SCIENTIFIC & TECHNICAL WRITING
Theoretical Papers
Prof. R.L. Boxman
Tel Aviv University
R.L. Boxman, 9/2000
Theoretical Papers
• Overall organization similar to “experimental”
papers:
Section
Content/Answered Question
Abstract
Short standalone and informative
summary.
1 Introduction
2 BODY
What are we talking about?
What did we do?
What did we get?
3 Discussion
So what?
4 Conclusions
Answer research question.
~3 key points we want the reader to
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remember.
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What’s in the “Body”?
• The difference is in the organization of the
“body”
• In all cases (theoretical and experimental)
body contains the answers to:
– What did you do?
– What did you get?
• More variations in organization in theoretical
papers - we will look at 2 proto-types:
“physical models” & “mathematical proofs”
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Body of experimental and
theoretical papers
Experimental
Physical Model
Paper
Mathematical
Proof
Explanation and
Model
Assumptions
Exp. Apparatus and
BODY
Methods
hypothesis
Derivation of
Equations
Solution Method
Results
description of the
Results
Formal statement
of the hypothesis
Proof
“Physical Models”
• 1. “Description of the Model”, “Model
Assumptions”
• 2. Derivation of Equations
• 3. Calculation of Results
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“Physical Models”
• 1. The Model
– Description of the physical processes,
based on previous theoretical and
experimental work
– Preliminary estimates of processes or
terms, in order to choose the most
significant
– Clear statement of the model assumptions
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“Physical Models”
• 2. Derivation of Equations
– Sufficient detail so that results can be duplicated!
– State initial equations (define all symbols - make
yourself a nomenclature list to insure consistency,
and to verify that all symbols are defined)
– Clear statements of how to proceed from one
equation to the next (sufficient for beginning grad.
student, not only geniuses)
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“Physical Models”
• 3. (Numerical) Results
– Explain method of solving equations in
sufficient detail to allow duplication:
• More detail for ‘new’ methods
• Less detail for known methods, citing
references
– Present Results
• Follow same guidelines as for exp. paper
• Detail “input parameters” or conditions for each
result -- sufficient to allow duplication
• “Heads up display”, “blind man’s rule”, and
“illiterate’s rule” as discussed in exp. papers
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Mathematical Proofs
• In both experimental and model papers,
evidence is presented neutrally first,
and then conclusions are drawn
• In ‘mathematical proof’ papers, a
hypothesis (e.g. theorem, lemma, etc.)
is stated first, and then proven
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“Mathematical Proofs”
• Organization of “Body”
– Explanation and description of the hypothesis
• define all terms and symbols!
– Formal statement of the hypothesis (theorem,
lemma, etc.)
• brief (1 line)
• usually in the form of an equation or mathematical
statement
– Proof
• sufficiently detailed so it can be reproduced elsewhere
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Appendices
• Often used in both types of theoretical
papers to shorten body and make it
more readable:
– in ‘physical models’- for equation
derivations
– in ‘mathematical proofs’ - for detailed proof
• Most readers have faith in the author
and will skip the appendices
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Appendices
• Body should be written so that it can be read
without ever referring to the appendix
– All symbols used in the body should be defined in
the body
– The objective of each appendix, and the results
obtained in the appendix that are used in the body
of the paper, should be stated clearly in the body
of the paper
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Appendices
• Appendix should be written such that it
can be read without referring constantly
to the body:
– Start with a brief statement of the objective
of the appendix.
– State the principle conclusion of the
appendix at its end.
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Nomenclature
• Most common problem in theoretical papers:
– undefined symbols, and
– inconsistent nomenclature
• Try to keep number of symbols to a minimum
• Use symbols commonly used in English
Tech. Lit, or define using letters which signify
their English meaning
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Use a “Nomenclature Table” to
insure definitions and consistency
Sample Nomenclature Table
Symbol
a
b
V
Subscripts
e
i
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Definition
Waveguide width
Waveguide height
Velocity
Pages
2,3,4
2,3,4
3,5
Definition
2
2
3
Electron
Ion
3, 5
3, 5
3
3
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