Figures and tables

Figures and tables Sue Silver Zhejiang University, Hangzhou – 15/16 December 2008 How to get published

Figures and tables 畫意能達萬言 Zhejiang University, Hangzhou – 15/16 December 2008 How to get published

Figures and tables A good figure can • Communicate a large or complicated dataset more easily than text (and save space!) • Make the whole paper easier to understand and more interesting • Attract the reader’s attention as they look at the journal • Break up the pages, making them look less “threatening” Zhejiang University, Hangzhou – 15/16 December 2008 How to get published

Figures and tables Zhejiang University, Hangzhou – 15/16 December 2008 How to get published

Figures and tables Tips on how and when to use figures • Use figures rather than tables to illustrate a point • Be selective; don’t make a figure for everything • Number all figures (Fig. 1, Fig. 2, etc) • All figures must be cited and discussed in the text, in the correct order Zhejiang University, Hangzhou – 15/16 December 2008 How to get published

Figures and tables Tips on how and when to use figures • Figure captions should briefly explain the figure • Figure caption should NOT repeat the main text • Symbols, colors, and abbreviations should be explained in the caption OR in a key within the figure. Zhejiang University, Hangzhou – 15/16 December 2008 How to get published

Figures and tables • Tips for creating graphics • Make graph design consistent (all graphs showing same type of data should use the same lines, symbols and colors) • Label axes and divide into appropriate units • Keep lettering to a minimum • Use color to make a boring graph look more interesting, BUT NOT TOO MUCH! Zhejiang University, Hangzhou – 15/16 December 2008 How to get published

Percent of species that are established non-native species Plants (BoNAP); Birds, Mammals, Amphibians, Reptiles, Native Fish, (NatureServe); Introduced Fish (USGS)

Figures and tables Tips for creating graphics • Don’t use powerpoint slides for print journals (may be possible to use these for online-only journals) • Don’t make graphic so large that there is no room for the axis units and labels • Don’t extend axes far beyond data range (data range 0 to 75 – maximum axis value: 80) Zhejiang University, Hangzhou – 15/16 December 2008 How to get published

Figures and tables Tips for creating graphics (continued) • Don’t use colored backgrounds • Don’t use 3-dimensional effects unless absolutely necessary (it usually isn’t!) Zhejiang University, Hangzhou – 15/16 December 2008 How to get published

Figures and tables Tips for submitting photographs • Provide low resolution (small) files for peer review • Submit high resolution files when the paper has been/is about to be accepted • DON’T scan a photo from a book or a journal Zhejiang University, Hangzhou – 15/16 December 2008 How to get published

Figures and tables Before submission • Check that the journal accepts the file type you have created (eg TIFFs, JPEGs) • Check journal requirements for resolution and file size • Prepare and submit each figure on a separate page Zhejiang University, Hangzhou – 15/16 December 2008 How to get published

Figures and tables Resolution • Use image editing software to measure resolution • Photoshop • IrfanView - www.irfanview.com (FREE) • Look at journal to see at what width figures are reproduced (1 column, 1.5 column) • dpi = dots per inch (eg 300 dpi at 5 inches) Zhejiang University, Hangzhou – 15/16 December 2008 How to get published

Figures and tables Resolution (continued) • Photos • At least 300–400 dpi • File size at least 2–5 MB • Line art • At least 400–600 dpi or more Zhejiang University, Hangzhou – 15/16 December 2008 How to get published

Figures and tables Moiré pattern Zhejiang University, Hangzhou – 15/16 December 2008 How to get published

Figures and tables A table can • Replace large amounts of text (save space!) • Summarize large amounts of data • Act as a formal archive for your data Zhejiang University, Hangzhou – 15/16 December 2008 How to get published

Figures and tables Tips for using tables • Number all tables (Table 1, Table 2) • All tables must be cited and discussed in the text, in the correct order • Give each table a descriptive title • Don’t present the same data in the text AND in a table Zhejiang University, Hangzhou – 15/16 December 2008 How to get published

Figures and tables Tips for creating tables • Organize tables so that columns go downwards (not across) • Don’t use vertical or horizontal lines to separate rows or columns • Don’t include a column or row in which the value is always the same (use a footnote or mention in the text) • Use standard symbols for footnotes (* † § ¶) Zhejiang University, Hangzhou – 15/16 December 2008 How to get published

Exercise 3 Writing a title • Read the abstract provided • After reading the abstract and discussing it, write a title with your group • Give your title to Sue or Laura

Writing the paper II:TitleIntroduction Laura A. Meyerson Zhejiang University, Hangzhou – 15/16 December 2008 How to get published

Title:Why is it important? • The title is the first thing that will be read by hundreds or thousands of people. • Indexing and abstracting services use titles. • Titles should be carefully chosen or the paper may be “lost” and not reach its intended audience. Zhejiang University, Hangzhou – 15/16 December 2008 How to get published

