Table
of Contents
|
|
|
|
Preface |
xv |
|
A Word to International Readers |
xix |
|
Acknowledgments |
xxi |
PART I |
SOME PRELIMINARIES |
|
1 |
What is Scientific Writing? |
3 |
|
The
Scope of Scientific Writing |
3 |
|
The
Need for Clarity |
3 |
|
Receiving
the Signals |
4 |
|
Understanding
the Signals |
4 |
|
Organization
and Language in Scientific Writing |
4 |
2 |
Historical Perspectives |
6 |
|
The
Early History |
6 |
|
The
Electronic Era |
7 |
|
The
IMRAD Story |
8 |
3 |
Approaching a Writing Project |
11 |
|
Establishing
the Mind-Set |
11 |
|
Preparing
to Write |
12 |
|
Doing
the Writing |
13 |
|
Revising
Your Work |
15 |
4 |
What is a Scientific Paper? |
18 |
|
Definition
of a Scientific Paper |
18 |
|
Organization
of a Scientific Paper |
20 |
|
Other
Definitions |
22 |
5 |
Ethics in Scientific Publishing |
24 |
|
Ethics
as a Foundation |
24 |
|
Authenticity
and Accuracy |
24 |
|
Originality |
25 |
|
Credit |
26 |
|
Ethical
Treatment of Humans and Animals |
27 |
|
Disclosure
of Conflicts of Interest |
27 |
6 |
Where to Submit Your Manuscript |
28 |
|
Why
Decide Early, Why Decide Well |
28 |
|
Prestige,
Access, and Impact |
30 |
|
Other
Factors to Consider |
33 |
|
Using
Instructions to Authors |
34 |
PART II |
PREPARING THE TEXT |
|
7 |
How to Prepare the Title |
39 |
|
Importance
of the Title |
39 |
|
Length
of the Title |
40 |
|
Need
for Specific Titles |
40 |
|
Importance
of Syntax |
41 |
|
The
Title as a Label |
42 |
|
Abbreviations
and Jargon |
43 |
|
Series
Titles |
43 |
8 |
How to List the Authors and Addresses |
45 |
|
The
Order of the Names |
45 |
|
Definition
of Authorship |
47 |
|
Defining
the Order: An Example |
48 |
|
Specifying
Contributions |
49 |
|
Proper
and Consistent Form |
49 |
|
Listing
the Addresses |
50 |
|
Purposes |
51 |
9 |
How to Prepare the Abstract |
53 |
|
Definition |
53 |
|
Types
of Abstracts |
55 |
|
Economy
of Words |
57 |
10 |
How to Write the Introduction |
59 |
|
Suggested
Rules |
59 |
|
Reasons
for the Rules |
60 |
|
Some
Exceptions |
61 |
|
Citations
and Abbreviations |
61 |
11 |
How to Write the Materials and Methods Section |
63 |
|
Purpose
of the Section |
63 |
|
Materials |
64 |
|
Methods |
65 |
|
Headings |
65 |
|
Measurements
and Analysis |
65 |
|
Need
for References |
66 |
|
Tables
and Figures |
66 |
|
Correct
Form and Grammar |
67 |
12 |
How to Write the Results |
69 |
|
Content
of the Results |
69 |
|
How
to Handle Numbers |
70 |
|
Strive
for Clarity |
70 |
|
Avoid
Redundancy |
71 |
|
A
Supplement on Supplementary Material Online 7] |
|
13 |
How to Write the Discussion |
72 |
|
Discussion
and Verbiage |
72 |
|
Components
of the Discussion |
73 |
|
Factual
Relationships |
73 |
|
Noting
Strengths and Limitations |
74 |
|
Significance
of the Paper |
75 |
|
Defining
Scientific Truth |
75 |
14 |
How to State the Acknowledgments |
76 |
|
Ingredients
of the Acknowledgments |
76 |
|
Being
Courteous |
76 |
15 |
How to Cite the References |
78 |
|
Rules
to Follow |
78 |
|
Electronic
Aids to Citation |
79 |
|
Citation
in the Text |
79 |
|
Reference
Styles |
80 |
|
Name and Year System |
81 |
|
Alphabet-Number System |
82 |
|
Citation Order System |
82 |
|
Titles
and Inclusive Pages |
83 |
|
Journal
Abbreviations |
83 |
|
Examples
of Different Reference Styles |
84 |
|
Citing
Electronic Material |
85 |
|
One
More Reason to Cite Carefully |
85 |
PART III |
PREPARING THE TABLES AND FIGURES |
|
16 |
How to Design Effective Tables |
89 |
|
When
to Use Tables |
89 |
|
How
