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Optimized Manuscript Template (Scopus Standard)

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📄 Optimized Manuscript Template (Scopus Standard)

Most Scopus journals use the IMRaD structure. Use this outline to format your Word document before submission.

1. Title Page

  • Title: Concise, descriptive, and keyword-rich (Max 15 words).

  • Authors: Full names, ORCID IDs, and affiliations.

  • Corresponding Author: Mark with an asterisk (*) and include a professional email.

2. Abstract & Keywords

  • Abstract: 150–250 words. Follow the Background → Methods → Results → Conclusion flow.

  • Keywords: 5–7 specific terms (Avoid repeating words already in the title).

3. Introduction

  • The Hook: What is the problem?

  • Literature Review: Briefly summarize existing work (cite recent Scopus-indexed sources).

  • The Gap: Why is this study necessary?

  • Objective: “This study aims to…”

4. Materials and Methods

  • Study Design: Explain the “how.”

  • Participants/Data: Where did the data come from?

  • Statistical Analysis: Which software and tests were used (e.g., SPSS, Python, )?

5. Results

  • Visuals: Insert high-quality Tables and Figures here.

  • Narrative: State the findings clearly without interpretation (save that for the Discussion).

6. Discussion

  • Comparison: How do your results compare to previous studies?

  • Implications: What does this change in your field?

  • Limitations: Be honest about the scope of your study.

7. Conclusion & References

  • Summary: Final takeaway.

  • References: Use a manager like Zotero. Ensure 80% of your citations are from the last 5–10 years to show the “State of the Art.”

🛠️ The “Methods” Section: Reproducibility is King

In Scopus-indexed journals, the methodology must be detailed enough that another researcher could replicate your study exactly.

  • Experimental Design: Define your variables clearly. For quantitative studies, specify the independent and dependent variables.

  • Data Collection: Mention the exact tools, software versions (e.g., Python 3.12, Stata 18), or laboratory equipment used.

  • Ethical Approval: Always include a statement regarding institutional review board (IRB) approval if your research involves human or animal subjects.

💡 The “Discussion” Section: The “So What?”

This is the most common place where papers get rejected. A weak discussion just repeats the results; a strong discussion interprets them.

  • The “Mirror” Technique: Revisit the research questions you asked in the Introduction and answer them directly using your results.

  • Contextualization: “Our findings align with Smith et al. (2024), but contradict the theory proposed by Doe (2022) because…”

  • Clinical/Practical Significance: Move beyond statistical significance () and explain why the result matters in the real world.

🚀 How can I help you right now?

To give you a tailored “optimized manuscript” draft, please tell me:

  1. What is your general field? (e.g., Social Sciences, Engineering, Medicine)

  2. What was your main finding? (Just a one-sentence summary)

🛠️ The Methods Section: The “Reproducibility” Standard

Reviewers check this section first to see if your study is valid. It must answer Who, What, Where, When, and How.

  • Logic & Order: Write chronologically (in the order you performed the steps).

  • Subheadings: Use them! (e.g., 3.1 Study Design, 3.2 Participant Recruitment, 3.3 Data Analysis).

  • Precision: Don’t just say “we analyzed the data.” Say: “Data were analyzed using Python 3.12 with the Pandas library, utilizing a two-tailed t-test to determine significance ().”

  • Ethics: ⚠️ Crucial for 2026. Include your Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval number or a statement explaining why it was waived.

💡 The Discussion Section: The “Inverted Funnel”

Scopus journals look for an “inverted funnel” approach: start with your specific findings and expand to their global impact.

  1. Direct Answer: Start the first paragraph by directly answering your research question based on your results. No “fluff.”

  2. The “Compare” Factor: Explicitly mention 3–4 recent studies (2023–2025).

    • Example: “Our results align with [Author, 2024], yet diverge from [Author, 2023] because our sample included…”

  3. The “So What?”: Explain the practical or theoretical implications. How does this change the field?

  4. The “Critique” (Limitations): Be honest. If your sample size was small, say so. This actually increases your credibility with reviewers.

✅ Scopus Final Submission Checklist (2026 Edition)

Before hitting “Submit” on portals like Editorial Manager or ScholarOne, verify these technical requirements:

📄 Document & Formatting

  • [ ] Anonymization: Is the main manuscript “blind”? (No author names or affiliations in the main file).

