Scientists Must Write: A Guide to Better Writing for Scientists, Engineers and Students

by Barrass; Robert

• ISBN13: 9780415269964
• ISBN10: 0415269962
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Nonspecific Binding
• Copyright: 2002-07-05
• Publisher: RoutledgeFalmer

Summary

To be effective as a scientist or engineer - professional or student - you must write well. This book, by a scientist, will help you to write: to observe, remember, think and plan; to manage your time and avoid stress; and to improve your communication skills. Extensively revised and updated, this valuable reference takes into account the huge changes in information technology since the very successful first edition.

Table of Contents

Preface	xv
Acknowledgements	xvii
Scientists must write	1	(7)
Writing as part of science	2	(4)
The scientific method	2	(1)
The publication of research	3	(1)
The popularisation of science	4	(1)
Developing essential skills	5	(1)
Improve your writing	6	(2)
What scientists and engineers write	6	(1)
Consider any comments on your written work	7	(1)
Write a set of instructions	7	(1)
Personal records	8	(10)
Writing helps you to remember	8	(1)
Making good notes	8	(1)
Writing helps you to observe	9	(4)
Keeping a record of practical work	10	(3)
Writing helps you to think	13	(2)
Essay writing as an aid to thinking	14	(1)
Writing a progress report as an aid to thinking	14	(1)
Capturing your thoughts	14	(1)
Being well organised	15	(1)
Improve your writing	15	(3)
Use wide-lined A4 paper for all your written work	15	(1)
Date everything you write	15	(1)
Write as part of each investigation	16	(1)
Use writing as an aid to thinking and planning	16	(1)
Use writing and drawing as aids to observation	16	(1)
Consider how writing helps you with your work	16	(2)
Routine communications	18	(12)
Letters	18	(3)
Memoranda	21	(2)
Electronic mail	23	(2)
Improve your writing	25	(5)
Put it in writing	25	(1)
Ensure each communication is well presented	25	(1)
Keep a copy	25	(1)
Prepare an application for employment or for promotion	26	(4)
How scientists should write	30	(10)
Characteristics of scientific writing	30	(5)
Explanation	30	(1)
Clarity	30	(1)
Completeness	30	(1)
Impartiality	31	(1)
Order	31	(1)
Accuracy	32	(1)
Objectivity	32	(2)
Simplicity	34	(1)
Scientific writing	35	(1)
Improve your writing	35	(5)
Criticise other people's writing	35	(2)
Criticise your own writing	37	(3)
Think -- plan -- write -- revise	40	(14)
Thinking and planning	40	(4)
Collecting information and ideas	40	(1)
Preparing a topic outline	41	(1)
Putting your paragraphs in order	42	(2)
Writing	44	(2)
Revising	46	(2)
Improve your writing	48	(6)
Practise essay writing	50	(1)
Study the technique of successful essayists	50	(1)
Prepare a topic outline	51	(1)
Consider how examination papers are set and marked	51	(1)
In examinations make things easy for the assessors	52	(1)
Make good use of your time in examinations	53	(1)
Choosing words	54	(13)
The meaning of words	54	(6)
Some words commonly confused	55	(3)
Other words commonly misused	58	(1)
Grandiloquence	59	(1)
Superfluous words	60	(2)
Technical terms	62	(1)
Nomenclature	63	(1)
Trade names	64	(1)
Abbreviations, contractions and acronyms	64	(1)
Improve your writing	65	(2)
Take an interest in words	65	(1)
Use your dictionary	65	(1)
Choose words with care	65	(1)
Define technical terms	66	(1)
Using words	67	(13)
Words in context	67	(3)
The repetition of a word	67	(1)
The position of a word	68	(1)
Idiomatic expressions	69	(1)
Circumlocution	70	(5)
Verbosity	70	(1)
