REU Communications Class

Lauren Shepherdlbshelby@u.washington.edu

Foege N303

REU Communications Class

The Science of Science Writing

Quotes on Scientific Writing

Write for a scientist in another field. Don't underestimate your readers' intelligence, but don't overestimate their knowledge of a particular field. When writing about science, don't simplify the science; simplify the writing.Julie Ann Miller, Editor of Science News

One way to find out if you have succeeded (in writing clearly) is to show your draft to colleagues in other specialties. If they do not understand, neither, very probably, will The Lancet's staff. The Lancet

Objectives

1. Disseminate knowledge

2. Communicate finding

3. Provide record of work

Significance

Establish expertise

Build reputation

Types of Articles

Review - summarize field

Research - original findings

Brief communication - “hot method”

Reminders

Publish original work

Don’t falsify data

Don’t plagiarize

Writing Suggestions

Use active voice (avoid passive when at all possible)

Use past tense*

Balance substance and structure*Introduction & discussion

Tips for Logical Prose

1. Determine main message(s)2. Topic ➙ emphasis3. Old ➙ new4. Find the action5. Clarify!

Strategies for Writing

Think in sections

Determine key ideas

Flesh out details

Add transitions

Article Structure1. Title2. Abstract3. Introduction4. Materials and methods5. Results6. Discussion (conclusion)7. Acknowledgments

Structural DetailsBeginning:objectives and hypotheses

Middle:methods and data

End:conclusions and implications

Title

Attract attention

Succinct and catchy

Describe messageA reversible wet/dry adhesive inspired by mussels and geckos

A structure for Deoxyribose Nucleic Acid

Imaging the biogenesis of individual HIV-1 virions in live cells

Abstract

Acts as gatekeeper to paper

Summarize paper (150-300 words)

1-2 sentences per section

Give away take-home message

Introduction

• Survey field• Review status• Construct motivation

Background

Objective• How you fit in• Hypothesis • What’s novel

Materials and Methods

Describe and cite (general reader)

Enough detail for peers to reproduce

Supplemental information (expert)

Results

‘Big picture’ description of experiments

Present the Data

Results

Present in logical order

Support objectives and hypotheses

Present analyzed data

Integrate text and data

Discussion

Examine and explain results

Place results in context

Discuss implications (theoretical & practical)

Summarize evidence for conclusionsDiscuss − do not repeat − Results

Acknowledgments

Facilities

Significant assistancediscussionsphysical and technicalreagents or supplies

Funding

5 Practical Tips

1. Create figures and results2. Outline each section3. Provide context and impress4. Connect dots for readers5. Have peers review paper

Peer Review Session

Create a rough draft of your paper1.Introduction2.Methods3.Preliminary figures and results

Homework: Due July 30

Revised Poster1.Introduction2.Methods graphics or schematic3.Preliminary figures and results

Books and Articles:How to Write and Publish a Scientific Paper, Robert Day.Doing Science, Ivan Valiela.

The Science of Scientific Writing, Gopen, G. and Swan, J. American Scientist, 78, 550-558: 1990.Me Write Pretty One Day: How to Write a Good Scientific Paper. Wells, W. Journal of Cell Biology, 165, 757-758: 2004.

Resources