Title • Goal: Choose a title that accurately describes the contents of the paper using the fewest possible words: • the molecule studied • the organism used or studied • the treatment • the location of a field site • the response measured • Style: Omit all waste words such as: • "A study of ..." • "Investigations of ..." • "Observations on ..." Zhejiang University, Hangzhou – 15/16 December 2008 How to get published

Title do’s and don’ts • Don’t use too many key words • Don’t make it too cute • Don’t make it too long • Don’t make it too boring • Don’t make it too short • Do make it relevant • Do use a colon effectively It is okay to: • Be provocative • Be funny (but not too subtle, especially with an international audience) Zhejiang University, Hangzhou – 15/16 December 2008 How to get published

Poor title choice • For example, a paper reporting on an experiment involving diet selection by snowshoe hares during the summer in the boreal forest understory, a bad title would be: • Diet selection by hares • Why? It is very general and could be referring to: • Any one of a number of species of hares • Winter selection is different from summer selection • Selection might vary by location Zhejiang University, Hangzhou – 15/16 December 2008 How to get published

A better title would be: Summer diet selection by snowshoe hares in the boreal forest understory (of north western Canada) Why? Because the key words identify a particular species, a specific time, and location of the study A title may give the key result of the study. The above title could be restated as: Snowshoe hares in the boreal forest understory do not eat grasses in the summer Zhejiang University, Hangzhou – 15/16 December 2008 How to get published

Examples of good titles “Dispersal, competition, and shifting patterns of diversity in a degraded oak savanna.” “Effects of density on timing of germination and its consequences for survival and growth in two communities of annual plants.” “Are invasive species the drivers or passengers of ecological change in highly disturbed plant communities?” “What is the role of seasonality and synchrony in reproduction of savanna trees in Serengeti?” Zhejiang University, Hangzhou – 15/16 December 2008 How to get published

Introduction “ A bad beginning makes a bad ending.” -Euripides Zhejiang University, Hangzhou – 15/16 December 2008 How to get published

Introduction • Purpose: • To explain the context of the work being reported. − The Introduction should give the reader enough background information to understand and evaluate the results of your work without having to refer to previous publications on the topic. Zhejiang University, Hangzhou – 15/16 December 2008 How to get published

Introduction • The Introduction must answer the questions: • What did I study? • Why was it an important question? • What was known about it before I did this study? • How will this study advance our knowledge?" Zhejiang University, Hangzhou – 15/16 December 2008 How to get published

The Introduction can be thought of as an inverted triangle • Begin with the most general information • Focus down to the specific problem you studied. • Finally, provide your statement of purpose and rationale. General background Problem Purpose and rationale

Writing the Introduction • Length depends on journal and type of paper that you are writing: • often relatively short. • The introduction forms a relationship with your discussion: • Consider how they fit together. • Discussion builds on introduction and results. Zhejiang University, Hangzhou – 15/16 December 2008 How to get published

Writing the Introduction:Guidelines • Clearly present the nature and scope of the problem investigated. • Review the appropriate literature to orient the reader. • State the methods or approach used and why this was chosen. • State the principal results of the research. • State the principal conclusions. Zhejiang University, Hangzhou – 15/16 December 2008 How to get published

Writing the Introduction Clearly state the purpose and/or hypothesis that you investigated • This is often placed towards the end of the introduction, but it may be better at the front. Zhejiang University, Hangzhou – 15/16 December 2008 How to get published

Writing the Introduction Establish the context by providing a brief and balanced review of the appropriate published literature. • The key is to: • Summarize what was known about the specific problem before you did your experiments or studies. • Lead the reader to your statement of purpose/hypothesis. Zhejiang University, Hangzhou – 15/16 December 2008 How to get published

Writing the Introduction • Clearly identify the subject area of interest. • For example, in the hare diet selection paper, the words “diet selection” will probably appear in the first one or two sentences. • In my work, the words “invasive species” or “Phragmites” are likely to appear in the first paragraph. Zhejiang University, Hangzhou – 15/16 December 2008 How to get published

Writing the Introduction • Provide a clear statement of the rationale for your approach to the problem studied. • Why did you choose this kind of experiment or design? • What are the scientific merits of this particular system? • What advantages does your approach have in answering the particular questions you are asking? Zhejiang University, Hangzhou – 15/16 December 2008 How to get published

Writing the Introduction For example: • State briefly how you approached the problem • e.g., you studied diet selection in snowshoe hares using animals in natural conditions). • This will usually follow your statement of purpose in the last paragraph of the introduction. • And this “story” will continue in the Discussion….. Zhejiang University, Hangzhou – 15/16 December 2008 How to get published

SEE YOU TOMORROW!

Figures and tables