How to Write a Paper in a Weekend (By Prof. Pete Carr)

Bravo, Professor Carr! Below are my notes that I think might benefit others. Key points: 1. don't procrastinate; 2. review the notes and renew the literature search; 3. determine who your audience is - most likely reviewers, so get their concerns firstly addressed; 4. create the outline and get the big picture done, i.e., complete the first draft while resisting the temptation to correct and edit as you go; the logical sequence of data/tables/figures may be the outline; while writing the first draft, take notes indicating what references might be needed and would be about, but don't stop to collect the references; 5. begin with the easier part of the task - experimental section rather then the introduction; then follows the results and discussion section; 6. then comes the really hard part - critical editing where you make sure that the English is coherent and the science is correct; 7. write the conclusion in a numbered format; 8. then comes the abstract and the acknowledgements; 9. now comes the introduction, the two most important things to address in which are the purpose and relevant background; 9. then collect the references. Some final notes: 1. always check the manuscript requirements for the journal of interests. 2. a few references on writing. Please refer to the video.

Really, the best advice I can give anyone writing a research paper is to KNOW YOUR TOPIC. Read and read and read and read and read and read about it. Read weeks before you're going to write it. Read in between meals, when you're in commute, waiting for a friend in a cafe - just read. Don't even think of the structure or the content. Just read everything you can find about it and bookmark everything. Finally, when you know the topic by heart, when you can discuss it and talk about it without even needing to look at the original articles and sources, you'll find that writing the paper would come naturally to you. You'll be able to form important discussion points just from what you read - all because you understood what you're writing about. Then you can begin going through your sources, jotting down notes, highighting key elements you want to use to support your statements. You won't have a hard time piecing them together because you're working from the top down rather than trying to put puzzle pieces together and seeing what fits to form a narrative. tldr: READ

During my Degree studies, I developed a model of essay-preparation that was largely responsible for high 90s and 100% marks. The university actually asked me to document the approach and they shared it with other students. I call it my Christmas Tree model. On a blank DIN A3 sheet of paper I drew a cartoon-like Xmas tree, with a bucket/pot at the bottom, a trunk tapering up towards a crowning star and a number of branches projecting from each side of the trunk. I then took small post-its and 'decorated' the tree. The bucket had post-its with one-liners describing pertinent background and origins. The trunk had the thesis/question of the essay/paper (always word-for-word if possible!). The branches were populated with obligatory points from the set reading and lectures as well as discovered information from material BEYOND the set literature and sources; indicates a willingness to look beyond the spoon-fed. With the baubles of information on the tree, I would set imaginary tinsel criss-crossing the branches, connecting post-its with related information or highlighting causalities/opportunities not immediately obvious from the reading; 'synthesis' of ideas shows creativity and analytical thinking rather than straight regurgitation. Around the base of the tree, I would add 'presents' representing useful quotes, factoids and also key bibliography components; again, adding references to multiple forms and sources of media not contained in the set literature shows a desire to 'look beyond'. With the initial look of the tree established, I would then do that one last thing - place the Conclusion 'star' at the top. The conclusion would draw together all of the salient points, making certain that the actual thesis/question is reacted to properly (keep your eye on the trunk!) and maybe throw in some out-of-the-box synthesis or suggestions. The beauty of this highly visual method is that a) the post-its can be re-arranged, removed, re-worded or added to, permitting quick experiments in re-focus and content, b) the entire guts of the potential essay can be seen schematically at a glance, highlighting omissions, superfluous info and possible connections. If all of the desired bullet-points are there, it's time to translate those short texts into paragraphs within a classic essay/report format. Some might say that there are online and app-based option that do roughly the same. Go for it! I'm a lo-tech, visual-learning guy and the ability to redact postits physically connects me to the work better. Good luck everybody.

PRELIMINARES (1:32) 1:37 Review and renew your literature 1:57 Who is your audience? 3:13 The big picture 3:19 Producing initial draft 3:44 No editing before your first draft THE “ALGORITHM” (4:08) 4:23 Just get started 4:30 Create an outline 4:54 The outline is easy to do 5:40 Do not write the introduction to the paper at this time 6:03 The easiest part of the paper 6:19 Write the results and discussion following the outline CRITICAL PART 7:00 concise and cohorent English FINAL PART OF THE “ALGORITHM” 7:15 write the conclusions 7:42 To do the introduction VERY LAST STEP OF THE “ALGORITHM” 8:15 Producing references for the paper

Thank you sir! I'm in my 50's back in college and it's been forever since I've written a paper. This video/review has been invaluable.

this guy is the real spirit of a mentor. Great man . Real teacher still exists . HONOUR AND RESPECT .

To everyone having a hard time with procrastinating, here are some tips. Start by opening a doc and giving it a title, this gives you a clear starting point that's not stressful. Take the prior knowledge you have about the subject, and use that as a jumping-off point to start research. The more comfortable you are with the subject, the more comfortable you'll be with the paper. Plan to do the assignment at a specific date and time, and when that time comes go to a non-distracting environment. Give yourself a specific cue to start assignments, like a song that you only listen to when you're working. Make a playlist and write at least one sentence every time a new song starts. Eat a chocolate chip (or other small snack) after each sentence or paragraph. Hope this helps!

"Resist the temptation to correct and edit" such a good advice.

Who is here watching.... and you are procrastinating by watching, not writing?

This guy is so old school and knowledgable and yet his power point slides and video are so on point. Thank you!

What a wonderful person to share such important points in few minutes very clearly. Grateful!

Great to hear a matured man speak coherently with a lot of substance in YouTube which has a lot of hyper content. Thank you Professor.

Thanks Professor, I'm an engineer working in an S&T organization where we now have to publish more. It's been years since Uni days, and this was a great presentation to help prevent procrastination, and it's how I like to work in assembling a paper naturally.

The advice is applicable for writing on many subjects not just Chemistry. Thank you.

I come back to this video again and again. A gem. Thank you!

Every time I am writing a review or paper I watch this. Thank you very much!

This was so charming and relaxing to watch! Thanks for sharing your expertise, Professor Carr!

This... is actually pretty good. I didn't think I would learn something new out of this gentleman, but this is awesome. I like the don'ts and how he emphasizes on avoiding procrastination. All those 30+ years of experience are no joke. Way to go to Prof. Pete Carr for sharing.

The audio room tone, the environment, the man, the topic. I love this video!

I really love Prof. Carr's way of organizing and delivering the information. Keep up the good work <3