Journal Article•
The Science of Scientific Writing
TL;DR: The authors argue that complexity of thought need not lead to impenetrability of expression, and demonstrate a number of rhetorical principles that can produce clarity in communication without oversimplifying scientific issues.
Abstract: Science is often hard to read Most people assume that its difficulties are born out of necessity, out of the extreme complexity of scientific concepts, data and analysis We argue here that complexity of thought need not lead to impenetrability of expression; we demonstrate a number of rhetorical principles that can produce clarity in communication without oversimplifying scientific issues The results are substantive, not merely cosmetic: Improving the quality of writing actually improves the quality of thought
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39 citations
TL;DR: This paper proposed a directed writing-to-learn approach to promote conceptual learning of the Lewis dot structure model and transform students' beliefs about the nature of science as they evaluate the early model presented by Lewis and compare it to the conventional model taught in lecture.
Abstract: Traditional methods for teaching the Lewis dot structure model emphasize rule-based learning and often neglect the purpose and function of the model. Thus, many students are unable to extend their understanding of molecular structures in new contexts. The assignment described here addresses this issue by asking students to read and write about the 1916 paper, in which Lewis proposed the original ideas that led to the dot structure model taught in modern general chemistry courses. This directed writing-to-learn approach is designed to promote conceptual learning of the Lewis dot structure model and to transform students’ beliefs about the nature of science as they evaluate the early model presented by Lewis and compare it to the conventional model taught in lecture. Participating students responded to a pre–post survey, which indicated modest gains in their conceptions of the nature of science. The assignment is designed for college-level general chemistry students but may be modified for use in high schoo...
38 citations
TL;DR: If authors can accomplish the writing of the 18 paragraphs of text described in this article, they will produce a manuscript that is properly organized, correct in its essentials, and ready for the finishing hand of a seasoned writer and mentor.
Abstract: OBJECTIVE. Writing scientific manuscripts can be unnecessarily daunting, if not paralyzing. This paralysis is usually the result of one of two reasons: either researchers do not know how to start, or they do not know what to put where. However, most radiology manuscripts follow a definable blueprint. In this article, I attempt to lay out the paragraph-by-paragraph development of a typical radiology paper.CONCLUSION. If authors can accomplish the writing of the 18 paragraphs of text described in this article, they will produce a manuscript that is properly organized, correct in its essentials, and ready for the finishing hand of a seasoned writer and mentor.
37 citations
TL;DR: 12 variables of linguistic complexity were selected as a proxy for depicting scientific writing and compared to the scientific impact of articles, suggesting that textual complexity plays little role in scientific impact in data sets.
37 citations
TL;DR: In this article, an international web-based survey was launched to draw generalizations about the diverse international river restoration community, and the results, posted on the web, act as a database of perceptions and individual experiences, from which the restoration community can make their own interpretations.
Abstract: Few sources exist to draw generalizations about the incredibly diverse international river restoration community. Generalizations in the restoration literature tend to be grounded on individual experiences or logical conjecture. To fill this perceived gap, an international web-based survey was launched. Over 500 respondents from 37 different countries participated. The results, posted on the web, act as a database of perceptions and individual experiences, from which the restoration community can make their own interpretations. With three examples, we contrast scientific conjecture with the perceptions of the restoration community who participated in this survey.
36 citations
Additional excerpts
...Most of these generalizations are properly proposed as conjecture in the introduction or discussion sections of papers ( Gopen and Swan 1991 )....
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Book•
07 Aug 2002TL;DR: The Style: Ten Lessons in clarity and grace as mentioned in this paperocusing on the single most serious problem that mature writers face: a wordy, tangled, too-complex prose style, is a useful resource for any mature writer.
Abstract: In his preface, Joseph M. Williams says that Style: ten lessons in clarity and grace focuses on “the single most serious problem that mature writers face: a wordy, tangled, too-complex prose style.” His book deals with that problem admirably. Indeed, the advice and examples furnished by Williams are varied and sophisticated enough to make it a useful resource for any mature writer — even the mature writer whose prose is clear and concise.
381 citations