Scientific Writing
1
Welcome
I Before you Begin
2
Before you Write
2.1
Key Insights
2.2
Before you Write
2.2.1
Step 1: Identify your Target Audience
2.2.2
Step 2: Know your Take-home Message
2.2.3
Step 3: Sketch an Outline
II Choosing Words
3
Choosing Words
3.1
Key Insights
3.2
Scientific Writing is Concise
3.2.1
Delete Unnecessary Phrases
3.2.2
Shorten Lengthy, Necessary Phrases
3.2.3
Delete Unnecessary
it … that
Phrases
3.2.4
Shorten Necessary it … that Phrases
3.3
Scientific Writing is Clear
3.3.1
Make clear statements when possible
3.3.2
Use
-ly
Adverbs Appropriately
3.3.3
Don’t Over-sell Your Results
3.3.4
Avoid Reporting Verbs
3.3.5
Avoid “Reserved” Words
3.3.6
Communicate Objectively
3.3.7
Tailor Jargon to your audience
3.3.8
Minimize Usage of Abbreviations/Acronyms
3.3.9
Activate “Buried Verbs”
3.4
Scientific Writing is Correct
3.4.1
Problem Words: Accuracy, Precision, and Reproducibility
3.4.2
Problem words: Since
3.4.3
Problem words: With
3.4.4
Problem words: Show
3.4.5
Constructive Ambiguity
3.4.6
Compound Nouns
3.4.7
Formal Versus Informal language
4
Abstract Edits
III Structuring Sentences
5
Structuring Sentences
5.1
Key Insights
5.2
Sentence Types
5.2.1
Simple Sentences
5.2.2
Compound Sentences
5.2.3
Complex Sentences
5.2.4
Combination Sentences: Compound & Complex
5.2.5
Problem Words: That and Which
5.2.6
Streamline Subject-Verb-Object Sentences
5.2.7
Active & Passive Voice: Use Word Order to Reflect Context
5.2.8
Use the Active and Passive Voices Appropriately
5.2.9
Clause Order Influences Your Message
5.2.10
Position the Sentence Topic Appropriately
5.3
Scientific Writing is Clear
5.3.1
Use Transitions Within Sentences
IV Building Paragraphs
6
Building Paragraphs
6.1
Key Insights
6.2
Organisation
6.2.1
Topic Sentence
6.2.2
Details
6.2.3
Concluding Sentence
6.3
Scientific Writing is Cohesive — Structure
6.3.1
Links-in-a-chain Paragraph Structure
6.3.2
Fixed Perspective Paragraph Structure
6.3.3
The Mixed Structure
6.4
Scientific Writing is Cohesive — Transitions
6.4.1
Vary Sentence Length
6.4.2
Transitions Between Sentences
6.5
Scientific Writing is Consistent
6.5.1
Use Grammatically Parallel Structures
6.5.2
Assigning Several Topics to a Paragraph
V Section Structures
7
The Introduction
7.1
Key Insights
7.2
Structure
7.3
Writing Check-list
7.3.1
State-of-knowledge
7.3.2
Lack-of-knowledge
7.3.3
Importance (Why should the reader care?)
7.3.4
Question
7.3.5
Experimental Approach
7.3.6
Answer
7.4
Details
7.4.1
Providing Background
7.4.2
Formulating the Question
7.5
Example
8
Materials & Methods
8.1
Key Insights
8.2
Structure
8.3
Writing Check-list
8.3.1
Sub-section Heading
8.3.2
Preparation
8.3.3
Indicators (Indirect measurement)
8.3.4
Statistics
8.3.5
Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
8.4
Details
8.4.1
Modification of Standard Procedures
8.4.2
Presenting Data and Results
8.4.3
Use Pre-existing Stock Phrases
9
Results
9.1
Key Insights
9.2
Structure
9.3
Writing Check-list
9.3.1
Question
9.3.2
Experiments
9.3.3
Results
9.3.4
Concluding Statement
9.4
Details
9.4.1
Sub-section Heading
9.4.2
Statistics
9.4.3
Transition Between Sub-sections
9.4.4
Tie-in with Figures and Tables
10
The Discussion
10.1
Key Insights
10.2
Structure
10.3
Writing Check-list
10.3.1
Answer
10.3.2
Support from Primary and Secondary Findings
10.3.3
Context
10.3.4
Strengths & Limitations
10.3.5
Future Work
10.3.6
Relevance & Conclusion
10.4
Details
10.4.1
Beginning of the Discussion
10.4.2
Relationship with Introduction
10.4.3
Referencing Tables and Figures
10.4.4
Multiple Conclusions
10.4.5
Effective Use of Topic Sentences
10.5
Ending the Discussion
10.6
Examples
11
The Abstract
11.1
Key Insights
11.2
Structure
11.3
Details
11.3.1
Verb Tense
11.3.2
The Abstract is a Paragraph
11.3.3
Quantitative Statements
11.4
Signalling the Elements of the Abstract
Preparations
Scientific Writing
Scientific Writing
Rick Scavetta
Chapter 1
Welcome
Here you’ll find the reference material for the Scientific Writing workshop.