will read only your abstract,

significance, and specific aims. Keep these simple and nontechnical (big picture). All reviewers are important because each reviewer gets one vote.

Tips from the NIH on writing a grant:1. Write to Your Audience

Scientific Writing, HRP 214NIH grant-writing tips Caveat: “Be very careful with your highly technical

material. Some of the reviewers may be better informed about your field than you. To succeed, you will have to be at least as savvy as the savviest reviewer in the group. Leave out anything that's not critical. The more you put in, the more information there is for reviewers to find fault or disagree with.”

Scientific Writing, HRP 214 NIH grant-writing tips

Tell the reviewers: why testing your hypothesis is worth funding why you are the person to do it how your institution can give you the support you'll need

The innovation criterion can be tricky: Beware of being far outside the mainstream of thought. If your proposal is highly innovative, you'll need to make a

very strong case for why you are challenging the existing paradigm and have data to support your innovative approach.

2. “Be Persuasive, But Be Careful of Being Too Innovative”


~Make your application user friendly (reviewers get worn out having to read 10 to 15 applications!):

Label all materials clearly Keep it short and simple Start with basic ideas and move progressively to

more complex ones (recall inverted pyramid!) Guide reviewers with graphics (visually appealing) Edit and proofread

3. Make Life Easy for Reviewers


Problem not important enough. Study not likely to produce useful information. Studies based on a shaky hypothesis or data. Alternative hypotheses not considered. Methods unsuited to the objective. Problem more complex than investigator appears to realize. Not significant to health-related research (NIH mission). Too little detail in the research plan to convince reviewers

the investigator knows what he or she is doing (no recognition of potential problems and pitfalls).

4. Familiarize yourself with the primary reasons projects don’t get funded:


Proposal driven by technology (i.e., a method in search of a problem).

Issue is scientifically premature. Over-ambitious research plan with an unrealistically large amount

of work. Direction or sense of priority not clearly defined (i.e., the

experiments do not follow from one another), lack a clear starting or finishing point.

Lack of original or new ideas. Investigator too inexperienced with the proposed techniques. Proposed project a fishing expedition lacking solid scientific

basis (i.e., no basic scientific question being addressed).


Rationale for experiments not provided (why important, or how relevant to the hypothesis).

Experiments too dependent on success of an initial proposed experiment. Lack of alternative methods in case the primary approach does not work out.

Proposed model system not appropriate to address the proposed questions. Relevant controls not included. Proposal lacking enough preliminary data or preliminary data do not support

project's feasibility. Insufficient consideration of statistical needs. Not clear which data were obtained by the investigator and which reported

by others.


Write with these pitfalls in mind! Convince the reviewers that your project doesn’t have one of these fatal flaws (cover all your bases).


Start with an outline. Write a topic sentence for each main topic. Make one point in each paragraph.

Paragraphs have two functions: they aggregate information point by point and they break up the page, creating much-needed white space. Keep them short.

Divide the document into sections and subsections. Include bullets and lists. Use short sentences with a basic structure: subject, verb, object.

Keep sentence average to 20 words or less. Keep subject, verb, and object together at the beginning of the sentence.

5. Write, Edit, and Proof Like a Pro (apply what you’ve learned in HRP 214!)

Straight from the NIH website:


More tips from the NIH…

Keep related ideas and information together Use strong, active verbs Use verbs instead of abstract nouns. Turn abstract nouns ending

in 'ion' and 'ment' into verbs. For example, say 'creating the assay leads to...' rather than 'the creation of the assay leads to...'

If writing is not your forte, get help.


6. Edit Before Sending in Your Application Edit out redundant words and phrases (cut, cut, cut!) Get outside opinions on the writing and presentation. Cross-check all data and information for consistency. After you're finished, leave it for a few days, then go back and read it again. Highlight and review your conclusions.

Is there any way your supporting facts might lead a reader to different conclusions? Make sure you've supported all facts with citations. Edit and proofread thoroughly. Have others proofread as well, including nonscientists with strong English skills (work with

a good editor!)

Scientific Writing, HRP 214NIH grants overviewNIH Grant Proposals:• Title• Abstract• Specific Aims• Background & Significance• Preliminary Studies• Experimental Design and Methods• Appendix

Scientific Writing, HRP 214NIH Grant Proposals• Title

Scientific Writing, HRP 214Title

•Keep to word or character limit (NIH has 56-character limit, including the spaces between words and punctuation).

•Identify topics, purpose, and novel aspects or methodology

•Choose a title that is specifically descriptive, rather than general.

•Be accurate, complete, specific, and concise.

•Avoid jargon, unnecessary details, and abbreviations.

•A new application must have a different title from any other PHS project with the same principal investigator/program director.

Scientific Writing, HRP 214NIH Grant Proposals

• Abstract

Scientific Writing, HRP 214Abstract

Abstract• 200 word limit for NIH• Keep it simple and broad. The abstract is read by all of the reviewers and is of

critical importance.Includes:1. Broad research question2. Hypothesis to be tested (*remember NIH primarily funds hypothesis-driven research)3. Overview of specific aims4. Statement of the significance of the research and how it is innovative5. Outline of the methods

Excludes confidential or proprietary information


• Specific Aims

Scientific Writing, HRP 214Specific AimsSpecific Aims• One page is recommended.• Limit to 3 or 4 specific aims.• The specific aims are read by all of the reviewers and are of critical

importance. Write in clear, focused, non-technical terms.