to Arrange Tabular Material |
92 |
|
Exponents
in Table Headings |
94 |
|
Following
the Journal’s Instructions |
94 |
|
Titles,
Footnotes, and Abbreviations |
95 |
|
Additional
Tips on Tables |
95 |
17 |
How to Prepare Effective Graphs |
97 |
|
When
Not to Use Graphs |
97 |
|
When
to Use Graphs |
99 |
|
How
to Prepare Graphs |
99 |
|
Symbols
and Legends |
102 |
|
A
Few More Tips on Graphs |
103 |
18 |
How to Prepare Effective Photographs |
104 |
|
Photographs
and Micrographs |
104 |
|
Submission
Formats |
104 |
|
Cropping |
105 |
|
Necessary
Keys and Guides |
105 |
|
Color |
109 |
|
Line
Drawings |
109 |
PART IV |
PUBLISHING THE PAPER |
|
19 |
Rights and Permissions |
113 |
|
What
is Copyright? |
113 |
|
Copyright
Considerations |
114 |
|
Copyright
and Electronic Publishing |
115 |
20 |
How to Submit the Manuscript |
117 |
|
Checking
Your Manuscript |
117 |
|
Submitting
Your Manuscript |
118 |
|
Electronic Submission |
118 |
|
Conventional Submission |
119 |
|
The
Cover Letter |
120 |
|
Sample
Cover Letter |
120 |
|
Electronic
Cover Letters |
121 |
|
Confirmation
of Receipt |
121 |
21 |
The Review Process (How to Deal with Editors) |
122 |
|
Functions
of Editors, Managing Editors, and |
|
|
Manuscript
Editors |
122 |
|
The
Review Process |
124 |
|
The
Editor’s Decision |
127 |
|
The
Accept Letter |
128 |
|
The
Modify Letter |
129 |
|
The
Reject Letter |
131 |
|
Editors
as Gatekeepers |
134 |
22 |
The Publishing Process (How to Deal with Proofs) |
135 |
|
The
Copyediring and Proofing Processes |
135 |
|
Why
Proofs Are Sent to Authors |
136 |
|
Misspelled
Words |
136 |
|
Marking
the Corrections |
138 |
|
Additions
to the Proofs |
139 |
|
Addition
of References |
140 |
|
Proofing
the Illustrations |
141 |
|
When
to Complain |
141 |
|
Reprints |
142 |
PART V |
DOING OTHER WRITING FOR PUBLICATION |
|
23 |
How to Write a Review Paper |
147 |
|
Characteristics
of a Review Paper |
147 |
|
Preparing
an Outline |
148 |
|
Types
of Reviews |
149 |
|
Writing
for the Audience |
150 |
|
Importance
of Introductory Paragraphs |
150 |
|
Importance
of Conclusions |
150 |
24 |
How to Write Opinion (Book Reviews, Editorials, and Letters to the
Editor) |
152 |
|
Writing
Informed Opinion |
152 |
|
Book
Reviews |
152 |
|
Editorials |
154 |
|
Letters
to the Editor |
154 |
25 |
How to Write a Book Chapter or a Book |
156 |
|
How
to Write a Book Chapter |
156 |
|
Why
(or Why Not) to Write a Book |
157 |
|
How
to Find a Publisher |
157 |
|
How
to Prepare a Book Manuscript |
159 |
|
How
to Participate in the Publication Process |
160 |
|
How
to Help Market Your Book |
162 |
26 |
How to Write for the Public |
164 |
|
Why
Write for General Readerships? |
164 |
|
Finding
Publication Venues |
164 |
|
Engaging
the Audience |
166 |
|
Conveying
Content Clearly |
167 |
|
Emulating
the Best |
168 |
PART VI |
CONFERENCE COMMUNICATIONS |
|
27 |
How to Present a Paper Orally |
173 |
|
How
to Get to Present a Paper |
173 |
|
Organization
of the Paper |
174 |
|
Presentation
of the Paper |
174 |
|
Slides |
175 |
|
The
Audience |
176 |
|
A
Few Answers on Questions |
177 |
28 |
How to Prepare a Poster |
179 |
|
Popularity
of Posters |
179 |
|
Organization |
180 |
|
Preparing
the Poster |
181 |
|
Presenting
the Poster |
182 |
29 |
How to Write a Conference Report |
184 |
|
Definition |
184 |
|
Format |
185 |
|
Presenting
the New Ideas |
186 |
|
Editing
and Publishing |
186 |
PART VII |
SCIENTIFIC STYLE |
|
30 |
Use and Misuse of English |
191 |
|
Keep
it Simple |
191 |
|
