How to write a conference paper
The objective of this article is to remind myself of the suffering period that blossomed to a conference paper to be presented some where in Shanghai China in June 16th, 2005.
I'm mainly speaking about Conference paper technique, but it can still be applied for technical papers. You see, a conference paper is exactly like a technical paper, except that it is more opinionated, it needs much of your input rather than the input of say an experimental procedure. For example, if I'm to write a technical paper about one of the Kuwaiti fields, specifically a study on the crude characteristics, then that would be a piece of cake, I do the experiment, generate the data, process the data in a presentable format, and comment on what is shown in the figures or tables. Voila!
So I'm a Kuwait university graduate, I don't know about other schools, but writing technical papers was not the nagging hammer, we were stuffed with enough calculations and problems and solution approaches, that we rarely had time to even be asked to present all that in a technical format, except probably for my graduation project, and I remember I did it entirely on my own though I was part of a group.
So rule number one would be: identify your technical writing abilities, if you don't have any, acknowledge that so you can move to the next step; which would be: figure out if you're a group person or a loner. Usually, it is easier to be a loner, that way you can worry no more about trusting the team.
Step 1: Subject
If you are now in a position that requires you write a conference paper/ technical paper, then you're in for the ride. If not, I suggest you pick a subject (could be as phony of a subject as: a study on the respected traffic lights in Kuwait, or brag-about type: Tsunami's effect on religious awareness).
Step 2: Search
Every time I come to this point where I have to search, I thank God I'm in the internet era, how did people survive before this?
Now, remember, at this point you may still not be fully aware what you're doing, why you are doing this, and what is this paper supposed to say! But just concentrate on the key words on your subject and access as much information as possible. At this phase, you read a lot of stuff relevent or distanct, you must be over saturated, it's all ambigious, and this is the point where you realize this isn't a walk in the park. Especially when you remember what you stll have to do next :)
Step 3: Research
The refining of your search depends on how much understandment you gained of the subject concerned. Though I have the atmost respect for internet, your number one reference isn't located there, you must have a human reference, what would be called: a principle advisor, some one who knows the subject you're tackling, and willing to keep you in track while you're on your way of conference paper writing.
In the research phase, write down the outline of the paper; the parameters in which you want to present the subject. Keep in mind the abstract is written last, and the first thing of an outline is a background, then introduction, then hit the jackpot: subject.
Categorize the data/information you've already collected in chronological order, get rid of outdated information, and cross check the updated ones for occuracy and confimation. Keep track of your references in all cases.
You still need to go to step 2 through out the process of the paper – your search will become smarter, more concentrated- and until you reach the final layout where you are comfortable of your authenticity.
A helpful tip in organizing your compiled informtation: extract important notes of each paper, and label it with the reference, don't worry about rewording or coherance at this stage, just bullet your notes and headline them with the reference title.
Step 4: Constructing the Paper
Once you've assigned your outline, and established your notes, go back and forth from notes to each title, and cut and paste relevent information under each title. Again, don't worry about rewording and coherance just yet. But start number referencing the paragraphs; end each paragraph with the reference number, before that of course establish a sheet of the references so far, it can be updated later.
Be sure to include figures, tables; demonstration enriches the appearance of the paper and makes it more presentable and approachable, it stresses on the facts you need to state out clearly.
Step 5: First Draft
You now have what can be called as: raw paper, there are a few things that you must keep in mind from this stage forward:
1. Write down the objective of your paper: why are you making this paper, what impression do you want to leave out, and keep track of your objective through out.
2. Do not use abbreviation without identifying them first.
Start reading your paper. While doing so, link the notes, reword, quote whereever needed, refer to figures and tables in numbers, consistantly list the tables and figures. And again, search further for missing data that you are bound to find important at one point or another, it will come to you while you're doing the first draft, trust me!
At the end of this stage, you're ready to write the abstract; basically state out what this paper is all about in 4 to 5 lines, what who why how where when…. Just answer those questions and connect them in a paragraph, that's an abstract.
Step 6: Second Draft
By now, you're overwhelmed, stressed, and probably even time-limited. What I was going to say is you should forget about the paper for a day or two and come back and read it again later, but that wasn't an option for me.
Your principle advisor needs to step in at this stage, he/she will identify if your outline is complete and covers all aspects needed for your objective, and will judge if your paper is coherant scientifically.
When presenting the paper to the principle advisor, make sure you're not handing it on a verdana 8 font format like I did! The standard font is Times New Roman font size 12; headers bold, and number the titles and the subtitles. Endent the paragraphs ensure a uniform margin through out, keep tables consistant, figures format consistant, centeralize both in the paper where ever they may be, plus reference them.
Step 7: Final Draft
While doing adjustments and reowrding, and linking paragraphs, meshing information; keep track of your references and label the information by the reference number, don't forget this point, it's extremely important.
Number the pages if you haven't done so.
Submit your paper to an editor; if you don’t have an editor, hand it to an intelligent reader, you need a fresh eye to evaluate your paper.
That's it :)
I'll tell you what problems you will face, without no further comment.
1. time management
2. weird dreams
3. breakdown due to time restriction
4. non-cooperative environement
5. detachment from social life
6. Informtation are hard to find when you most need them.
7. Having an overwhelming feeling at the end of writing the paper that it is not a job well done.
posted by Vintage @ 4:28 AM
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