-: This is your second handout.
So what I'd like you to do is fill in these words.
In the middle, we have the topic
slash issue.
Okay, so that's what the paper is about.
At the top we have why is it important?
On the right side, it says the problem.
At the bottom, it says the solution.
And on the left side it says the benefits.
So what this is is a tool to help you organize your thoughts
on what is my paper really about?
What are the key messages in my paper?
So this is gonna help you put that
in very short sentences so that you could explain that
in the cover letter,
so that you can hit those points in the abstract,
in the discussion, in the introduction.
So let me give you an example of how to use this.
This is some of the research that I conduct.
So the topic in my research is iron deficiency chlorosis,
or IDC, so very short topic.
You don't need long sentences here.
You want kind of very short ideas.
So iron deficiency chlorosis, what is the problem?
Well, we don't know which genes confer IDC resistance.
So very succinct, right?
What is the solution?
Measure gene expression in both IDC resistant
and susceptible varieties,
then determine genes that are highly expressed
in the resistant variety.
Okay, so that will answer the problem.
Why is it important?
IDC causes 260 million dollars in losses each year,
and new resistant varieties would reduce this loss.
And what're the benefits of the solution?
These highly expressed genes could be new targets
for developing IDC resistant crops.
Okay, so that's just an example of how to use this form.
Think about your current project that you're working on,
and use this form to organize your thoughts.
What is your topic?
What is your problem?
Why is it important?
What is the solution?
What are the benefits?
And then with your discussion partner, explain your project.
(energetic music)
Were you able to explain your diagram
to your discussion partners?
Did they help you clarify your thoughts a little bit?
If you use this early in the project,
it will be different than if you use it
as you're writing the manuscript.
So if you're using it early in the project,
this could really help keep you on track,
think about what are the important questions
I need to solve and what methods do I need to use,
those kinds of questions.
And then when you're writing the manuscript,
it's more thinking about
how do I present this to the readers?
So back to the cover letter.
Once you've organized your thoughts
to write the abstract and cover letter,
these are instructions from the New Phytologist journal
on exactly how they want the cover letter.
So they even give you instructions
for the cover letter at this journal.
And these are their instructions.
Authors should include answers to the following questions,
maximum 50 words per question, so very short answers,
in a covering letter to help the Editors decide
whether to send the manuscript for peer review.
But I think even if the journal that you're submitting to
doesn't ask these specific questions,
if you can answer those in your cover letter
then your chances of being published should go way up,
because you're making it clear why the work is important.
Okay, so, we won't break out this time,
but just think about for your next project,
how are you going to write the cover letter
to address these three questions.