Scientific Writing and Communication - 7

Scientific Writing

Writing is learned by writing

Practice, practice, practice

Choose good role models

Study good examples

But there are also techniques and rules to learn

Broad Content Issues

Check your use of supporting evidence.

Check your use of sources.

Check to see that you achieve your purpose.

Check the overall organization.

Check sentence structure and style.

Check paragraph structure.

Check format.

Avoiding Common Errors

of Grammar

One of the most important skills a writer can

have is the ability to compose clear, complete

sentences. The sentence is the basic unit of

communication in all forms of English.

Funk, McMahan, and Day

Elements of Grammar

Paragraphs Development

A paragraph is set of related sentences that work together to express or develop an idea.

Topical paragraphs: those that actually develop a topic or idea

Special paragraphs: those that introduce or conclude a piece of writing or that provide a transition between major parts.

Paragraphs Development cont.

Start writing by making an essay plan:

Paragraph 1: main idea 1

Paragraph 2: main idea 2

etc

The topic sentence is the main idea of a paragraph.

What’s missing?

First, Canada has an excellent health care system. All Canadians have access to medical services at a reasonable price. Second, Canada has a high standard of education. Finally, Canada’s cities are clean and efficiently managed.

Characteristics of Topical Paragraphs

It must discuss one topic only; that is, it must have unity of subject matter.

Unity in a paragraph requires consistent development of the idea that your paragraph intends to explain.

The paragraph as a whole should focus on that idea.

A topic sentence is a statement that summarizes the idea being developed in a paragraph.

It is often a single sentence.

“The process to elect president consists of several phases. …..”

Characteristics of Topical Paragraphs

It must say all that your reader needs to know about the topic; that is, it must be complete enough to do what it is intended to do.

How much explanation an idea requires depends on how much your reader needs

The sentences within the paragraph must follow some reasonable order that your reader can recognize and follow.

General to particular

Particular to general

Whole to parts

Question to answer, effect to cause

Coherence in writing The sentences within a paragraph must have

coherence; that is, they must be so tied together that your reader can read the paragraph as a unit, not as a collection of separate sentences. Coherence through repetitive structure Coherence through contrasted elements Coherence through connections between

paragraphs

Coherence through connections between paragraphs Coherence is necessary, not only within a

paragraph, but also between the several paragraphs of an essay, so that your reader can see how any paragraph is related to those that have come before.

Special Paragraphs

Introductory paragraphs

The function of an introductory paragraph is to lead your readers into your essay.

Transitional Paragraphs

A transitional paragraph is a signal of a change in content.

Concluding paragraphs

Not every paper needs a concluding paragraph

If an essay has adequately developed its thesis, nothing more is necessary.

Final Project

Abstract

Introduction

Content:

material and method

Result and discussion

Qualities of an Effective Abstract Uses one or more well-developed paragraphs,

which are unified, coherent, concise, and able to stand alone

Uses an introduction-body-conclusion structure in which the parts of the report are discussed in order: purpose, research questions, methods, findings, conclusions, recommendations�

Follows strictly the chronology of the report

Adds no new information - merely summarizes report

Contains stand-alone qualities - the abstract can be understood without reading the paper

Is intelligible to a wide audience

How Do I Write an Abstract?

1. Remember that an abstract typically contains: topic, research question, methods, results, and conclusion.

2. Read your paper in its entirety. Keep the above categories in mind and underline key points (outlined in #1) as you read.

3. After you finish reading, create your abstract step-by-step based on your underlined material.

A document's introduction prepares readers for the discussion

Topic?

Importance?

Introduction

Arrangement?

Background?

The introduction defines the scope and limitations of the work

Proposed Study on Effects of Alcohol

on Life Expectancy

Three classes of drinkers: non-drinkers moderate drinkers heavy drinkers

Ten-year study

Other effects, such as exercise, not considered

Medical histories not considered

Women may not experience the same effects

Men surveyed

scope

limitations

Many journal articles follow a set organization named IMRaD

Materials and Methods

Results

Discussion

Introduction

Tables and figures in the content

always be explained or

referred in the paragraph.

In a strong ending, you analyze results and give a future perspective

Analyze results from overall perspective

Conclusions

Analysis of Results

Several options: Make recommendations Discuss future work Repeat limitations

Future Perspective

Format dan Penulisan

Tata Tulis TA - TI ITTelkom

Buku Pedoman Ejaan dan Istilah

Gunakanlah buku Pedoman Umum Ejaan Bahasa Indonesia Yang Disempurnakan, Pedoman Umum Pembentukan Istilah, Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia, dan kamus-kamus bidang khusus yang diterbitkan oleh Pusat Pembinaan dan Pengembangan Bahasa, Departemen Pendidikan dan Kebudayaan, sebagai pedoman.