Jennifer Boyle - Writing for Science Students

Writing for Science Students

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Writing for Science Students

Jennifer Boyle and Scott Ramsay

Jennifer Boyle and Scott Ramsay 2017

All rights reserved. No reproduction, copy or transmission of this publication may be made without written permission.

No portion of this publication may be reproduced, copied or transmitted save with written permission or in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, or under the terms of any licence permitting limited copying issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency, Saffron House, 610 Kirby Street, London EC1N 8TS.

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The authors have asserted their rights to be identified as the authors of this work in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

First published 2017 by

PALGRAVE

Palgrave in the UK is an imprint of Macmillan Publishers Limited, registered in England, company number 785998, of 4 Crinan Street, London, N1 9XW.

Palgrave and Macmillan are registered trademarks in the United States, the United Kingdom, Europe and other countries.

ISBN 9781137571519 paperback

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List of Figures

List of Tables

List of Boxes

Acknowledgments

In writing this book, we consulted with many colleagues, both at the University of Glasgow and beyond. In particular, we would like to thank Dr Chris Finlay and Dr Mary McVey from the School of Life Sciences, and Dr Eric Yao from the School of Physics and Astronomy. The experiences they shared of grading and giving feedback to large first-year classes were instrumental in shaping the sections of the book that orient readers with the expectations of a marker. Additionally, their feedback on our critical analysis chapter was indispensable.

We would also like to thank Dr Amanda Sykes and, from Edinburgh Napier University, Dr Anne Tierney, prior collaborations with whom formed the basis for our advice on how to incorporate other peoples work.

Another long-time classroom collaborator, Heather Worlledge-Andrew, helped to inform the chapters on finding materials. As a former Subject Librarian for the College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences at the University of Glasgow, the experience she has shared over the years in the intricacies of how to sensibly find and access journal articles was invaluable.

Finally, we would like to thank our PhD supervisors, Dr Peter Dominy and Dr Marilyn Dunn, who played such a large part in helping us to shape our own writing styles during the course of writing our PhD dissertations.

Chapter

Introduction

Top 3 staff comments on scientific writing:

We offer guidance on writing in class, but until students actually have a go at it themselves, it still seems natural that they will panic.

Overall quality of written work is often poor, which is frustrating when we can see that the students have the necessary scientific knowledge. We cant give full marks.

Lab reports are the classic example of what scientific writing means, but they make up only a very small part of a successful scientists written output.

Top 3 student comments on scientific writing:

I didnt really enjoy English at school, so Im not looking forward to having to write.

The structure and format confuses me what information should go where?

Its hard to express complicated things clearly without just quoting from someone else.

Pick up this book if you want something designed to meet the specific needs of science students. There are plenty of writing guides for the university audience, but most of them cater to students who spend their whole lives writing essays: students in the arts and the humanities. Scientific degrees dont work that way, and scientific writing doesnt look the same as theirs.

This book actively works to give you an understanding of scientific writing from start to finish, and an understanding of what your markers want. Its divided into three sections: Understanding Scientific Writing, Preparing to Write, and Getting Down to Writing. The sections are designed to take you through every stage of the writing process, from understanding the assignment youve been set, to researching and planning, right through to drafting and editing.

Where relevant, weve incorporated example scientific sentences and paragraphs to help illustrate our points and solidify your understanding.