四、How to Write an Article by Gill B

We very much welcome articles written by forumers, whether historical, strategic or about castles. Hopefully you will find a few hints and a bit of advice here which will help.

1. Before you do anything at all, check that nobody is already writing a similar article. You don't want to spend a long time on research and writing only to find that someone else has already written about the same thing. Probably, for simplicity, you should mail your idea to me and I can check with the right person.

2. It helps if you can write in clear and correct English. However, if English isn't your first language, don't let this put you off. I am happy to edit/proof read/anglicise what you have written.

3. Look at previous articles on the site to see the sort of thing we like. Historical articles need to be factual, but not too dry. Strategy/design articles need to be accurate. Both need to be about something not already covered on the site.

4. Your article needs to be original. You will need to do a lot of research on the web and/or in books. Of course you can use the information you find, but it will need to be rewritten in your own words. If you are using the internet for your research, try to find at least two sites confirming the information as there are some very inaccurate websites out there - we don't want to be one of them.

5. If at all possible you will need illustrations for your article.

a) If they are your own photos, drawings or screenshots, that's great.

b) If you need an image of a unit, commodity or building from the game, there's a good chance we will already have an image uploaded somewhere.

c)If you want to use an image from another website, you will have to write and ask permission. Do this politely; explain about the article you are writing, tell them that there will be a link to their site and send them a link to Stronghold Heaven so that they can see where their images will be used. If you are lucky, they will reply straight away giving you permission. More likely they will not reply at all, in which case you will need to look elsewhere. Please note that, for these purposes, HeavenGames is considered a commercial site (because we make a little money on the adverts, not a lot, but it's the idea that counts). This means a lot of pics that are in 'public' domain, will not be available to us, as they are for non-commerical use only. Permission to use external images is mandatory and we may need to see it before your article can be uploaded. We do have blanket permission to use images from some Castle Sites as long as they are credited, which might help you in your search.

6. The final bit.

a) When you have written your article and are happy with it, send it to me, preferably as a .txt file (though a .doc file is OK), together with any images you want to use. If the images are external, let me have the url where they can be found. Indicate in the article where you want each image to be.

b) I (or another angel) will edit it and query with you anything we don't understand, then we will code and upload the article and you will be sent the url so you can have a look and see if you are happy with it.

c) If not, we'll work on getting it how you want it; if so, it will be newsed and linked in to its appropriate place.

五、撰写论文初稿(writing the first draft)：

(1)材料和方法(methods and materials)：做了什么和怎样做?材料和方法是文章开始写作的最理想部分，这部分的内容作者最了解。写作要求：用过去时，尽可能按实验的先后顺序描述。

(2)结果(results)：发生了什么?基本写作要求：可用图、表或文字表达，三者间尽量减少重复。在正文部分叙述主要结果和意义，用图或表给出较详细的数据，用过去时。

(3)讨论(discussion)：所得结果是否为“前言”提出的关键问题的答案?结果是如何支持答 案的、如何证实假说的?基本写作要求：集中讨论与本结果有关的问题，突出本研究的创新及重要性，;与相关研究结果进行比较分析;给出结果所支持的结论;指 出前景、不足和改进。用现在时叙述已知或被证明的事实，用过去时描述本研究结果。

(4)文献(references)：与本研究方法、结果、讨论有关的其它研究有哪些?准确完整规范著录。

(5)前言(introduction)本研究的背景和目的是什么?试图回答的关键问题是什么?基本写作要求：本研究之目的和重要性;简要复习文献。

(6)致谢(acknowledgment)：除了作者，谁协助完成了本研究、分析结果并撰写论文?谁提供了基金和物质帮助?写作要求：仅列出对本工作提供特殊的实质性贡献者姓名;须得到被致谢者同意。

(7)摘要(abstract)：论文告诉我们什么(通常<250字)?摘要是论文要点的浓缩， 应在文章各主要部分完成后再写，这样有利于文章要点的提炼。优秀的摘要能有效抓住读者兴趣。写作要求：用含有必要词汇的短的简单句，以使摘要清楚而简洁? 避免使用缩写词和晦涩难懂的词句;用小标题叙述研究论文的各部分;用过去时(但问题的陈述和结论可用现在时);强调研究的创新和重要方面。

(8)文题(title)：本文关于什么?最佳文题的标准是用最少的必要术语准确描述论文的内容。写作要求：准确(accuracy)、简洁(brevity)、有效(effectiveness)和吸引人。

(9)作者(author list)：谁参与了本研究的设计、工作及论文的撰写?

(10)准备论文最后一稿(preparing the final manuscript)：论文初稿完成以后，必须对内容及格式进行反复推敲和修改，达到“投稿须知”的一切要求。绝大多数有经验的编辑都认为：不认真准备的稿件绝不是高水平科学研究成果的良好载体(A poorly prepared manuscript is，almost without fail，the carrier vehicle of poor science. Day AR.)。如果希望论文发表，在准备投稿时必须做到打字整洁、无错、符合期刊格式、含有期刊要求的所有材料。该过程一般分三步：再次阅读拟投期刊的“投稿须知”;用“投稿须知”中提供的“稿件对照检查表”(manuscript checklist, author's checklist)与自己论文一一核对;根据期刊要求打印输出，完成最后一稿。