Science Research
Writing
For Non-Native Speakers of English
Muhammad Faiz Bukhori
Device Modelling Group Seminar
26th May 2010
Reference
Outline
Why Write?
How to write:
Introduction
Methodology
Results and Discussion
Conclusion
Abstract
Q&A
Why Write?
“Publish or Perish”
Employment requirement
Dissemination of knowledge
Structure Of a Research Article or Thesis
Abstract
Introduction
Methods
Results
Discussion
Conclusion
How to Write An Introduction
The synthesis of flexible polymer blends from polylactide and rubber
Introduction
Polylactide (PLA) has received much attention in recent years due to its biodegradable
properties, which offer important economic benefits. PLA is a polymer obtained from corn
and is produced by the polymerisation of lactide. It has many possible uses in the
biomedical field [1] and has also been investigated as a potential engineering material
[2,3]. However it has been found to be too weak under impact to be used commercially.
One way to toughen polymers is to incorporate a layer of rubber particles [5] and there has
been extensive research regarding rubber modification of PLA. For example, Penney et al
showed that PLA composites could be prepared using blending techniques [6] and more
recently, Hillier established the toughness of such composites [7]. However, although the
effect of the rubber particles on the mechanical properties of copolymer system was
demonstrated over two years ago [8], little attention has been paid to the selection of an
appropriate rubber component.
The present paper presents a set of criteria for selecting such component. On the basis of
these criteria it then describes the preparation of a set of polymer blends using PLA and a
hydrocarbon (PI) rubber. This combination of two mechanistically distinct polymerisation
formed a novel copolymer in which the incorporation of PI significantly increased
flexibility.
In Sentence 1 ‘Polylactide (PLA) has received much attention in
recent years due to its biodegradable properties, which offer
important economic benefits.’
the writer establishes the importance of this research topic.
In Sentence 2 ‘PLA is a polymer obtained from corn and is
produced by the polymerisation of lactide’
the writer provides general background information for the
reader.
In Sentence 3 ‘It has many possible uses in the biomedical field
[1] and has also been investigated as a potential engineering
material [2,3]. ’
the writer does the same as in Sentences 1 and 2 but in a more
detailed using references to support claim of topic significance.
In Sentence 4 ‘However it has been found to be too weak under
impact to be used commercially.’
the writer describes the the general problem or research focus.
In Sentence 5 ‘One way to toughen polymers is to incorporate a
layer of rubber particles [5] and there has been extensive research
regarding rubber modification of PLA.’
the writer provides a transition between general problem and
literature review.
In Sentence 6 ‘For example, Penney et al showed that PLA
composites could be prepared using blending techniques [6] and
more recently, Hillier established the toughness of such composites
[7]’
the writer provides brief overview of key findings in this area.
In Sentence 7 ‘However, although the effect of the rubber particles
on the mechanical properties of copolymer system was
demonstrated over two years ago [8], little attention has been paid
to the selection of an appropriate rubber component.’
the writer describes a gap in the research
In Sentence 8 ‘The present paper presents a set of criteria for
selecting such component.’
the writer describes the paper.
In Sentence 9 ‘On the basis of these criteria it then describes the
preparation of a set of polymer blends using PLA and a
hydrocarbon (PI) rubber.’
the writer gives brief details on the methods reported in the
paper.
In Sentence 10 ‘This combination of two mechanistically distinct
polymerisation formed a novel copolymer in which the
incorporation of PI significantly increased flexibility.’
the writer announces the findings.
The Model
Importance of your research
Previous and/or current
contributions
Locate the gap
Describe the Paper
Vocabulary for establishing significance
(a) basic issue
(a) central problem
(a) challenging area
(a) fundamental issue
(an) increasing number
(a) major issue
(a) worthwhile study
(an) essential element
(of) growing concern
vocabulary to describe gap/problem/
criticism/question.
ambiguous
computationally expensive
deficient
impractical
inadequate
incapable (of)
ill-defined
inconclusive
unsupported
Note: Some words express very strong criticism.
The present work
(to) propose
(to) predict
(to) present
(to) reveal
(to) improve
(to) offer
(to) illustrate
(to) facilitate
Note: Use these to say what each chapter or section will do
in a thesis or a very long research chapter.
Tenses
(a) “I live in Glasgow” - Present Simple
(b) “I’m living in Glasgow” - Present Continuous
(a) describes a permanent situation
(b) describes a temporary situation
Present Simple tense is used in science writing to state
accepted facts and truths
(a) “We found that the pressure increased as the temperature
rose, which indicated that temperature played a significant
role in the process.”
(b) “We found that the pressure increases as the temperature
rises, which indicates that temperature plays a significant
role in the process.”
In (a) the observations are linked only to author’s research.
In (a) the author does not suggest that other researchers
can replicate the same observations.
In (b) the author believes his findings are strong enough to
be considered as facts.
How To Write The
Methodology Section
“The Methodology should contain sufficient detail
for readers to replicate the work done and obtain
similar results.”
The Model
General introduction
(restate purpose of work, equipment used, essential
background info)
-
Precise details
Quantities,duration,conditions,sequences,sizes
- Justify the choices made
- Indicate appropriate care was taken
Relate methods to other studies
Indicate where problems occurred
Why justify chosen methods?
Reasons may not be obvious to readers
Demonstrates that author is well-informed of other methods;
their pros and cons.
State limitations of methods - then minimise its effect, take
appropriate care.
“It is recognised that... However,...”
“... only approximate... Nevertheless,....”
“... less than ideal... Future work will... “
Passives
“The dog bit the policeman” - active
“The policeman was bitten by the dog” - passive
(a) “A flexible section is inserted in the pipe” - Present Simple passive
(b) “A flexible section was inserted in the pipe” - Past Simple passive
(a) describes a standard procedure, what is normally done.
(b) describes what the author did him/herself.
‘Two dye jets are placed in the laser cavity. A gain jet is then
excited by an argon ion laser and the pulses are spatially filtered in
order to obtain a Gaussian beam. The pulses were then split into
reference pulses and probe pulses and the reference pulses were
carefully aligned into the detector to minimise noise levels.’
In the above case, the splitting of the pulses was the significant
innovation contributed by the author.
Reporting and discussing
your results
Why bother writing about results?
To relate your results to aims of your research
To highlight some of the more interesting parts of your results
To offer explanation for errors
To communicate your own understanding of the results
Results do not speak for themselves
y
x
“As can been seen in the figure, the two distributions are very
similar.”
“As can be seen in the figure, the two distributions are
noticeably different.”
“... in as many as 23% of cases ... “
“... in only 23% of cases... “
Causality
“... x caused y...” is a strong and risky statement.
Weaken the causal verb with:
It appears that...
It can therefore be assumed/inferred that...
The evidence suggests that...
This implies/seems to imply/may imply that...
It seems (highly/very) probable/likely that...
There is a good/clear/strong possibility that...
... x caused y...
The Model
Revisit research aim/existing research
General overview of results
Invitation to view results
- specific/key results in detail
- comparison with predictions or other works
Problem with results
Possible implication of results
How to write a conclusion
How to write an abstract
Thank You
... now go write some papers!