Scientific Writing: A Reader And Writer's Guide

by Jean-luc Lebrun

Overview

Given that scientific material can be hard to comprehend, sustained attention and memory retention become major reader challenges. Scientific writers must not only present their science, but also work hard to generate and sustain the interest of readers. Attention-getters, sentence progression, expectation-setting, and "memory offloaders" are essential devices to keep readers and reviewers engaged. The writer needs to have a clear understanding of the role played by each part of a paper, from its eye-catching title to its eye-opening conclusion. This book walks through the main parts of a paper; that is, those parts which create the critical first impression.

The unique approach in this book is its focus on the reader rather than the writer. Senior scientists who supervise staff and postgraduates can use the book to review drafts and to help with the writing as well as the science. Young researchers can find solid guidelines that reduce the confusion all new writers face. Published scientists can finally move from what feels right to what is right, identifying mistakes they thought were acceptable, and fully appreciating their responsibility: to guide the reader along carefully laid-out reading tracks.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9789812701442
Publisher:	World Scientific Publishing Company, Incorporated
Publication date:	04/10/2007
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	224
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.70(d)

Table of Contents

Preface     V
The Reading Toolkit     1
Require Less from Memory     3
The Forgotten Acronym     3
The Detached Pronoun     5
The Diverting Synonym     10
The Distant Background     11
The Broken Couple     14
The Word Overflow     16
Sustain Attention to Ensure Continuous Reading     18
Move Ideas Forward     19
Make Important Things Stand Out     21
Illustrate to Clarify     24
Question to Engage     24
Recreate Suspense     26
Reduce Reading Time     29
Visual Information Burgers     29
Separating Space     30
Trimmed and Discarded Text     31
Keep the Reader Motivated     35
Dash or Fuel the Hopes of Your Readers: Your Choice     36
Meet the Goals of Your Readers to Motivate Them     39
Bridge the Knowledge Gap     43
'Ground Zero' Bridges     45
The Research Logbook: Keeping Track of the Knowledge Gaps     48
Set the Reader's Expectations     52
Expectations from Grammar, Syntax, Punctuation, and Words     53
Expectations from Science     56
Set Progression Tracks for Fluid Reading     61
Three Topic-Based Progression Schemes to Make Reading Fluid     63
Non-Topic-Based Progression Schemes     66
Faulty Progression and Pause in Progression     71
Create Reading Momentum     81
The Text as Visual     83
The Subclause Hook     83
The Countdown     85
The Story     86
The Question     86
The Example     86
Control Reading Energy Consumption     88
The Energy Bill     89
The Role of Motivation     93
Punctuation: a Refuelling Station     94
Paper Structure and Purpose     99
Title: The Face of Your Paper     103
Six Titles to Learn About Titles     104
Six Techniques for Improving Titles     109
Purpose and Qualities of Titles     114
A Title to Test Your Skills     115
Abstract: The Heart of Your Paper     118
The Four Parts of an Abstract     120
Coherence Between Abstract and Title     122
The Tense of Verbs in an Abstract     126
Purpose and Qualities of Abstracts      126
Headings/Subheadings: The Skeleton of Your Paper     129
Three Principles for a Good Structure     130
Syntactic Rules for Headings     137
Purpose and Qualities of Structures     138
Introduction: The Hands of Your Paper     141
What Is Wrong with a Short Boilerplate Introduction?     141
The Introduction Answers Key Reader Questions     143
The Introduction Sets the Foundations of Your Credibility     148
The Introduction Is Active and Personal     151
The Introduction Is Engaging and Motivating     154
Introduction Part II: Popular Traps     159
The Trap of the Story Plot     159
The Trap of Plagiarism     165
The Trap of Imprecision     169
The Trap of Judgmental Adjectives     170
Purpose and Qualities of Introductions     172
Visuals: The Voice of Your Paper     174
Seven Principles for Good Visuals     176
Purpose and Qualities of Visuals     196
16 Conclusion: The Smile of Your Paper     198
Purpose and Qualities of Conclusions     200
Future Works     206