English for Writing research papers

Transcription

1 Good writing skills are key to a successful career in academia. English for Writing Research Papers was written specifically for researchers and professors of all disciplines whose first language is not English and who wish to have their work published in an international journal. With easy-to-follow rules and tips, and with examples taken from real papers, the book covers how to: prepare and structure a manuscript that will be recommended by referees for publication use a reader-oriented style write each section of a paper highlight the most important findings write concisely and without ambiguity avoid plagiarism choose the correct verb forms The book also includes around 700 useful phrases for use in any kind of research paper. Adrian Wallwork is the author of more than 20 ELT and EAP textbooks. He has trained several thousand PhD students and researchers from 35 countries to write research papers. Through his editing agency, he and his partners have been revising and editing research papers since This guide is thus also highly recommended for providers of editing services, proofreaders, and trainers in English for Academic Purposes. Other books in the series: English for Presentations at International Conferences English for Academic Correspondence and Socializing English for Research: Usage, Style, and Grammar Education ISBN Good writing skills are key to a successful career in academia. English for Writing Research Papers was written specifically for researchers and professors of all disciplines whose first language is not English and who wish to have their work published in an international journal. With easy-to-follow rules and tips, and with examples taken from real papers, the book covers how to: prepare and structure a manuscript that will be recommended by referees for publication use a reader-oriented style write each section of a paper highlight the most important findings write concisely and without ambiguity avoid plagiarism choose the correct verb forms The book also includes around 700 useful phrases for use in any kind of research paper. Adrian Wallwork is the author of more than 20 ELT and EAP textbooks. He has trained several thousand PhD students and researchers from 35 countries to write research papers. Through his editing agency, he and his partners have been revising and editing research papers since This guide is thus also highly recommended for providers of editing services, proofreaders, and trainers in English for Academic Purposes. Other books in the series: English for Presentations at International Conferences English for Academic Correspondence and Socializing English for Research: Usage, Style, and Grammar Education ISBN English for Writing research papers and everything else Seminar 1 Readability Adrian Wallwork English for Writing Research Papers Wallwork 1 English for Writing Research Papers Adrian Wallwork ENGLISH for Writing Research Papers Adrian Wallwork English for Writing Research Papers Wallwork 1 English for Writing Research Papers Adrian Wallwork ENGLISH for Writing Research Papers

2 PDFs of each seminar are on my blog: adrianwallwork.wordpress.com under English courses/downloads

3 Who should you have in mind when you are writing: Your paper? Your project? Your CV? An ?

4 The reader

5 Which country has the lowest acceptance rate in the world of articles submitted to publication?

6 Acceptance rates Italy: 9% UK/US: 30%

7 Italy s record for publishing in Nature Only one Italian ins<tute in the top 200 ins<tutes that have published papers in Nature. (Portugal 0, Spain 3, France 5, Germany 17, UK 20). But why?

8 Studies have found that there is a correlation between poor English and a) non-acceptance of research articles b) lack of faith and credibility in the writer (thus poor business relations) Many top journals and companies are based in US and GB: their idea of how to write is quite different from yours.

9 List five things that you think represent poor English and/or poor writing skills that would cause a research paper, project, or CV to be rejected.

10 1) LONG SENTENCES There are 80 words in this sentence my brain is going to explode 3-4 badly constructed long sentences will make your reader want to stop reading

11 2) Where is the important info? Reader cannot understand the importance of your findings (papers), qualifications (CVs), requests ( ) because you have not highlighted them clearly.

12 3) What s so special? (Projects / CVs) You haven t sold your ideas and yourself to the reviewers. Why should they finance your project rather than another project? Why should they employ you?

13 4) Whose are these findings yours or another author s? (Papers only) Referee cannot understand if you are referring to your findings or findings already established in the literature.

14 5) Ambiguity: What the **** are you talking about? If you take your dog in the car don't let him hang out of a window while driving.

15 6) You didnt ceck your spellling!

