Free Research Article Writing Course with Certificate Online

Organizer: WILEY, Researcher Academy.

About the Course

• Title: “A complete guide to the key components of a research article” Research Article Writing Course Earn a professional certificate
• How to get the most from it? A simple approach: Watch one module, then apply it directly to your own manuscript
• Keep your draft open while learning (title, abstract, keywords, etc.)
• After finishing, use the modules as a final checklist before submission.
• What it helps you do: Understand the purpose and structure of each section of a research article
• Learn how to write in a way that is clear, academic, and journal-friendly
• Build a complete manuscript that feels ready for submission
• Earn a professional certificate after completing the course.

Course structure at a glance (14 modules | 46 Lessons)

1. What Makes a Good Title (4 lessons)
2. The Abstract (5 lessons)
3. The Author List (4 lessons)
4. Choosing the Right Keywords (4 lessons)
5. Introduction: What problem or question are we addressing? (4 lessons)
6. Methods: How did we research the problem or question? (3 lessons)
7. Results: What were the findings? (3 lessons)
8. Discussion: What do the results signify? (3 lessons)
9. Conclusions (2 lessons)
10. The Importance of Acknowledgements (2 lessons)
11. Figures and tables that clarify your findings (4 lessons)
12. References and citations (3 lessons)
13. Letter to the Editor-in-Chief (4 lessons)
14. Key components of a research article

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Module 1: What Makes A Good Title

1. A good title includes all the important information regardless of the length.
   True
   False
   Ans. False
2. A good title can draw readership and influence exposure, access, and citations.
   True
   False
   Ans. True.
3. The most striking, significant and crucial aspect should be placed at the beginning of the title.
   True
   False
   Ans. True

Module 2: The Abstract

1. What are the three different types of abstracts?
   Descriptive, Interpretive, Summary
   Detailed, Informative, Structured
   Descriptive, Informative, Summary
   Descriptive, Informative, and Structured
   Ans. Descriptive, Informative, and Structured

Module 3: The Author List

1. What are some best practices for authorship credit?
   Ensure that author names are spelled correctly
   Verify names with the authors
   List authors alphabetically
   Ans. Ensure that author names are spelled correctly, Verify names with the authors
2. Why is it important to select one name form?
   Because search engines treat name variations as separate authors.
   Because using an alternate name form could slow down publication.
   Ans. Because search engines treat name variations as separate authors.

Module 4: Choosing The Right Keywords

1. It’s best to use as many keywords as possible so your article will be picked up by search engines.
   True
   False
   Ans. Flase
2. Using relevant keywords helps other researchers find studies that are useful to them.
   True
   False
   Ans. True
3. Since most articles are only published online, journals allow for as many keywords as are relevant.
   True
   False
   Ans. False
4. Keywords can be phrases, as well as single words.
   True
   False
   Ans. True

Module 5: Introduction- What problem or question are we addressing?

1. Which of the following is NOT an objective of the introduction?
   Provide background information about the field or topic of study
   Communicate new information added to the field
   Explain the methods used to conduct the research
   Ans. Explain the methods used to conduct the research

Module 6: Methods- How did we research the problem or question?

1. How does the methods section benefit scientific research?
   It allows researchers to create their own experiments based on the methods used previously.
   It allows researchers to reproduce the experiment to verify the results.
   It allows researchers to more easily understand the background of the study.
   Ans. It allows researchers to create their own experiments based on the methods used previously.
   It allows researchers to reproduce the experiment to verify the results.

Module 7: The Results Section- What were the findings?

1. The Results section should include interpretations, assumptions, potential pitfalls or other forms of theorizing, using raw data to support the statements as needed.
   True
   False
   Ans. False
2. The clarity and visual precision of the data play a major role in how the findings are received by others in the field.
   True
   False
   Ans. True.
3. The Results section typically should not include details about common analysis methods, or repetition of information given in the tables or figures.
   True
   False
   Ans. True.

Module 8: The Discussion Section- What do the results signify?

1. Which of the following aspects is NOT part of the Discussion Staircase?
   Description of major findings and research problem
   Detailed analysis of results
   Presentation of future perspective (implications/further research/applications)
   Discussion of the limitations or weaknesses of the study
   Ans. Detailed analysis of results

Module 9: The Conclusions Section

1. The Conclusions section can be described as a condensation of the Discussion section but with greater emphasis on the results and findings of the study rather than on theorizing, previous work, and future directions.
   True
   False
   Ans. True
2. The opening sentences of the Conclusions section are especially important because the primary goal of this section is to provide the reader with a summary statement and a “take home” message for the rest of the article.
   True
   False
   Ans. True.
3. The Conclusions section addresses the relevance of the study to the field as a whole by introducing new arguments in the study.
   True
   False
   Ans. False.

