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.

These remarks are tentative;after we've used the book in the Research Writing class, I'll revise them.

-Lawrie Hunter

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!