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Writing a scientific paper in CSE. Writing style. Exemplary scientific writing is: Accurate Clear Concise (Writing…1996). 1. Plan. Develop a rough outline or a table of contents. It’ll provide you a sense of direction (Writing…1996). 2. Use Formal english (Writing…1996).
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Writing style Exemplary scientific writing is: • Accurate • Clear • Concise(Writing…1996)
1. Plan Develop a rough outline or a table of contents. It’ll provide you a sense of direction (Writing…1996).
2. Use Formal english (Writing…1996) • Informal: Them there new-fangled vaccinatin’ shots git the immune thingamajig all riled up and ready to rumble. • Formal: New vaccines may help the immune system fight off cancer.
3. Write direct, concise sentences(Writing…1996) • Wordy: The researcher found it within his capacity to conduct tests on samples with characteristics consistent with “toxic waste” for the purpose of ascertaining the specific makeup of aforementioned toxic waste. • Concise: The research tested toxic waste samples to identify their components.
Tenses should be consistent(Writing…1996) Stick with either all present tense or all past tense, unless there’s a real change in time. • Confusing: For almost three months, BP’s damaged well pumps 200 million gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico, which was still feeling the effects. • Clearer: For almost three months, BP’s damaged well pumped 200 million gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico, which is still feeling the effects.
Spell it out Define an abbreviation or acronym the first time you use it. Use an abbreviation and acronym only where they are critical to understanding (Writing…1996). Example: “The publication of expressed sequence tags (ESTs) derived from…”
Use bias-free language(Writing…1996) • Wrong: Her invention will benefit all of mankind. • Right: Her invention will benefit all of humanity. • Wrong: Christopher Lum, a Chinese-American, won top prize in the science fair. • Right: Christopher Lum won top prize in the science fair. • Wrong: The epileptic forgot her medication. • Right: The woman with epilepsy forgot her medication.
Easy-to-find equations • In order to reference it easily, number each equation that appears on a separate line consecutively. • Example: F=Ma(Writing…1996).
Show context • “Quote all experimentally measured quantities with errors and with the appropriate number of significant figures” (Writing…1996).
CSE… …stands for Council of Science Editors. It was formerly called CBE, for Council of Biology Editors.
Consistent standard Scientific Style and Format: The CSE Manual for Authors, Editors, and Publishers—the CSE “bible”—promotes a uniform style of writing and documentation in the sciences.
CSE cover page(Gupta 2004) Title of paper Author’s name University Date [Do not put page number on cover page]
CSE paper format • Shortened version of title on top right side of page, followed by space, followed by page number: Water Stress Adaptations 2 • One-inch margins all the way around the page. • Times New Roman font in 12 point type (Gupta 2004)
In-text citations • Somewhat similar to APA, CSE (in this case) uses the name-and-year system. One difference is that there is no comma between the author’s name and date. • Example: Proficiency in monster literacy is surely a sign of a unique, albeit troubled, mind (Landis 2011).
Graphic elements Do not use an in-text reference for illustrations, charts, graphs, or figures. Instead, put the additional information in the legend (caption) that goes with the graphic (Scientific…2006).
Reference List • List references in alphabetical order, based on the authors’ last names (Scientific…2006). • Include only documents that you have read. If you don’t have access to the original, then cite the secondary source where you acquired the information (Scientific…2006). • Don’t use a hanging indent; every line is flush left.
Multiple authors • If you have several authors, include them all on your references page in the order they’re listed in your source. However, in the in-text citation, you can include the lead author’s name, followed by “et al.” • Cyclops O, Minotaur L, Griffin B, Sphinx T: Monster discrimination in the workplace. OSHA Today, 2007; 47, 21-28. • Monsters in the workplace were consistently assigned higher risk jobs(Cyclops, et al. 2007).
book Frankenstein V. 2004. The making of a monster. New York (NY): Monsters Inc. Publishing.
journal Landis J. Slowing the spread of zombie infection: too late for antibiotics? JAMA. 2011; 60: 63-72.
Organization as author Bram Stoker Society. Practice management guidelines for vampire bites. Emerg Infect Dis. 2009; 20(4):322-340.
Contribution to a book Lobo C. 2008. The lighter side of werewolves. In: Canine F, Alpo N, editors. Those Wild and Wacky Werewolves. Detroit (MI): Pet Lovers Pub. p. 120-140.
Home pages and web sites CDC: Sterile wrappings for ancient mummies. [Internet]. c2007. Atlanta (GA): Monster Health Care; [cited 2008 Feb 24]. Available from: http://www.mummytombs.com/science/websites.htm
Contribution to Web site Prevention: Popular remedies for dragon burns. [Internet]. c2006. Rodale (PA): National Library of Monstrosities (US) and National Institutes of Phreakish Phenomena. Many uses of Aloe vera (Topical); revised 2011 Mar 14 [cited 2011 May 25]. Available from: http://www.prevention.com/health/
Technical reports Shrek O. 2003. Ogre home and gardens. Chicago (IL): Alternative Landscaping Laboratory (US). Report No: 2972.
Conference proceedings Goblin J, Billy G, editors. Proceedings of the 10th annual trolls-for-peaceful-protest conference: picketing under the bridge; 2001 Sep 23-25; Farmington, Michigan. Farmington: Bridges of Oakland County Press; 2006. 310 p.
Dissertations and theses Wraithe G. Level 5 haunting: scaring away the new home owners [dissertation]. Auburn Hills (MI): Oakland University 2011. 157 p.
Come to the Writing Center for help with CSE and/or academic writingRoom 1403(734) 432-5304
Recommended readingS Strunk W, White E.B. The elements of style. 4th ed. New York (NY): Macmillan Publishing; 1999. Olsen LA, Huckin, TN. Technical writing and professional communication. New York (NY): McGraw Hill;1991. Rubens P, editor. Science and technical writing. New York (NY): Henry Holt; 2000.
End References University of Rochester. Writing a science paper [Internet].Rochester (NY): [1996 Aug 23]. Available from: http://teacher.pas.rochester.edu/PHY_LABS/Writing_Science_Papers Gupta, Tara. Field measurements of photosynthesis and transpiration rates in dwarf snapdragon (Chaenorrhinum minus Lange): an investigation of water stress adaptations. Lunsford, Andrea, ed. The Everyday Writer. 3rd ed. New York (NY): Bedford/St. Martin’s Press; 2004. Council of Science Editors. Scientific style and format: the CSE manual for authors, editors, and publishers. 7th ed. Reston (VA): The Rockefeller University Press; 2006.