introduction to science research writing this textbook is very useful for engineering students who...
TRANSCRIPT
Introduction to Science Research Writing
This textbook is very usefulfor engineering studentswho are writing research papers.
The approach taken hereis quite different from that of most writing textbooks.
Glasman-Deal, H. (2010) Science Research Writing. Imperial College Press.
Introduction to Science Research Writing
Key features:
1. Analysis of the 'communication moves' in each section of the research paper (RP).
2. Grammar and writing skills: discussions of language features related to each RP section.
3. Vocabulary lists: function-based listsof vocabulary used in technical academic writing.
Science Research Writing
Communication moves
In this textbook, there is an
analysis of the communication
moves in each section of the
technical research paper.
"Communication moves"
is a concept from linguistics.
Communication moves
When we communicate,
our communication almost always
has a purpose or goal.
E.g. "Please may I have a Coke?"
Goal: getting a coke.
E.g. "Do you have any butter?"
Goal: finding out if the store has butter.
Goal: finding out where the butter is.
Goal: getting some butter.
Communication moves
The things we say or write
in order to achieve a goal
are called 'communication moves.'
In a research paper,
every sentence in every section
is a communication move.
Communication moves
Science Research Writingteaches you how to identify the communication moves in a RP
and guides you through the process of deciding the communication moves
in YOUR paper.
Communication moves
Academic Writing for Graduate Students
also uses communication moves,
but only for the Introduction
and Discussion sections of the RP.
Swales, J.M. and Feak, C.B. (2004) Academic Writing for Graduate Students.
(2nd edition). U. of Michigan Press.
Communication moves: comparison of AWGS and SRW
Grammar and writing skills: In each chapter SRW explains some language features related to the sectionunder discussion.
Please note that some of the language forms in SRWare in fact informal academic English,and thus are not suitable for use in many journals.
You have to do good dossier work to decide which grammar forms may be used safely in the journal that you are targeting.
Another good kind of dossier work is to sort the lists in SRW into formal and informal, precise and vague.
Vocabulary lists
SRW provides function-based lists of vocabulary that are particularly useful in the writing of each section of the RP.
Again, you have to be careful: the words in the list are not all suitable for writing Formal Academic English (FAE).
Since the definition of FAE is a pragmatic definition, you need to do good dossier work on papers in your target journal. This kind of dossier work must be done as far in advance of writing as possible. I.e., please begin yesterday!