Guideline to Write a Quality Research Paper for Journal Publication

Assalam and Hi,

I attended a workshop on writing a journal paper at UTM, Skudai on 19 February 2014 and the speaker is Ass. Prof. Dr Ning Fang from Utah University. Today i want to share with audience what i have learn on that day and inshaAllah Allah will help us in doing a writing on journal paper.

In this article I only focus on the steps in doing writing and what the contents we should put inside the journal paper. In journal paper consists:

1. title
2. abstract and keywords
3. introduction
4. research methodology
5. result
6. analysis and discussion
7. recommendation
8. conclusion
9. reference

But from Dr Ning Fang suggestion we should started with:

1. title -----------------------------------(9)
2. abstract and keywords ----------------(8)
3. introduction ---------------------------(2)
4. research methodology -----------------(4)
5. result ----------------------------------(1)
6. analysis and discussion ----------------(3)
7. recommendation ----------------------(5)
8. conclusion ----------------------------(7)
9. reference -----------------------------(6)

Dr Ning Fang stressed on doing Introduction, he said we need 20-30% effort in focusing this part. That because the introduction will represent how good your paper. there are several points that can we put in this part :

1. problems of background
2. explain the relevant concept that we used in this study
3. what has been done in the past @ literature review 
4. describe the research gaps, research objectives, research questions
5. briefly explain about research methodology
6. overview the logical structure of your paper
7. always ask your self "why you do this research? what is important in your research?"
8. make sure that we put the clear point
9. define how we address the research gaps.
10. critical review

In the abstract, the points are:

1. what is paper about
2. why is research improtant
3. scope of study
4. research method
5. findings 
6. it must write in concise, clear and complete

In the conclusion are:

1. 3-5 paragraph
2. emphasize again the important of the study
3. do not copy and paste from introduction but write it in the different angle
4. brief review what you have done in this paper
5. the major findings, we also can represent it by using bullet point

Lastly, I wants share the criteria that review seek in examine the journal paper:

1. the categories of your paper like social science, engineering education etc
2. what the find the gaps in this paper
3.  why you put the groups of finding into the groups
4. do the critical review. 
5. the coherent in the paper
6. etc

what the mistake that i done before is during writing in critical review. I just put
 "A found that ................... and supported by B is..................... besides that C said........................so my research are..........................................."
its suppose to be like
"A,B and C found that the.......................but there are some gaps in this area like................ "

I hopes that all this information will help us in doing the journal paper. InshaAllah.