WRITING FOR PUBLICATION
IN ENGLISH:
METHODS SECTION
January 29, 2015
FRMU: Academic Writing
WRITING ABOUT METHODOLOGY
 sometimes called Materials and Methods,
Procedure, Methodology, Model…
 journals publish online guides for authors on
what is expected in each section of your article
 typical use of passive – to construct a sense of
objectivity: was analyzed, was monitored…
TYPICAL MOVES IN THE METHODOLOGY
SECTION
1. Provide a general introduction and overview of
the materials/methods; give the source of
materials/equipment used
In this study, most of the samples were tested using …
Topographical examination was carried out using…
The material investigated was a …
The experiments were conducted …
The substrate was obtained from …
The article is based on extensive field work conducted
between …
TYPICAL MOVES IN THE METHODOLOGY
SECTION
2. Supply essential background information
(describe instruments, equipment or locations so
that the reader can visualize or recreate your
work)
Language of spatial location:
opposite, parallel to/with, horizontal, rectangular…
The intercooler was mounted on top of the engine…
Similar loads were applied to the front and side of
the box…
TYPICAL MOVES IN THE METHODOLOGY
SECTION
3. Provide specific and precise details about
materials and methods (i.e. quantities,
temperatures, duration, sequence, conditions,
locations, sizes)
The visitor survey consists of 201 questionnaire
based interviews…
The interview conversations of approximately 30 to
45 min were digitally recorded…
The participants of the sample were randomly
approached…
Participant observation was practiced in …
TYPICAL MOVES IN THE METHODOLOGY
SECTION
4. Justify choices made
our aim was to, it was possible to, so as to, therefore, in
an attempt to, for the purpose of, with the intention of
The method of … was selected in order to determine…
For the sake of simplicity, only a single value was
analyzed.
To validate the results from…, samples were collected
from all groups.
TYPICAL MOVES IN THE METHODOLOGY
SECTION
5. Indicate that appropriate care was taken
The use of adverbs and adverbial phrases:
entirely, separately, thoroughly, vigorously,
appropriately, accurately, frequently, at least
The specimen was monitored constantly for a
period of 24 hours.
They were then placed on ice for immediate FACS
analysis.
TYPICAL MOVES IN THE METHODOLOGY
SECTION
6. Relate materials/methods to other studies
 the procedure is exactly the same as the one cited
as proposed by/in, as suggested by/in, as in, as
reported by/in…
 the procedure is similar to the one cited
adapted from, based in part/partly on, slightly
modified…
 the procedure is significantly different from the
one cited
a novel step was…, although in many ways similar,
only partially based on…
TYPICAL MOVES IN THE METHODOLOGY
SECTION
7. Indicate where problems occurred
 minimize problems
minor deficit, slightly problematic, it is recognized
that…
 minimize responsibility
it was difficult to…, unavoidable, impossible,
limited by…
 maximize good aspects
quite good, however, acceptable, fairly well…
PARAGRAPH STRUCTURE: THINGS TO REMEMBER
(OVERVIEW)
 Use topic sentences for all paragraphs and relevant
supporting sentences/usually placed at the beginning of a
paragraph.
(You should be able to review your entire argument/thesis by
reading only the topic sentence of each paragraph.)
 Use linking words/ signposts to signal the flow of your
thinking.
 Repeat key terms and phrases to make clear meaning.
 Avoid unclear and vague reference : they, it, them, thing, etc.
 Note the value of “this + noun”/”these + noun”.
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EXAMPLE 1
PARAGRAPH STRUCTURE
 Another aspect for residents of the area is its social and
physical isolation (Lee). The area is relatively poorly serviced
by public transport, […]. Ongoing problems with public
transport and isolation are mentioned in an oral history of
the area […]. Residents commented on the distance from parts
of the Estate to the railway line […]. One resident cited the
five-hours needed to go, on public transport, to buy the Halal
meat required by her Muslim family (Luckett) [2]. From the
point of view of young people especially, facilities are
inadequate and have been so since the early days of the
Estate. An early report carried out by the National Youth
Council of Australia in 1974, for example, which asked local
young people their opinion of the area reported that […]. A
concern over inadequate public transport services and […]
was also an aspect of a 2001 report (Centre for Regional
Research and Innovation).
Topic sentence
Supporting sentences
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EXAMPLE 2
PARAGRAPH STRUCTURE
 Smith and Whitmore (2006) describe how literacy practices
are determined by gang membership. Membership in their
own gang, the Manzanita Lynch Mob Crips, positioned the
boys as sworn enemies of the gang known as the Bloods.
This entailed substitutions and deletions of particular
letters of the alphabet. For example, the letter ‘b’ in the
word ‘blood’ had to be 'disrespected' because it was a word
associated with the enemy. This meant that if one of the
boys needed to write the letter ‘b’, it would be written with
a cross inside it . Similarly, since the letters 'CK' stood for
‘Crip killer’, the Crip gang avoided any use of the letters
‘ck’. If the word, such as ‘kick back’ required a ‘ck’, they
would instead write a double ‘cc’, as in ‘kicc bacc’. Many
other letters also required some kind of alteration due to
their symbolic associations. This re-production of language
and its association with identity issues offers the potential
for some fascinating analysis and further research.
Topic sentence Explanatory sentences
Supporting sentences
examples
Concluding sentence/Reflection
Summary
sentence
Key terms
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Time of Initiation of HAART
Lower plasma HIV-RNA levels in HIV seroconverter women compared with men and
no difference in progression to AIDS were reported by Sterling et al.3 in 2001: women
have lower plasma HIV-RNA levels than men at a similar anticipated risk of
progression to AIDS. It is a matter of discussion if this difference influences the time
of initiation of HAART between genders (Figure 1). Recently, in a large French cohort
of 5735 patients, no gender differences were found in the interval between enrolment
and HAART initiation during chronic infection, but this interval was shorter in
homosexual patients than in other transmission groups.4 In the Italian ICoNA study,
Murri et al.5 observed that the median time to start HAART was longer in women
than men (28 weeks versus 17 weeks, respectively; P, 0.01 by log-rank), nevertheless
the difference did not reach statistical significance at adjusted analysis. In a prospective
cohort study of 2864 US adults receiving HIV care, Sayles et al.6 showed that women
had twice the odds of reporting difficulty taking medications openly compared with
homo/bisexual men, although this gender difference was not significant in the adjusted
model. Data from 10 US HIV primary care sites reported that male gender was
significantly associated with an increased likelihood of HAART initiation during
chronic infection. 7 Similarly, Giordano et al.8 reviewing the medical and pharmacy
records of 354 US HIV-infected patients observed that female sex was an independent
predictor of not receiving HAART (P ¼ 0.001). In a large cohort of 9530 US HIVinfected
patients, McNaghten et al.9 showed that female gender was associated with
decreased likelihood of HAART prescription.
USING ‘THIS’…
 ….the continuing failures of governments
to participate in effective community
consultation in relation to these calls, the
riots can be seen as an expression of an
anguish, an anguish which has been
ignored. In the light of this failure, of
governments, ….
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USING ‘THIS’…
 …. of governments
to participate in effective community
consultation in relation to these calls, the
riots can be seen as an expression of an
anguish, an anguish which has been
ignored. In the light of this failure, of
governments, ….
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