Scientific Writing 3.0

The third edition of this book aims to equip both young and experienced researchers with all the tools and strategy they will need for their papers to not just be accepted, but stand out in the crowded field of academic publishing. It seeks to question and deconstruct the legacy of existing science writing, replacing or supporting historically existing practices with principle— and evidence-driven styles of effective writing. It encourages a reader-centric approach to writing, satisfying reader-scientists at large, but also the paper's most powerful readers, the reviewer and editor. Going beyond the baseline of well-structured scientific writing, this book leverages an understanding of human physiological limitations (memory, attention, time) to help the author craft a document that is optimized for readability.Through real and fictional examples, hands-on exercises, and entertaining stories, this book breaks down the critical parts of a typical scientific paper (Title, Abstract, Introduction, Visuals, Structure, and Conclusions). It shows at great depth how to achieve the essential qualities required in scientific writing, namely being clear, concise, convincing, fluid, interesting, and organized. To enable the writer to assess whether these parts are well written from a reader's perspective, the book also offers practical metrics in the form of six checklists, and even an original Java application to assist in the evaluation.Contents: The Reading Toolkit:Chapter 1:Writer vs. Reader, a Matter of AttitudeWhy Am I Writing This Paper?The Illusion of ClarityThe Do-unto-others-as-others-do-unto-you InversionThe Right(er) AttitudeChapter 2:Strategic WritingThe Scientific Paper: An Intellectual ProductJournal Choice: Subscription or Open?Predatory Open Access JournalsThe Publishing ProcessThe Halo Effect and Confirmation BiasThe Assumption of Expertise TrapThe EditorLearn from Principles, Not ExamplesChapter 3:The Scientific Writing StyleCharacteristics of the Scientific Writing StyleUnderstanding Sentence LengthThe Scientific Style VirusDeactivated VerbsCuring the Scientific Style VirusChapter 4:Require Less from MemoryThe Forgotten or Undefined AcronymThe Detached PronounThe Diverting SynonymThe Distant BackgroundThe Broken CoupleThe Word OverflowChapter 5:Sustain Attention to Ensure Continuous ReadingKeep the Story Moving ForwardTwist and ShoutPause to Illustrate and ClarifyRecreate Local SuspenseChapter 6:Reduce Reading TimeChapter 7:Keep the Reader MotivatedChapter 8:Bridge the Knowledge GapBridge to Ground ZeroBridge to Title WordsJust-in-Time Bridge by Way of Local BackgroundChapter 9:Set the Reader's ExpectationsExpectations from GrammarExpectations from ScienceChapter 10:Set Progression Tracks for Fluid ReadingTopic and StressInverted TopicTopic SentencesThree Topic-Based Progression Schemes to Make Reading FluidNon Topic-Based Progression SchemesPause in ProgressionTroubleshooting Progression ProblemsChapter 11:Detect Sentence Fluidity ProblemsReasons for No Expectations 😐 Reasons for Betrayed Expectations 🙁 Chapter 12:Control Reading Energy ConsumptionThe Energy BillPunctuation: An Energy Refueling StationPaper Structure and Purpose:Chapter 13:Title: The Face of Your PaperSix Titles to Learn About TitlesSix Techniques for Improving TitlesPurpose and Qualities of TitlesTitle Q&ATitle MetricsChapter 14:Abstract: The Heart of Your PaperThe Four PartsCoherence Between Abstract and TitleTense of Verbs and PrecisionPurpose and Qualities of AbstractsAbstract Q&AAbstract MetricsChapter 15:Headings-Subheadings: The Skeleton of Your PaperStructures for Readers and Structures for WritersFour Principles for a Good StructureSyntactic Rules for HeadingsStructure Q&AStructure MetricsChapter 16:Introduction: The Hands of Your PaperThe Introduction Starts Fast and Finishes StrongThe Introduction Answers Key Reader QuestionsThe Introduction Frames Through Scope and DefinitionsThe Introduction Is a Personal Active StoryChapter 17:Introduction Part II: Popular TrapsTRAP 1 — The Trap of the Story PlotTRAP 2 — The Trap of PlagiarismTRAP 3 — The Trap of ReferencesTRAP 4 — The Trap of ImprecisionHedge WordsTRAP 5 — The Trap of Judgmental WordsThe Deadly Outcome of the Sum of All Traps: DisbeliefPurpose and Qualities of IntroductionsIntroduction Q&AIntroduction MetricsChapter 18:Visuals: The Voice of Your PaperSeven Principles for Good VisualsPurpose and Qualities of VisualsQualities of a VisualVisuals Q&AVisuals Metrics (Calculate Your Score for Each Visual)Chapter 19:Conclusions: The Smile of Your PaperAbstract Versus ConclusionsExamples and CounterexamplesPurpose and Qualities of ConclusionsConclusions Q&AConclusion Metrics (if you have a conclusion)Chapter 20:Additional Resources for the Avid LearnerReadership: Doctoral students, PhDs, postdocs, associate professors, principal investigators, junior faculty, research scientists, clinicians.Scientific Writing;Technical Writing;Scientific Communication;Writing Skills;Scientific Journal Paper;Scientific Article;Peer-Review;Fluid Writing;Academic Writing;Academic Publishing;Publishing Strategy0Key Features:Unlike many other references on scientific writing, this book is highly readable, using not only examples and comprehensive checklists, but also stories to illustrate and bring to life its principles. It provides depth and accessibility in equal measureThis book is unique in that it not only aims to increase the writing skills of its readers, but provide them with an entirely new perspective on, and strategy for, scientific writing. It aims to fundamentally increase the potential of the author in any writing activity, beyond only giving them writing techniques for successful publicationThis book is in its third edition, and benefits from over a decade of accumulated learning and research in the field of scientific writing since its first edition in 2007. Its lessons are drawn from published research and established guidelines, but also the authors' combined >25 years of experience as teachers of scientific writing who have coached thousands of (junior and senior) active researchers