## Welcome to Data-Driven Life Sciences Seminar Your gateway to understanding research in a systematic way. ----- ## What We'll Cover Today * Seminar overview * How to use the question sheet * Interpreting research articles ----- ## Purpose of these Seminars Learning how to: * Read scientific articles systematically * Extract key insights * Discuss findings critically ----- ## Weekly Assignments * One paper will be assigned every week. * Prepare to discuss the answers to questions from the question sheet. ----- ## [Question Sheet](https://ddls.aicell.io/slides/question-sheet/): Your Tool A set of questions designed to guide your reading and understanding. * Hypothesis * Methodology * Results * Conclusion ----- ## How to Use the Question Sheet * Read the assigned paper. * Fill out your question sheet. * Be ready to discuss in the seminar. ----- ## Random Selection in Class * You might be called to answer any question. * You may also have to describe selected figures from the paper. ----- ## Grading Criteria * Quality of your answers * General participation in the discussion ----- ## Ten Simple Rules for Structuring Papers Good scientific writing is not just a skill but a catalyst for career development and scientific progress. Aim: Make your paper influential and the writing process efficient. ----- ## Overview  ----- ## Rule 1: Focus on a Central Contribution * Your paper should have one main message. * The title is crucial; it sets the stage and keeps your paper focused. * Strive for a balance: Your contribution should be as simple as data and logic allow. ----- ## Rule 2: Write for a General Audience * You're an expert, but your readers may not be. * Use clear language and avoid jargon. * Keep in mind human cognitive limitations. ----- ## Rule 3: Use the C-C-C Scheme * Context-Content-Conclusion * Serves patient readers who seek thorough understanding. * Works on multiple scales: whole paper, paragraphs. ----- ## Rule 4: Optimize Logical Flow * Avoid zig-zag; each subject should be covered once. * Use parallelism to streamline the reader's cognitive load. ----- ## Rule 5: Tell a Complete Story in the Abstract * Context, Content, Conclusion: The C-C-C elements of a successful abstract. * Each section serves a distinct purpose: set the stage, summarize results, interpret outcomes. * Avoid common mistake of presenting results too early. * Iterate and refine to make results fill the gap seamlessly. ----- ## Rule 6: Communicate Why the Paper Matters in the Introduction * Highlight the gap in current knowledge. * Build the introduction progressively from field gap to subfield gap. * The last paragraph summarizes the results to fill the gap. * Aligns the reader's expectation for the paper's value. ----- ## Rule 7: Deliver Results as a Sequence of Statements * Logical flow of statements supported by figures. * Use paragraph structure to pose a question and provide an answer. * Each paragraph's conclusion builds upon the previous, creating a chain of logic. ----- ## Rule 8: Discuss How the Gap Was Filled * Recapitulate results, discuss limitations, and future directions. * First paragraph summarizes key findings. * Subsequent paragraphs evaluate weaknesses and strengths. * Culminates in discussing the paper's impact on the field. ----- ## Rule 9: Allocate Time Where It Matters * Prioritize Title, Abstract, and Figures. * Outlining helps in planning text efficiently. * Formalize the logical structure for better time management. ----- ## Rule 10: Get Feedback to Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle the Story * Writing as an optimization problem. * Don't get too attached to your text; be ready to rewrite. * Use feedback to refine the story, outline, and sentences. -----  ----- ## Additional notes - Change the seminar schedule? - Change lecture time for [Module 4](https://ddls.aicell.io/course/ddls-2023/module-4/)