Credentials Credentials Credentials Credentials Without sustaining injury Without sustaining injury Without sustaining injury Without sustaining injury English+ Philosophy, Leiden University Common Pitfalls of Common Pitfalls of Common Pitfalls of Common Pitfalls of Scientific Writing in English Scientific Writing in English Scientific Writing in English Scientific Writing in English Editor, copy writer, trainer, coach, tutor Academic Writing at Leiden University Since 2008: Editor scientific articles Since 2009: Teacher Scientific writing for Lisette van Hulst, MA publication in bio-medical journals Info@textandtraining.com Currently: Courses in Teaching Hospitals all over the Netherlands (12 so far…) 1 1 2 2 1 1 2 2 Todays topic’s Todays topic’s Todays topic’s Todays topic’s Aim of my courses To make you more effective in How to be effective in scientific writing scientific writing 1. Strategy: guidelines for your choices 2. Structure: organizing your content What effect do you want to achieve? 3. Content: the overall story To be published 4. Style: word choice and sentence structure To be read and understood 5. How to find an interesting title To be quoted 3 3 3 3 4 4 4 4 Your readers’ expectations Writing for experts Academic conventions How much do they already know? Context What do they want to know? Content Type of content Specific vocabulary, technical terms Type of research When will they read your article? Applicability of results In theory After dinner In practice Sunday afternoon 5 5 5 5 6 6 6 6 1
1. Strategy Strategic choices Clarity and precision are leading To save time and effort � Overall structure: aimed at clear overview For writers and readers! � � Vocabulary: academic, clear and precise Apply accepted structures � Spelling: formal and consistently AE or BE Choose appropriate words � Italics etc: Follow journal’s instructions Offer a clear argumentation � Paragraphs: offering a clear overview, easy reference and readability Write for peer reviewers! 7 7 8 8 7 7 8 8 The journal’s requirements 2. Structure: IMRaD Information for authors Recommendations for the Conduct, Reporting, Editing, and Publication of Scholarly Work in Medical Journals International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (>500 journals) www.ICMJE.org 9 9 9 9 10 10 10 10 Known versus new Facts versus argumentation 11 11 11 11 12 12 12 12 2
Scientific argument Tip Write the Introduction and the Method a.s.a.p., preferably before you start your actual research! Particularly useful for reviews… 13 13 14 14 13 13 14 14 Structure of the content Structure of the content 15 15 15 15 16 16 16 16 The overall story 3. Content 3. Content 3. Content 3. Content Guidelines: Introduction Discussion 1. Identify the problem 1. Repeat the study aim Scientifically correct area and its relevance and key results Readable 2. Briefly review relevant 2. Compare your results previous studies with previous findings Clear 3. State open questions 3. Explain implications 4. Formulate the aim of 4. State limitations and your study. suggest further research 5. Draw your conclusion 17 17 17 17 18 18 18 18 3
Discussion: 9 Moves Pitfall: boring opening 1. Repeat research purpose and emphasize Alcoholism is a The clinical diagnosis of scientific value small bowel disease is significant public health complicated by non- 2. Summarise key results problem. specific symptoms and a 3. Compare with previous studies (in line with..) Chronic obstructive low index of suspicion. pulmonary disease 4. Contrast with previous studies (not in line with) Major surgery induces the (COPD) constitutes a 5. Offer explanations production of reactive major health problem. oxygen species as part of 6. Present implications for theory and practice an immuno-inflammatory Percutaneous coronary 7. State the limitations of the study response that may cause intervention was first 8. Offer recommendations for future research cellular injury by reported in 1979 by damaging lipids, proteins 9. Build up to a strong conclusion Gruntzig. and DNA. 19 19 20 20 19 19 20 20 Pitfall: confusing paragraphs Improved version Our results concerning the association of general anesthesia While our results are consistent with other studies, we used a and perioperative agents with delirium are consistent with the particularly rigorous approach to explore short-term outcomes results of other studies. We clinically assessed patients on of anesthesia. We clinically assessed patients on admission admission prior to surgery and included a large number of prior to surgery and included a large number of patients in one patients in one well-defined class of surgery, many of whom well-defined class of surgery, including many who were not at were not at risk for delirium. Furthermore, in our study risk for delirium. Furthermore, in our study the diagnosis of diagnosis of postoperative delirium was based on clinical postoperative delirium was based on clinical patient interviews patient interviews and DSM IV criteria, and validated diagnostic instruments and delirium rating scales were used. By doing so and DSM IV criteria, and we used validated diagnostic instruments and delirium rating scales. By doing so, we were we were able to examine both the effects of anesthesia type, anesthetics, and baseline risk factors on delirium in a single able to examine the effects of anesthesia type, of anesthetics multivariate analysis. Thus, we consider our method as a and of baseline risk factors on delirium in a single multivariate rigorous approach to explore the important problem of analysis. potentially adverse short-term outcomes of anesthesia. 21 21 21 21 22 22 22 22 Paragraph structure Funnel to pyramid Funnel to pyramid Funnel to pyramid Funnel to pyramid 1. Topic sentence Evidence 2. Supporting material Claim Evidence • examples, quotes, statistics etc • Evaluate evidence, compare sources Evidence Corroboration • Causes, reasons, consequences etc Corroboration • Explain unclear key terms Corroboration Claim 3. Concluding sentence (optional) 23 23 23 23 24 24 24 24 4
4. Style Pitfall: ‘Official style’ Often passive where active would do Academic Impersonal formulations Clear Abstract nouns replacing verbs Precise � This may explain… Readable � This may provide an explanation for... Interesting � Wordiness and lack of clarity! … 25 25 26 26 25 25 26 26 Style and choice of words Example Ambiguous – clear and precise Nicotine has an inhibitory effect on wound inflammation, but it has a stimulatory effect on General - specific wound proliferation because of an impaired fibroblast and collagen I synthesis in the Common – sophisticated wounds of smokers. Personal - impersonal � Nicotine inhibits wound inflammation, but it stimulates wound proliferation because it Formal - normal impairs fibroblast and collagen I synthesis. 27 27 27 27 28 28 28 28 Ambiguous vs precise To get To receive To acquire To collect To become To understand To... 29 29 29 29 30 30 30 30 5
Common vs sophisticated Common vs clear & precise To ask To enquire, to question To find out To discover, to reveal To point out To emphasize, to indicate To show To demonstrate, to present To turn down To reject, to decline To see To perceive, to observe To look into To examine, to investigate Needs Requirements, demands To get rid of To eliminate, to remove Growth Increase, expansion To make up To invent, to constitute Shrinkage Decrease, decline, To take on To accept, to assume reduction etc 31 31 32 32 31 31 32 32 Academic alternatives Academic Word List Right mouse click > synonyms The most frequently used academic words Shift F7 570 word families Example: to ask Clarity: clear, unclear, clearly, to Only use the ones you recognize! clarify, clarification Word list with online dictionary http://oald8.oxfordlearnersdictiona ries.com/academic/ 33 33 33 33 34 34 34 34 Choosing the right word "aged four“, "two years of age" The Dutch health care directorate stated that assessment and certification of skills should be developed in national collaboration to guarantee a minimal level of skills. …to guarantee a minimum level of skills. 35 35 35 35 36 36 36 36 6
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