Module 10: The Importance of Acknowledgements

1. Which of the following aspects belong to the acknowledgments section?
   Funding agencies
   Administrative staff
   Affiliations for people acknowledged
   Grant details
   Ans. Funding agencies, Grant details

Module 11: Figures and tables that help clarify your findings

1. Typically, in the pdf that the manuscript management system makes for peer review, tables and figures are organized on separate pages, separate from the body text, and at the very end of the manuscript.
   True
   False
   Ans. True.
2. Each figure and table must be interpretable by itself, separate from the manuscript.
   True
   False
   Ans. True.
3. Figures and tables that are too complicated or have inadequate legends can be hard to understand when seen out of context. Hence eliminate them from the manuscript.
   True
   False
   Ans. False
4. Some journals allow a limited number of figures and also add a fee for colored images.
   True
   False
   Ans. True
5. If every figure is referenced within the relevant section of the text, you do not need to provide a descriptive title.
   True
   False
   Ans. False.
6. Fonts should match journal requirements and be consistent throughout the figures. All figures should have the same font style and size.
   True
   False
   Ans. True
7. Error bars and other measures of statistical rigor are absolutely necessary when presenting numerical data.
   True
   False
   Ans. True.

Module 12: Compiling your bibliographical references and citations

1. Which of the following statements is correct?
   For references with only two authors, you should use the following format: (Beasly and Kulesa, 1998)
   For multiple authors (where there are more than 2): (Sanders and Luciano et al., 2009)
   To reference unpublished work from your own group but by a member of the lab who is not on the list of authors: (Brynes et al. unpublished data).
   For personal communications, data or finding shared by colleague and incorporated into the manuscript with permission from the colleague should be presented as: (Aaron Pittman, unpublished communication, 5/23/2004)
   Ans. For references with only two authors, you should use the following format: (Beasly and Kulesa, 1998),
   To reference unpublished work from your own group but by a member of the lab who is not on the list of authors: (Brynes et al. unpublished data).

Module 13: Letter to the Editor-In-Chief

1. The length of cover letters is flexible and can exceed two pages if necessary
   True
   False
   Ans. False
2. Most journals provide specifications regarding the cover letter and outline the content they require cover letters to state.
   True
   False
   Ans. False
3. E-mail cover letters and formal letters contain the same elements.
   True
   False
   Ans. False
4. Cover letters are often submitted electronically in an e-mail message
   True
   False
   Ans. True.
5. Which of the following elements should not be contained in a cover letter?
   A statement declaring that the manuscript has not been submitted to any other journal.
   Jargon or field-specific abbreviations.
   Major experimental results of your study or technical tools described in your study that can be used by the journal’s readership.
   A short biography and key professional achievements of the main author.
   Ans. Jargon or field-specific abbreviations, A short biography and key professional achievements of the main author.

Assessment Instructions:

In this assessment you will select your broad scientific area and be presented with an example article from that area. The example article has had fallings (ommissions, additions, mistakes) introduced into it, which you will be asked to identify and correct/improve by answering multiple choice questions.
The aim is to pul into practice the knowledge and principles that you have learned throughout the Learning Path “Key components of a research article
On the next screen you will identify yourself in one of 5 subject areas, and proceed down a particular branch of the assessment exercise.

Click on the research area that most closely represents your work.

• Life Sciences
• Physical Sciences
• Social Sciences and Humanities
• Medical and Clinical Disciplines
• Geography Disciplines

Life Sciences:

1. Download the article: Adding Cranberry Extracts to Rat Livers to investigate the Effect of Mitochondrial Damage [PDF]
2. View it using Adobe Reader and read it completely.
3. Then, read it again and click on those parts of the article that, in your view, need improving or correcting Upon correctly clicking on such a place, you will be presented with feedback.
4. Come back to this screen and click Continue to take the quiz. Make sure to read the article through once in its entirety before continuing on to the assessment

Module 14: Key components of a research article – final exam Answers

Question 1. How should the title be modified to improve it?
Title should mention major methodology used.
Title should mention crucial findings.
Title should include at least 5 keywords.
Title should be at least 15 words long to include keywords and methodology description.
Title should not begin with an active-voice verb.
Answer. Title should mention crucial findings.

Question 2. What is wrong with this author list?
Author names should indicate highest degrees attained.
Affiliations are not specified for all authors.
Must be consistent about using either full first names or initials, not a mixture.
Should not use the word “and” before the final author, separate all by commas.
The author for correspondence should always be the last in the author list.
Answer. Affiliations are not specified for all authors.