Dangling
Modifiers |
192 |
|
The
Ten Commandments of Good Writing |
193 |
|
Metaphorically
Speaking |
194 |
|
Misuse
of Words |
195 |
|
Tense
in Scientific Writing |
197 |
|
Active
versus Passive Voice |
198 |
|
Euphemisms |
199 |
|
Singulars
and Plurals |
199 |
|
Noun
Problems |
200 |
|
Numbers |
201 |
|
Odds
and Ends |
201 |
31 |
Avoiding Jargon |
204 |
|
Definition
of Jargon |
204 |
|
Mumblespeak and Other Sins |
204 |
|
Mottoes
to Live By |
206 |
|
Bureaucratese |
206 |
|
Special
Cases |
208 |
32 |
How and When to Use Abbreviations |
210 |
|
General
Principles |
210 |
|
Good
Practice |
211 |
|
Units
of Measurement |
212 |
|
Special
Problems |
212 |
|
SI
(Système International) Units |
213 |
|
Other
Abbreviations |
213 |
33 |
Writing Clearly Across Cultures and Media |
214 |
|
Readable
Writing |
214 |
|
Consistency
in Wording |
216 |
|
Serving
International Readers |
216 |
|
A
Few Words on E-Mail Style |
217 |
|
Writing
for Online Reading |
217 |
34 |
How to Write Science in English as a Foreign Language |
219 |
|
English
as the International Language of Science |
219 |
|
The
Essentials: Content, Organization, and Clarity |
219 |
|
Cultural
Differences to Consider |
220 |
|
Some
Common Language Challenges |
222 |
|
More
Strategies for English-Language Writing |
222 |
|
More
Resources |
223 |
PART VIII |
OTHER TOPICS IN SCIENTIFIC COMMUNICATION |
|
35 |
How to Write a Thesis |
227 |
|
Purpose
of the Thesis |
227 |
|
Tips
on Writing |
228 |
|
When
to Write the Thesis |
230 |
|
Relationship
to the Outside World |
231 |
|
From
Thesis to Publication |
231 |
36 |
How to Prepare
a Curriculum Yitae |
233 |
|
What’s
a CV? What’s It Good For? |
233 |
|
What
to Put In (and What to Leave Out) |
235 |
|
Other
Suggestions |
235 |
|
Preparing
a Cover Letter |
236 |
|
Writing
a Personal Statement |
237 |
37 |
How to Prepare Grant Proposals and Progress
Reports |
239 |
|
Preparing
a Grant Proposal |
239 |
|
Identifying Potential Sources of Funding |
240 |
|
Preliminary Letters and Proposals |
240 |
|
Common Parts of a Proposal |
241 |
|
Preparing to Write the Proposal |
242 |
|
Writing the Proposal |
242 |
|
Common Reasons for Rejection |
244 |
|
Other Problems to Watch For |
245 |
|
Resubmitting a Proposal |
246 |
|
Two Closing Comments |
247 |
|
Writing
a Progress Report |
247 |
|
Basic Structure |
248 |
|
Some Suggestions |
248 |
38 |
How to Write a Recommendation
Letter— and How to Ask for
One |
249 |
|
Deciding
Whether to Write the Letter |
249 |
|
Gathering
the Information |
250 |
|
Writing
the Letter(s) |
250 |
|
A
Light Aside |
251 |
|
If
You’re Seeking Recommendation Letters |
252 |
39 |
How to Work with the Media |
253 |
|
Before
the Interview |
253 |
|
During
the Interview |
254 |
|
After
the Interview |
255 |
40 |
How to Provide Peer Review |
257 |
|
Responding
to a Request for Peer Review |
257 |
|
Peer
Reviewing a Scientific Paper |
258 |
|
Providing
Informal Peer Review |
261 |
41 |
How to Seek a Scientific-Communication
Career |
262 |
|
Career
Options in Scientific Communication |
262 |
|
An
Admittedly Unvalidated Quiz |
263 |
|
Career
Preparation |
264 |
|
Entering
the Field and Keeping Up |
265 |
Appendix 1 |
Selected
Journal Title Word Abbreviations |
267 |
Appendix 2 |
Words and
Expressions to Avoid |
271 |
Appendix 3 |
Prefixes
and Abbreviations for SI (Système International)
Units |
277 |
Appendix 4 |
Some
Helpful Websites |
279 |
|
Glossary of
Technical Terms |
281 |
|
References |
287 |
|
Index |
293 |
|
|
|