Writing a good research paper takes effort; more so if there is a page limit. Yet this skill is required of every researcher, who, more often than not, fumbles his or her way through. Good grammar is only a start; care and craft must be applied to turn a mediocre paper into a memorable one. Writing skills can indeed be honed. In this abridged talk, I will highlight the common mistakes many researchers make, and offer practical pointers to pack more punch into your paper. Needless to say, the talk will be biased: I will speak not from linguistic theories, but from personal experience, sharing what has, and has not, worked for me. I will cover two major sections of a technical paper: the Title and Introduction. I will discuss the purpose of each section, present common mistakes, and provide concrete examples of good writing. The intended audience is the graduate student writing his/her first paper, but everyone is welcome. Seasoned writers are encouraged to share their experience of how they improved their writing.
