Writing Up Your Scientific Text

8/6/2019 Writing Up Your Scientific Text

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Writing up Scientific TextIyad Abou-Rabii DDS. OMFS.MRes. phD


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Challenges

Extended piece of writing:

Depth and breadth

Detail

Evaluation and interpretation

Independence

Volume of information

Duration


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Expectations

Used to demonstrate your:

Knowledge and understanding of a topic

Analytical and evaluation skills

Ability to apply theory and research findings to clinicalpractice

Ability to communicate all of the above

Refer to the marking criteria in the handbooks


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Academic writing

Formal

Structured

Clear Unambiguous

Logical

Sound evidence and theory

ACADEMICWRITING


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Formal and Informal writing

Informal writing: I think hes a

loser.

Formal writing: Macbeths horrific

choices cause him to lose

everything he holds dear:

children, wife, friends, crown and

king.

ACADEMICWRITING


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Passive voice overuse

Passive voiceThe systems most favoured for investment were shown to be planning, design

and production. Many manual systems were reported as being current

investments across the sector. Only the largest firms, however, were interested

to any degree in integrated systems. Textile and clothing firms were seen to be

investing in automated production, design, planning and reporting technologies.Active voice

In terms of current investments, manufacturers favoured planning, design and

production systems, with many firms showing a strong interest in manual

systems. According to the literature, only the largest firms however, showed any

degree of interest in integrated systems. Textile and clothing firms, in particular,

have invested in automated production, design, planning and reportingtechnologies.


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Make sure you write in complete sentences

Divide your writing up into paragraphs

Use connecting words and phrases to make yourwriting explicit and easy to follow

Check your grammar and spelling carefully

Structure your writing

ACADEMICWRITING


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Academic writing - tips

Avoid writing in the first person

Be concise avoid waffle

Be precise

Define technical terms and abbreviations

Use paragraphs

Avoid repetition References appropriately and consistently

ACADEMICWRITING


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A SANDWICH PARAGRAPH

Topic sentence

Support

Concluding sentence

This is a period when education faces many

disturbing circumstances originating outside itself.

Budgets have been drastically cut throughout the

country affecting every type of education. Enrolments are

dropping rapidly, because the children of the post-World War II

"baby boom" have now completed their schooling, and we are

feeling the full effect of the falling birth rate.

So there are fewer opportunities for new teachers, and

the average age of teachers is increasing.

ACADEMICWRITING


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Structure 1st

Macrostructure

INTRODUCTIONThesis statement

Outline

(Summary/Background)

BODY/CONTENTC

ONC

LUSIONBibliography

Microstructure

The PARAGRAPHTopic sentenceSupport

Support

Support

+Concluding sentence

(optional)

ACADEMICWRITING

transition

signals!


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Transition

Intervention and influence took three forms. Firstly,

techniques designed to maximise efficiency were introduced

into the home and scientific principles were applied to its

design. In addition, housework and parenting methods were

scrutinised and subject to unprecedented standards.

Secondly, all aspects of reproduction attracted increasing

intervention from government and the medical profession.

Thirdly, state, professional and philanthropic groups began to

usurp the parental role within the family through instructionand policy. As a result , the development of 'modern' social

ideals brought regulation, intervention and ever-increasing

unrealistic standards.

Re-read the abovewithoutthe green words

ACADEMICWRITING


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A question of little ,,,,,,

In this study, four paradigms were used in order to measure theresponse of TOI to changes in cerebral oxygen delivery. Hypoxaemia and

hyperoxia were used to alter arterial oxygen content, and changes inarterial CO 2 tension were used to alter cerebral blood flow. TOI increased

significantly in response to hyperoxia and hypercapnoea, and significantlydecreased in response to hypoxaemia and hyperventilation. PET studiessuggest that changes in CBV occurring during experimental protocols of

this type only occur in the arterial compartment[10] and will, therefore,alter the AVR. Analysis of the combined datasets revealed that changes in

TOI are significantly affected by changes in SaO 2 , EtCO 2 , CBV and

MBP.

ACADEMICWRITING


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George Orwells rules for good writing

Never use a metaphor, simile or other figure of speech which you are used

to seeing in print.

Never use a long word where a short one will do.

If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out.

Never use the passive where you can use the active.

Never use a foreign phrase, a scientific word or a jargon word if you can

think of an everyday English equivalent.

Break any of these rules sooner than say anything outright barbarous.

George Orwell: Politics and the English Language, London. 1946.

ACADEMICWRITING


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Referencing

Acknowledgement of your sources is a vital and

integral part of the academic process.

C

heck with course tutors what the preferredmethod is Harvard Method

Referencing and research

ACADEMICWRITING


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Academic writing example

Diabetes affects all ages and about 2.35 million people have the disease in this country. We

know that people with diabetes have more oral health problems.

In this project I aimed to carry out a literature review to see whether there is a link between

treating periodontal disease and blood sugar control in diabetes.

ACADEMICWRITING


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Diabetes affects people of all ages and it is estimated that

2.35 million people in the UK have this disease

(Department of Health, 2009).

There is growing evidence that people with diabetes who donot have good control over their blood sugar levels are at

greater risk of some oral health problems (Tsai et al., 2002).

The aim of this project is to investigate the relationship

between periodontal therapy and glycaemic control inpeople with diabetes.

Academic writing example

ACADEMICWRITING


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Writing up early stages

Timetable your writing

Decide on a structure early on

Know how and when to reference

Approved method (be consistent)

C

redible and contemporary sourcesSubstantiate claims

Keep references organized separately (e.g. EndNote)


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Timetable your writingTime Management Tools

http://my.taskwise.com/


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Paragraph


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Mind Mapping

Freemind.


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Keep references organized

EndNote


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Writing up as you go along

Use sections/sub-sections to organise content

(guide in handbooks)

Know which information goes in each section

Use tables and figures to present information (N.B.

graphs are figures)

Regularly revisit your aims, objectives and

research question


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Writing up towards the end

Leave enough time to interpret the findings and write the discussion

Conclusions should be based on the evidence you present

Critique your own work

Use Appendices for material which is too detailed for the mainsections


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Describe and explain the characteristics and

findings of the included studies (tables & text)

Synthesis of results (qualitative or quantitative) Place the results in context

Consider any flaws in the evidence (quality of studies,

any heterogeneity etc.)

The impact of any biases

Results and discussion


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Writing up - final checks

Proof read (spelling, grammar, clarity etc.). Use a spell cheque with caution

Consistency of styles and formatting

Tables and figures

Page numbers and other formatting

Word count

Front matter


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If English is not your first language, ask an English native

person to proof read projects

Ensure you give him plenty of time for this.

Proof reading


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Finally

Know the requirements and plan your time writing

up will take longer than you think!

Keep in touch with your supervisor

Regularly revisit your aims, objectives and research

question

Leave time to proof read

Refer to the marking criteria in the handbooks whilstwriting and before you submit


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Essential texts:

Essential texts:

Writing Academic English, byA. Oshima andA. Hague,

Longman, 1999.

Academic Writing for Graduate Students: Essential Tasks andSkills (Michigan Series in English for Academic & Professional

Purposes), byJohn Swales andChristine B. Feak, University

of Michigan Press, 2004

Documents

Writing Up Your Scientific Text