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Introduction to Scientific Writing These slides, which are used in - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Introduction to Scientific Writing These slides, which are used in - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Introduction to Scientific Writing These slides, which are used in graduate and undergraduate engineering courses at Virginia Tech, come from Chapters 1, 16, and 17 in The Craft of Scientific Writing (3rd ed., Springer-Verlag). If you are an
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This presentation discusses the importance of scientific writing and introduces key principles
Importance of Scientific Writing Key Principles
audience purpose
- ccasion
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How well you communicate affects your career
Survey (Richard M. Davis)
Successful engineers spent 25% of work week writing
Survey (Wisconsin)
Professional engineers found writing their most useful subject
Survey (Virginia Tech)
Recruiters claim that engineers need more work on their writing
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How well you communicate affects the well-being of others
Space Shuttle Challenger (January 28, 1986) Explosion was caused by failure of O- rings in the solid rocket boosters Engineers knew of O-ring problems well before fatal launch Engineers failed to communicate seriousness of problem
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Scientists and engineers are called upon to communicate in many different situations
Conferences Lectures Meetings Posters Reports Articles Proposals Web Pages specific technical audiences non-technical audiences general technical audiences
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This presentation discusses the importance of scientific writing and introduces key principles
Importance of Scientific Writing Key Principles
audience purpose
- ccasion
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Scientific writing differs from other kinds of writing
Subject Matter Writing Constraints
audience purpose
- ccasion
Purpose of Writing
To inform To persuade
Writing Style
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You should begin the writing process by analyzing your constraints
Who they are What they know Why they will read How they will read
Audience
Format Formality Politics and ethics Process and deadline
Occasion
To inform To persuade
Purpose
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Three aspects of writing affect the way that readers assess your documents
Content Style Form
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Style is the way you communicate the content to the audience
wordswordswords wordswordswords wordswordswords wordswordswords words wordswords wordswordswords wordswordswordswords
Language style Illustration Structure
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Form embodies the format and mechanics
- f the writing
format
typography layout
mechanics
grammar usage punctuation spelling
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We can split the writing process into stages
Writing the First Draft Writing the First Draft Getting in the Mood Getting in the Mood Finishing Finishing Revising, Revising, Revising Revising, Revising, Revising
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An excellent way to improve your writing is to choose good models
AIP
Linus Pauling
Cal-Tech