16 What NATIVE SPEAKING readers do NOT want to see Long sentences Findings / QualificaPons that are not highlighted Less value than other papers/projects/candidates Ambiguity No spell check

17 What do Italian referees complain about the most?

18 Moral of the story Papers and projects are NOT normally rejected for a few grammar or vocabulary mistakes. But CVs are rejected even for just one mistake Papers ARE rejected for just two or three long sentences / paragraphs Projects and papers ARE rejected because they require too much mental effort by the reviewers SO, MAKE IT EASY FOR YOUR READERS

19 GOOD RULES FOR WRITING 1 Write from reader s / referee s point of view 2 Highlight the value of your work and your qualifications Sell your ideas and yourself = get funds for your research project and / or get a job in industry

20 This course will NOT teach you astrophysics, rocket science or brain surgery. I will just give you some very simple rules, which are logical and easy to remember and easy to apply.

21 An a quick example of (non)readability

22 Good morning 1 My name is Pinco Pallino and I am enrolled in the first year of the PhD course in Terrestrial Vehicles and Systems of Transport. Since it is only now that I have made my online enrolment to the course Scientific English, I am not in the list of students of either the first course or the second course of lessons. I would like to know whether, despite my delay in enrolling, I can still participate in the course: if possible I would like to follow the first session. However, for reasons that unfortunately I cannot change, which are related to my activity as a PhD student, I will not be in Pisa in concomitance with the first lesson of the first session. I look forward to hearing from you. Dr Pinco Pallino PS My girlfriend wants to do an online English course, please could you send me recommendations and also for a good English grammar (preferably with Italian explanations).

23 2 Dear Prof. Wallwork Am I too late to take part in the first session of your Scientific English course? Thanks in advance. Pinco Pallino

24 2 Dear Prof. Wallwork Am I too late to take part in the first session of your Scientific English course? Thanks in advance. Pinco Pallino MORAL OF THE STORY 1 Write less and you make fewer mistakes 2 Think about what your reader really needs to know - don t include information that is of interest to you but no interest to him / her.

25 What do you see?

26 We all have different perspectives Trend today in English: seeing things from the audience s point of view rather than your point of view

27 Moral of the story In your papers, s, presentation slides, and applications for jobs always think about the audience. What do they want to: know? read first? hear first? Think in terms of them them them NOT me me me How can I make it easier for them?

28 Very Simple Sentence One part only English is open considered to be the simplest language.

29 Simple Sentence Two parts Of all the languages in the world, English is open considered to be the simplest.

30 Complex Sentence Too many ideas and visually difficult Of all the languages in the world, including those that are now dead languages, for example La<n and Sanskrit, English, which is now spoken by around 400 million na<ve speakers and 1.1 billion non- na<ve speakers, is considered by most people to be the simplest.

31 Where is key informa<on? In italics? Or normal script English, which is the interna4onal language of communica4on, is now studied by 1.1 billion people. English, which is now studied by 1.1 billion people, is the interna<onal language of communica<on.

32 Rule for wri<ng a sentence 1 Subject in first part 2 Key info in second part

33 1) Subject 2) Key info English, which is the interna4onal language of communica4on, is now studied by 1.1 billion people. English, which is now studied by 1.1 billion people, is the interna<onal language of communica<on.

34 Don t separate the subject from the key informa<on English, which owes its origins to the Anglo Saxons (a tribe who lived in what is now Denmark and Northern Germany) and is the interna<onal language of communica<on, in part due to the importance of the USA, rather than the Queen of England, is now studied by 1.1 billion people.

35 Don t bury/hide the subject in the middle of the phrase Owing its origins to the Anglo Saxons (a tribe who lived in what is now Denmark and Northern Germany), English is the interna<onal language of commun- ica<on, in part due to the importance of the USA, rather than the Queen of England, and is now studied by 1.1 billion people.

36 Solu<on: Divide up the sentence into smaller parts English owes its origins to the Anglo Saxons, who were a tribe from what is now Denmark and Northern Germany. // It has become the interna<onal language of communica<on. // This is in part due to the importance of the USA, rather than the Queen of England. // English is now studied by 1.1 billion people.

37 Remove relapve clauses English, which owes its origins to the Anglo Saxons, is English owes its origins to the Anglo Saxons.

38 Remove brackets (and consider removing content of brackets) English, which owes its origins to the Anglo Saxons (a tribe who lived in what is now Denmark and Northern Germany) English owes its origins to the Anglo Saxons.

