Practical Tips for Academic Papers

Mettzer

This document consolidates key practical tips and structural recommendations based on the Mettzer model, a platform specializing in automated academic formatting.

1. What is an Academic Paper?

The primary goal of an academic paper is to present and publish the results of scientific research. It is shorter and more direct than a monograph or dissertation, tailored for quick reading and publication in scientific journals, conferences, and periodicals.

2. Standard Structure (ABNT Model)

Most articles follow the classic division (often the IMRaD format for the body text), organized as follows:

Pre-textual Elements:
- Title (and subtitle if any): Must be clear and attractive.
- Authorship: Name of the authors and their respective institutions/affiliations, usually accompanied by a brief biography in a footnote.
- Abstract in the vernacular language: A summary of the work, around 100 to 250 words, containing the objective, method, results, and conclusion.
- Keywords: 3 to 5 words that define the theme, separated by a period.
Textual Elements (Body of Work):
- Introduction: Contextualization, justification, and clear presentation of the problem and objectives.
- Development (Methodology, Results, and Discussion): Presentation of the theoretical framework, explanation of how the research was done, and the results achieved cross-referenced with the literature.
- Final Considerations (or Conclusion): The answer to the research problem, without adding new data at this stage.
Post-textual Elements:
- References: A mandatory and detailed list of everything cited in the text, strictly according to ABNT standards (NBR 6023).
- Appendices and Annexes: (Optional) An appendix is a document created by the author; an annex is a document created by third parties.

3. Main ABNT Formatting Rules for Papers

For the paper to be accepted, visual formatting is vital. Standard recommendations include:

Font: Times New Roman or Arial, size 12 for the text.
Spacing: 1.5 between lines throughout the text (except for long citations, footnotes, references, and captions, which use single spacing).
Margins: Top and Left with 3 cm; Bottom and Right with 2 cm.
Long Citations: (More than 3 lines) 4 cm indent from the left margin, font size 10, no quotation marks, with single spacing.

4. Golden Tips

Define the Target Journal Early: Each journal has its own formatting guidelines that may differ slightly from general ABNT.
Avoid Plagiarism at all costs: Make extensive use of reference managers or platforms like Mettzer to ensure every direct or indirect citation is properly credited.
Objectivity is key: Journals have strict page or character limits. Get straight to the point, especially in the results.