Reasons for verbosity	71	(3)
The need for comment words and connecting words	74	(1)
Improve your writing	75	(5)
Be clear and concise	75	(1)
Edit the work of others	76	(1)
Write precis and summaries	77	(1)
Write a book review	78	(2)
Helping your readers	80	(11)
Writing for easy reading	80	(5)
How to begin	81	(1)
Control	81	(1)
Emphasis	82	(1)
Sentence length	83	(1)
Rhythm	84	(1)
Style	84	(1)
Capturing and holding your readers' interest	85	(1)
Using good English	86	(2)
Obstacles to effective communication	87	(1)
Rules for efficient communication	88	(1)
Improve your writing	88	(3)
Learn from people who write well	88	(1)
Learn by writing	89	(1)
Check your writing for readability	89	(2)
Numbers contribute to precision	91	(14)
Using numbers and SI units	91	(4)
Numbers	91	(2)
SI units	93	(2)
Preparing tables	95	(2)
Preparing graphs and charts	97	(8)
Line graphs	98	(1)
Histograms	99	(1)
Bar charts	100	(3)
Pie charts	103	(2)
Illustrations contribute to clarity	105	(12)
Using illustrations as aids to explanation	105	(5)
Photographs	107	(1)
Line drawings	107	(2)
Plans and maps	109	(1)
Diagrams that are not drawn to scale	109	(1)
Preparing illustrations	110	(5)
Dimensions	111	(2)
Drawing	113	(1)
Completed illustrations	114	(1)
Improve your writing	115	(2)
Writing legends to figures (captions)	115	(1)
Checking your illustrations and legends	116	(1)
Finding information	117	(15)
Reading as part of science	117	(2)
Other people's work	118	(1)
Sources of information	119	(7)
Dictionaries	119	(1)
Encyclopaedias	119	(1)
Handbooks	119	(1)
Standards	120	(1)
Directories	120	(1)
Books	120	(2)
Reviews	122	(1)
Specialist journals	122	(2)
The Internet (World Wide Web)	124	(2)
Intranets	126	(1)
Improve your writing	126	(6)
Reading to some purpose	126	(1)
Making notes as you read	127	(2)
Citing sources of information	129	(2)
Writing a book review	131	(1)
How to write a report on an investigation	132	(18)
Planning your report	132	(4)
Preparing a topic outline	132	(3)
Numbering the sections of your report	135	(1)
The parts of a research report	136	(10)
The Front Cover	136	(3)
The Title Page	139	(1)
The Abstract or Summary	140	(1)
The Table of Contents	141	(1)
The Introduction	141	(1)
The Materials and Methods (or Procedure)	141	(1)
The Results	142	(1)
The Discussion	142	(1)
The Conclusions	143	(1)
The Recommendations	143	(1)
The Acknowledgements	144	(1)
The Bibliography or List of References	145	(1)
The Appendices	145	(1)
The Index	146	(1)
The Distribution List	146	(1)
Theses and students' project reports	146	(4)
Theses	146	(1)
Students' project reports	147	(3)
Writing a report on your investigation	150	(13)
Write from the start	150	(1)
Preparing your manuscript (first draft)	150	(1)
Improve your writing	151	(9)
Checking your manuscript (first draft)	151	(2)
Preparing your typescript	153	(2)
Checking your typescript	155	(1)
Preparing the index	155	(1)
Marking the typescript for the printer	156	(1)
Corresponding with an editor	157	(1)
A check list for referees (and authors)	158	(1)
Checking the proofs	159	(1)
Summary	160	(3)
How to prepare a report on an investigation or a paper for publication	160	(3)
Talking about science	163	(32)
Preparing your talk	163	(9)
Giving a poster presentation	164	(1)
Talking to an audience	164	(4)
Preparing visual aids	168	(1)
Using a blackboard, whiteboard or flip chart	169	(1)
Using an overhead projector	170	(1)
Using slides	171	(1)
Delivering your talk	172	(2)
Appendices
A Punctuation	174	(7)
B Spelling	181	(6)
C Computer appreciation	187	(8)
References	195	(2)
Index	197