Question 3. What should be changed to make the abstract most useful and complete?
The abstract should not include detailed data.
The abstract should not contain abbreviations, even if defined.
The abstract should not contain interpretations of the data.
The abstract should describe the purpose for the study.
The abstract should cite reference(s) for the major method(s) used in the study.
Answer. The abstract should describe the purpose for the study.

Question 4. How should the introduction be modified to fit best practices for this section?
Move the description of results of previous studies to the Discussion
Provide a figure showing the structure of flavonoids, the main topic of the manuscript
Name specific sources of funding for the research described in the current manuscript
Move the description of the purpose of the study to the beginning of the Introduction.
Describe in greater detail the specific reactive oxygen/nitrogen and free radical species acted upon by cranberry 40% flavonoids.
Answer. Move the description of the purpose of the study to the beginning of the Introduction.

Question 5. What is missing from the description of the cranberry extract preparation?
Specific volumes and amounts of reagents
The source of the cranberries, the primary reagent
Spectral and other physical characteristics of the pigment to be extracted
Specific details on use of the rotary evaporator
Molecular structures of the extracted flavanols, proanthocyanidins and anthocyanin glycosides
Answer. Specific volumes and amounts of reagents.

Question 6. What is wrong with the section describing the DPPH assay?
DPPH is not defined al its first usage in this section.
The term ‘scavenging is jargon and should not be used in this context.
Oof DPPH reduction are not specified. The graph axes for the time course plot
The duration of the time course measurements is not specified.
The variables in the equation are not defined.
Answer. The variables in the equation are not defined.

Question 7A. There are two failings in the Results section. First, how should the Results section be presented differently for best practices?
Figures should not be called out in Results, only in the Introduction and Discussion.
All data mentioned in Results should be provided in detail here or as Supplementary Information and never described as “Data not shown.”
Use subheadings to organize the results of the different assays.
Personalized terms such as “we” and “our” should not be used. Use passive voice instead.
All figures should not be presented in just the Results section. They should be more evenly distributed throughout the manuscript.
Answer. Use subheadings to organize the results of the different assays.

Question 7b. There are two failings in the Results section. Second, what important category of information is missing from the Results?
Results from ethanol-intoxicated rats as a direct comparison to CCI4-intoxicated rats
Results of control experiments using untreated rats
Results of time course experiments to monitor flavonoid effects
Results of in vitro CCl4+flavonoid incubations with isolated mitochondria
Results of feeding whole cranberries to CCI4-intoxicated rats.
Answer. Results of control experiments using untreated rats.

Question 8. What needs to be modified in Figure 2?
Indicate which data points show significant difference from controls.
Show data on 100% scale for y-axis.
Use first order smooth curve fitting instead of point-to-point line rendering.
Add an inset panel to provide a key to describe the data points.
Label curves as A, B and C (rather than 1, 2, 3) as per accepted standards for preparing scientific manuscripts.
Answer. Indicate which data points show significant difference from controls.

Question 9. How should the legend be changed to more appropriately describe the figure?
Need to define all abbreviations used in the legend.
Add explanation of why the curves do not approach zero.
Remove extraneous sentence about negligible effects.
Need to explain the curve-fitting approach used for the graph.
Add text to plainly describe what the figure presents.
Answer. Need to explain the curve-fitting approach used for the graph.

Question 10. What should be modified in the text describing the overall conclusions drawn from the current study?
The results of experiments using cell-based and cell-free systems should not be described together since they cannot be directly compared.
Include a reference for the FDA recommendations describing the health effects of cranberries, cranberry products and isolated cranberry components.
Rephrase the claims for the significance of the results since some overreach what is justified from the data.
Add discussion of the results of studies involving purified bioactive compounds isolated from cranberries that were tested with this model.
Need to add description of assay validation criteria for the conclusions drawn.
Answer. Rephrase the claims for the significance of the results since some overreach what is justified from the data.

Question 11. What is missing from the conclusion of the Discussion?
Interpretation of the significance of the fluorescence anisotropy data.
Suggestion of further research that could or should be done and why.
Restatement of the purpose for the studies undertaken for the manuscript.
Mention of the principal investigator(s) responsible for designing the study.
Description of rationale for the statistical treatments employed.
Answer. Suggestion of further research that could or should be done and why.

Question 12. How should the acknowledgments section be modified for best practices?
Acknowledge the journal editors and staff.
Specify grant award dates for support received from each funder.
Acknowledge the principal investigator of the study by name and affiliation.
Specify funding sources by name.
List affiliations of the individuals acknowledged.
Answer. Specify funding sources by name.

Question 13. What is wrong with the Reference list?
The Reference format is not consistent.
There are too many references (standard limit is 50).
The list is presented as one column; should be two columns for publication.
Authors within a given bibliographic citation are not presented alphabetically.
Journal names are abbreviated; should use full journal titles.
Answer. The Reference format is not consistent.