| Contents Notes |
Communicating science -- Scientific communication: historical realities for readers and writers -- Reading well: the first step to writing well -- Writing well: a few basics -- Writing very well: opportunities for creativity and elegance -- The review process: contents and discontents -- The scientific paper: a realistic view and practical advice -- Other types of writing: review articles, book reviews, debate/critique -- Graphics and their place -- Technical reports -- The proposal -- For researchers with English as a foreign language -- Oral presentations: a few words -- The online world: using the Internet -- Dealing with the press -- In conclusion. "Whether you are a graduate student or a senior scientist, your reputation rests on the ability to communicate your ideas and data. In this straightforward and accessible guide, Scott L. Montgomery offers detailed, practical advice on crafting every sort of scientific communication, from research papers and conference talks to review articles, interviews with the media, e-mail messages, and more. He avoids the common pitfalls of other guides by focusing not on rules and warnings but instead on how skilled writers and speakers actually learn their trade - by imitating and adapting good models of expression. Moving step-by-step through samples from a wide variety of scientific disciplines, Montgomery shows precisely how to choose and employ such models, where and how to revise different texts, how to use visuals to enhance your presentation of ideas, and why writing is really a form of experimentation." "He also traces the evolution of scientific expression over time, providing a context crucial for understanding the nature of technical communication today. Other chapters take up the topics of writing creatively in science; how to design and use graphics; and how to talk to the public about science. Written with humor and eloquence, this book provides a unique and realistic guide for anyone in the sciences wishing to improve his or her communication skills."--BOOK JACKET. |
