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3.3 Scientific style conventions 2 13 Oct Listening, presentation and All in GU01
3-5pm reading skills
3 20 Oct Writing skills All in GU01
3-5pm
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www.plainenglish.co.uk
Professor Michael E. McIntyre’s pages on lucidity:
http://www.atm.damtp.cam.ac.uk/people/mem/
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Example of acronym sickness Examples: Road maps and signposts
In section 4 the RDF-LGR technique (SPW) is Roadmap
used to estimate the rate at which small-scale This dissertation examines the hypothesis that
features in the PV field are produced. The RDF- the mesospheric two-day wave results from a
local baroclinic instability. The hypothesis is
LGR calculation can be interpreted as an presented in detail in chapter 2. The
estimate of the contribution of the dissipation to hypothesis leads to several predictions, in
the MLM mass budget. This estimate is compared particular that the amplitude of the wave will
be sensitive to the frictional drag resulting
to the actual contribution of SSD to the MLM from small-scale gravity waves. Experiments
mass budget. The agreement is good in a number designed to test these predictions are
of respects. The RDF-LGR results are also described in chapter 3.
compared to the results obtained from the same
model data by PWP using the CA-CG technique. Signpost
The following derivation assumes that the flow
Try not to use too many acronyms is in geostrophic balance. The possible
breakdown of geostrophic balance will be
Define all acronyms at first use! discussed in the next section.
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Writing exercise 1 Types of abstract (Turk and Kirkman 1989: Effective Writing
What’s wrong with this abstract? What’s better about this one?
Cover up bottom half of sheet! Don’t peep! The report describes an apparatus Thermal-insulating reactor-vessel
built to measure the resistance to jackets were tested on an
Read the top paragraph the flow of heat through various experimental 50 litre vessel, kept at
thermal-insulating reactor-vessel 500K internally, and atmospheric
What makes it difficult to understand? jackets, under conditions simulating temperature externally. Foamed
those obtaining in practice. The polymers and glass-fibre in layers of
How can you improve it? effects of a variety of thick, and 5 cm gave resistivities of about 2.7.
thin-film materials were studied, Thin films of aluminium foil and PVC
and the decrease in thermal gave resistivities of about 1.3. With
resistivity of foam due to ageing foam, ageing reduced resistivity by
was quantified. The relative about 7% per year. Thicker glass-
resistance of thicker foamed fibre blankets, up to 15 cm, were
polymers and glass fibre blankets is about 17% better than the same
shown and the cause of enhanced thickness of foamed polymers. We
resistivity of glass-fibre think this is because the multiple
combinations is suggested. irregular surfaces within the glass-
fibre blanket trap more air.
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3.2 How to write a scientific report How to cope with writer’s block
1. Brainstorm – jot down lots of ideas Don’t worry – we all get it!
Practice by writing regularly
2. Filter the ideas to find main points – the MESSAGE
(a bit each day)
3. Construct a story line: e.g. scientific questions Æ answers
Write anything you like for a few
4. Select and prepare the CONTENT (best plots, tables, etc.) sentences (stretch exercise)
(FLESH) Don’t try and be perfect
5. Plan a clear STRUCTURE – think of section headings – you can revise later
(SKELETON) Write naturally as though
6. Start writing a section (e.g. abstract) talking to the reader
7. Sketch the ideas that will be in each of the paragraphs Avoid outside distractions
8. Print out a draft report – double-spaced with wide margins Imitate the style of good papers
9. Revise carefully – remove dead wood, rewrite, check facts you have read
Know when to stop
– avoid being overly perfectionist
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3.3 Scientific writing style Tips on grammar
Use short simple sentences: Subject verb object.
Scientific writing has it’s own specific style unlike Use the passive voice e.g. An experiment was performed …
that used elsewhere. It is concise, accurate, and
Present evidence impassively but write active punchy
rather impersonal. A more in-your-face emotional
sentences
style (e.g. journalistic style) is inappropriate. So
also is a chatty verbal style, ain’t it?! Keep the verb near the subject (e.g. Figure 5 shows …)
Be direct with verbs e.g. the model replicates … rather than the
model is replicating
There are stylistic rules for Use tenses consistently (e.g. past, present, future)
Text Write in English – don’t translate from other languages
References Remember readers may not be native English speakers
Equations Use ToolsÆSpelling and Grammar in Word on ALL text
Figures
Tables
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Example of reference list entries Writing exercise
Andrews, D. G., and M. E. McIntyre, 1978: An exact theory Pair up into partners
of nonlinear waves on a Lagrangian-mean flow. J. Fluid
Mech., 89, 609-646. Read your partner’s talk title and abstract
Bell, J. S., 1987: Speakable and Unspeakable in Quantum Is the title informative?
Mechanics. Cambridge University Press. 212pp. What are the main points?
Gregory, A. R., 1999: Numerical simulations of winter Weaknesses? Grammar?
stratospheric dynamics. PhD Thesis, University of Dead wood – unnecessary words?
Reading, UK.
Tables Figures
ÅGood example: ÅGood example:
• clear • clear
• no vertical lines • good labels
• just 3 horizontal lines • not cluttered
• well-labelled