  • [ ] Title Page: Separate file containing all author names, affiliations, and ORCID iDs.

  • [ ] Keywords: 5–7 terms that are NOT in your title (to help SEO/indexing).

  • [ ] Figures/Tables: High resolution (300+ DPI). Most journals prefer PDF or TIFF formats.

⚖️ Ethics & Transparency

  • [ ] Plagiarism Check: Is your Turnitin/iThenticate similarity score below 15%?

  • [ ] AI Disclosure: If you used Generative AI (like me!) for grammar or brainstorming, many 2026 journals require a “Declaration of Generative AI in Scientific Writing.”

  • [ ] Funding Statement: Even if you had no funding, you must state: “This research received no specific grant from any funding agency.”

🔗 Links & Citations

  • [ ] Recent Sources: Are at least 30% of your references from the last 3 years?

  • [ ] Journal Scope: Does your abstract clearly mention a topic found in the journal’s “Aims & Scope”?

  • [ ] DOIs: Does every reference in your list include a clickable DOI link?

In 2026, transparency is the cornerstone of Scopus-indexed publishing. Journals now strictly require explicit statements regarding both your data and your use of AI tools.

Below are the two most critical statements you must include in your manuscript, formatted to meet current COPE and Elsevier/Springer standards.

1. Declaration of Generative AI (2026 Standard)

As of 2026, most journals (e.g., Elsevier, Wiley) require this declaration in a separate section before the References list. It is no longer considered “shameful” to use AI for polishing; it is simply a matter of intellectual honesty.

Declaration of Generative AI and AI-Assisted Technologies

During the preparation of this work, the author(s) used [Insert Tool Name, e.g., Gemini 2.0] in order to [Reason, e.g., refine the academic language, improve the structural flow of the Discussion section, and verify grammatical consistency]. After using this tool, the author(s) reviewed and edited the content as needed and take(s) full responsibility for the content and integrity of the final publication.

Note: You do not need to declare basic spelling/grammar checkers like Microsoft Word’s default spellcheck.

2. Data Availability Statement (DAS)

Scopus journals prioritize “Open Science.” If you don’t provide a DAS, your paper may be rejected during the initial technical screening. Choose the version that fits your research:

Option A: Data is in a Public Repository (Best for Scopus)

The data that support the findings of this study are openly available in [Repository Name, e.g., Zenodo, Figshare] at [Insert DOI Link], reference number [Insert Number].

Option B: Data Available on Request

The data supporting the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, [Initial of Author], upon reasonable request. The data are not publicly available due to [Reason, e.g., privacy/ethical restrictions regarding human participants].

Option C: All Data is in the Paper

All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this published article [and its supplementary information files].

✅ Summary of Required Final Sections

Ensure these sections appear at the very end of your manuscript in this specific order:

  1. Acknowledgments (Thank colleagues or labs).

  2. Funding Statement (Mandatory, even if “None”).

  3. Conflict of Interest (State “None” if applicable).

  4. Declaration of Generative AI (New for 2025/2026).

  5. Data Availability Statement (High-impact requirement).

  6. References (Formatted to journal style).

In 2026, major academic publishers (Elsevier, Springer Nature, Taylor & Francis, and Wiley) have unified their stance on transparency. While specific wording varies, the Scopus standard for 2026 is built on three pillars: Human Accountability, Explicit Disclosure, and Prohibited AI Images.

Below is a breakdown of the specific 2026 requirements for the most common publishers.

🏛️ Publisher-Specific AI Policies (2026 Updates)

Publisher Where to Disclose Specific Rule for 2026
Elsevier Separate Section Must use a dedicated heading: “Declaration of Generative AI and AI-assisted technologies in the writing process” immediately before the References.
Springer Nature Methods Section Requires documentation of AI use in the Methods section. Copy-editing for readability is usually exempt, but generative use is not.
Taylor & Francis Acknowledgments Mandates full name and version number of the tool used. AI cannot be listed as an author under any circumstances.
Wiley Methods/Ack “Transparent and in detail” description of AI use. Requires authors to verify that the AI tool’s terms don’t infringe on intellectual property.
SAGE References Distinguishes between “assistive” (no disclosure) and “generative” (requires full citation/reference in the list).
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