The Specific Aims are a list of:The broad, long-term objectives and what the specific research proposed in this application is intended to accomplish, e.g..:

to test a stated hypothesis, to create a novel design,

to solve a specific problem, ORto develop new technology

Specific Aims formats, prepared by:

Lorene Nelson, PhD

Associate Professor

Chief, Division of Epidemiology

Department of Health Research and Policy

Stanford University School of Medicine

Alternative 1

State overall objective

. . . We propose to address this objective by testing the following hypotheses: 1. <hypothesis 1>2. <hypothesis 2>3. <hypothesis 3> 4. <hypothesis 4> (maximum of 3-4 hypotheses)

. . . To test these hypotheses, we will address the following specific aims: 1. <specific aim 1>2. <specific aim 2>3. <specific aim 3>4. <specific aim 4> (maximum of 3-4 specific aims)

Alternative 2

The primary study objective is to <describe>, and will address 3 hypotheses of interest:

Hypothesis 1: Describe hypothesis or state as question.Briefly describe method or approach to address hypothesisState expected gains in knowledge by addressing hypothesis



Can include 1-2 secondary hypotheses if absolutely necessary.

Alternative 3

State overall objective

Specific Aim # 1: To <describe primary aim>Put specific aim in context of literature or state significanceState hypothesis (can do in form of a question)Briefly describe method or innovative approach to address SA

Specific Aim # 2: To <describe primary aim>Put specific aim in context of literature or state significanceState hypothesis (can do in form of a question)Briefly describe method or innovative approach to address SA

Specific Aim # 3: (try to limit to 2-3 primary aims)

Can include 1-2 secondary specific aims if absolutely necessary.


• Background & Significance

Scientific Writing, HRP 214Background & Significance

Background and Significance

• One to two pages recommended• This is NOT a literature review• Do not attempt to be exhaustive; limit to 30-50 key citations• Tell it like a story

Critical Elements:1. Briefly sketch the pivotal work leading up to yours2. Critically evaluate existing knowledge3. Specifically identify the gaps that the project is intended to fill4. State concisely the importance and health relevance of the research.

• Note: this does not mean convincing the researchers that the disease to which the research relates is significant.


• Preliminary Studies

Scientific Writing, HRP 214Preliminary StudiesPreliminary Studies

• Preliminary data are an essential part of a research grant application. They establish the ability of you and your research team to carry out the proposed studies.

Critical Elements:1. Provide an account of the principal investigator/program

director's preliminary studies pertinent to the application2. Establish the experience and competence of the investigator 3. Help reviewers assess the likelihood of success of the

proposed project.


• Experimental Design and Methods

Scientific Writing, HRP 214Experimental Design and Methods

Experimental Design and Methods• Describe the research design and the procedures to be used

to accomplish the specific aims of the project.

• Note: 12-page limit for the complete “Research Plan” (background & significance, preliminary studies, and experimental design and methods).

Scientific Writing, HRP 214Experimental Design and Methods

Experimental Design and Methods

Describe:1. How the data will be collected2. How the data will be analyzed and interpreted (statistics) 3. Data sharing plans as appropriate4. Any new methodologies and their advantages 5. Potential difficulties and limitations of the proposed procedures6. Any hazardous procedures, situations, or materials that may be

and the precautions that will be followed to maximize safety

Also, provide a tentative sequence or timetable for the project.


• Appendix

Scientific Writing, HRP 214AppendixAppendix materials may include:1. Up to 10 publications, manuscripts (accepted for

publication), abstracts, patents, or other printed materials directly relevant to this project.

2. Surveys, questionnaires, data collection instruments, and clinical protocols.

3. Original glossy photographs or color images of gels, micrographs, etc., IF a photocopy (may be reduced in size) is also included within the 12-page limit of the research plan.

Note: Do not use the appendix to circumvent the page limitations of the research plan.

Scientific Writing, HRP 214Top 5


1. Eminent, imminent, immanent

Eminent: outstanding, famous

Imminent: about to happen

Immanent: inherent (often religious context)

The book was written by an eminent authority.

Given the latest clashes, the war was clearly imminent.

He believed in the immanent unity of nature taught by the Hindus.


2. Emigrate and immigrate

Emigrate is to move out of a country.

Immigrate is to move into a country.

She emigrated from Poland and immigrated to the United States.


3. Epidemic, endemic, pandemic

Epidemic: describes a disease that quickly and severely affects lots of people and then subsides (From Greek: epi= upon + demos=people: literally ‘upon the people’)

Endemic: describes a disease that is continually present in an area and affects a relatively small number of people (en=within + demos=people; means ‘native’)

Pandemic: describes a widespread epidemic that may affect entire continents or even the world (pan=all + demos=people: literally ‘all people’)

There was an epidemic of SARS in Hong Kong last month.Malaria is endemic to that part of South Africa.AIDS is a pandemic.


4. Flaunt and flout

Flaunt is to display ostentatiously Flout is to openly disregard

The dot-com millionaires liked to flaunt their wealth.The pharma industry flouts authorship rules for medical

journals. (recent headline)


5. Sex and gender

Use sex for biological differences

Use gender for cultural or social differences

They determined the sex of the organism from a karyotype.

He flouted traditional gender roles by being a stay-at-home dad.


BONUS TOPIC: redundancy

Which are redundant?HIV virusG6PD deficiencyROC curveSAS software

And with a little international flair…Rio Grande riverSierra Nevada mountains


BONUS TOPIC: redundancy

YES:HIV virus—human immunodeficiency virus virusRio Grande river—Big River riverSierra Nevada mountains—Sawtoothed Mountain

Range Covered in Snow mountains

NO:G6PD deficiency—glucose-6-phosphate

dehydrogenase deficiencyROC curve—receiver operator characteristic curveSAS software—statistical analysis system software

Scientific Writing, HRP 214Homework for next time…Assignments for next week:

Read:• Chapter 8 in Successful Science Writing

(3 units)

Discussion section due today or later this week. Conferences on discussions.

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