Ebook: The Craft of Scientific Writing

In October 1984, the weak writing in a scientific report made national news. The report, which outlined safety procedures during a nuclear attack, advised industrial workers "to don heavy clothes and immerse themselves in a large body of water." The logic behind this advice was sound: Water is a good absorber of heat, neutrons, and gamma rays. Unfortunately, the way the advice was worded was unclear. Was everyone supposed to com­e up for air? Be­ completely submerged?

The writing conveyed the wrong im­pression to the public. The report came across as saying "go jump in a lake" -- not the impression you want to give someone spending thousands of dollars to fund your­ research. Chances are that Dan Rather will not quote your documents on national television. Still, your writing is important.

On a personal level, your writing is the principle way in which people learn about your work. When you commu­nicate weIl, you receive credit for your work. When you do not communicate weIl, or are too slow to communi­cate, the credit often goes to someone else. On a larger level, your writing and the writing of other scientists influence public policy about science and engineering.

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The Craft of Scientific Writing is designed to help scientists and engineers--both professionals already active in the disciplines as well as students preparing to enter the professions--write about their work clearly and effectively. The author, who is both a writer and an applied physicist, approaches the subject in a fresh way. Using scores of examples from a wide variety of authors and disciplines (including such well-known figures as Einstein, Bohr, and Freud), the book demonstrates the difference between strong scientific writing and weak scientific writing. In essence, this book shows you how to bring your ideas across to your intended audience. In addition, it contains advice on how to start writing, and how to revise your drafts. Written for use as a text in courses on scientific writing, the book includes many useful suggestions about approaching a wide variety of writing tasks--from laboratory reports to grant proposals, from internal communications to press releases--as well as a concise guide to style and usage appropriate for scientific writing. The book will also be useful for self-study and it will be an important reference for all scientists and engineers who need to write about their work. Topics covered include: - Deciding Where to Begin - Structure: Organizing Your Documents; Providing Depth, Transitions, and Emphasis - Language: Being Precise, Clear, and Concise; Being Forthright, Familiar, and Fluid - Illustration: Making the Right Choices; Creating the Best Designs - Handling Special Situations - Actually Sitting Down to Write: Drafting; Revising; Finishing

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The Craft of Scientific Writing is designed to help scientists and engineers--both professionals already active in the disciplines as well as students preparing to enter the professions--write about their work clearly and effectively. The author, who is both a writer and an applied physicist, approaches the subject in a fresh way. Using scores of examples from a wide variety of authors and disciplines (including such well-known figures as Einstein, Bohr, and Freud), the book demonstrates the difference between strong scientific writing and weak scientific writing. In essence, this book shows you how to bring your ideas across to your intended audience. In addition, it contains advice on how to start writing, and how to revise your drafts. Written for use as a text in courses on scientific writing, the book includes many useful suggestions about approaching a wide variety of writing tasks--from laboratory reports to grant proposals, from internal communications to press releases--as well as a concise guide to style and usage appropriate for scientific writing. The book will also be useful for self-study and it will be an important reference for all scientists and engineers who need to write about their work. Topics covered include: - Deciding Where to Begin - Structure: Organizing Your Documents; Providing Depth, Transitions, and Emphasis - Language: Being Precise, Clear, and Concise; Being Forthright, Familiar, and Fluid - Illustration: Making the Right Choices; Creating the Best Designs - Handling Special Situations - Actually Sitting Down to Write: Drafting; Revising; Finishing
Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-xv
Introduction: Deciding Where to Begin....Pages 1-15
Structure: Organizing Your Documents....Pages 16-52
Structure: Providing Transition, Depth, and Emphasis....Pages 53-72
Language: Being Precise....Pages 73-82
Language: Being Clear....Pages 83-96
Language: Being Forthright....Pages 97-109
Language: Being Familiar....Pages 110-118
Language: Being Concise....Pages 119-127
Language: Being Fluid....Pages 128-145
Illustration: Making the Right Choices....Pages 146-157
Illustration: Creating the Best Designs....Pages 158-169
Writing Correspondence....Pages 170-177
Writing Proposals....Pages 178-194
Writing Instructions....Pages 195-206
Preparing Presentations....Pages 207-220
Format: Dressing Documents for Success....Pages 221-227
Actually Sitting Down to Write....Pages 228-254
Back Matter....Pages 255-282

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The Craft of Scientific Writing is designed to help scientists and engineers--both professionals already active in the disciplines as well as students preparing to enter the professions--write about their work clearly and effectively. The author, who is both a writer and an applied physicist, approaches the subject in a fresh way. Using scores of examples from a wide variety of authors and disciplines (including such well-known figures as Einstein, Bohr, and Freud), the book demonstrates the difference between strong scientific writing and weak scientific writing. In essence, this book shows you how to bring your ideas across to your intended audience. In addition, it contains advice on how to start writing, and how to revise your drafts. Written for use as a text in courses on scientific writing, the book includes many useful suggestions about approaching a wide variety of writing tasks--from laboratory reports to grant proposals, from internal communications to press releases--as well as a concise guide to style and usage appropriate for scientific writing. The book will also be useful for self-study and it will be an important reference for all scientists and engineers who need to write about their work. Topics covered include: - Deciding Where to Begin - Structure: Organizing Your Documents; Providing Depth, Transitions, and Emphasis - Language: Being Precise, Clear, and Concise; Being Forthright, Familiar, and Fluid - Illustration: Making the Right Choices; Creating the Best Designs - Handling Special Situations - Actually Sitting Down to Write: Drafting; Revising; Finishing
Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-xv
Introduction: Deciding Where to Begin....Pages 1-15
Structure: Organizing Your Documents....Pages 16-52
Structure: Providing Transition, Depth, and Emphasis....Pages 53-72
Language: Being Precise....Pages 73-82
Language: Being Clear....Pages 83-96
Language: Being Forthright....Pages 97-109
Language: Being Familiar....Pages 110-118
Language: Being Concise....Pages 119-127
Language: Being Fluid....Pages 128-145
Illustration: Making the Right Choices....Pages 146-157
Illustration: Creating the Best Designs....Pages 158-169
Writing Correspondence....Pages 170-177
Writing Proposals....Pages 178-194
Writing Instructions....Pages 195-206
Preparing Presentations....Pages 207-220
Format: Dressing Documents for Success....Pages 221-227
Actually Sitting Down to Write....Pages 228-254
Back Matter....Pages 255-282
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