39 Remove linker * and begin a new sentence. a tribe who lived in what is now Denmark and northern Germany) and is the international language of communication, a tribe from what is now Denmark and northern Germany. It has become the international language of communication. * A linker is a connecting word: moreover, in particular, consequently

40 Remove comma (,) and begin a new sentence is the international language of communication, in part due to the importance of the USA, rather than the Queen of England, is now studied by 1.1 billion people. is the interna<onal language of communica<on. This is in part due to the importance of the USA, rather than the Queen of England. English is now studied by 1.1 billion people.

41 Do exercise 1 page 2

42 1 key: 4, 1, 3, 2

43 Having shorter sentences also makes it easier to change their order English owes its origins to the Anglo Saxons, who were a tribe from what is now Denmark and Northern Germany. // It has become the international language of communication. // This is in part due to the importance of the USA, rather than the Queen of England. // English is now studied by 1.1 billion people. English is now studied by 1.1 billion people. It owes its origins to the Anglo Saxons, who were a tribe from what is now Denmark and Northern Germany. // It has become the interna<onal language of communica<on. // This is in part due to the importance of the USA, rather than the Queen of England.

44 Instead of 4 sentences, you could easily use 2 English owes its origins to the Anglo Saxons, who were a tribe from what is now Denmark and Northern Germany. // It has become the interna<onal language of communica<on. // This is in part due to the importance of the USA, rather than the Queen of England. // English is now studied by 1.1 billion people words English is studied by 1.1 billion people and owes its origins to the Anglo Saxons, who were a tribe from what is now Denmark and Northern Germany. // English has become the interna<onal language of communica<on, partly due to the importance of the USA, rather than the Queen of England words

45 You could even write one sentence but if readers have to read four or five sentences like this they may stop reading due to the effort involved English is studied by 1.1 billion people and owes its origins to the Anglo Saxons, who were a tribe from what is now Denmark and northern Germany, subsequently becoming the interna<onal language of communica<on, partly due to the importance of the USA, rather than the Queen of England. 48 words

46 The readability of a long sentence also very much depends on the order in which the informapon is given A English, which owes its origins to the Anglo Saxons (a tribe who lived in what is now Denmark and Northern Germany) and is the interna<onal language of communica<on, in part due to the importance of the USA, rather than the Queen of England, is now studied by 1.1 billion people. B English is studied by 1.1 billion people and owes its origins to the Anglo Saxons, who were a tribe from what is now Denmark and northern Germany, subsequently becoming the interna<onal language of communica<on, partly due to the importance of the USA, rather than the Queen of England.

47 Motivo: C.M. Firma: A Wallwork

48 A million dollars please in cash!

49 The USA and GB have become customer-driven societies

50 Not every sentence should be short. The example below is (perhaps) TOO simplispc. Abstract We inves<gated the meaning of life. We used four different methodologies. Each methodology gave contradictory results. The results confirmed previous research indica<ng that we understand absolutely nothing. Future research will inves<gate something more simple the cerebral life of a PhD student.

51 Do exercise 2

52 The red example is acceptable when you want to aaract aaenpon and be 100% clear. The blue is OK, but you should not write an enpre secpon using word sentences. We inves<gated the meaning of life. (6 words) We used four different methodologies. (5) Each methodology gave contradictory results. (5) The results confirmed previous research indica<ng that we understand absolutely nothing. (11) Using four different methodologies, we inves<gated the meaning of life. (10 words) Each methodology gave contradictory results, which confirmed previous research indica<ng that we understand absolutely nothing. (15 words)

53 OK for a paper (but probably not a presentapon why not?) Using four different methodologies, each of which gave contradictory results, we inves<gated the meaning of life, confirming previous research indica<ng that we understand absolutely nothing. (25 words)

54 If you can make sense of the sentence without punctuapon then it is probably OK Using four different methodologies each of which gave contradictory results we inves<gated the meaning of life confirming previous research indica<ng that we understand absolutely nothing. (25 words)

55 Test 1: Can you immediately understand this sentence without punctuapon? Using four different methodologies previously used in the literature in separate contexts each of which gave contradictory results in this study the meaning of life as seen through the perspec<ve of a typical inhabitant of western Europe was inves<gated confirming previous research indica<ng that as a general rule we understand absolutely nothing. (63 words) Test 2: Is the sentence easy to read aloud? Does it sound natural?

56 Test 2: Is the sentence easy to read aloud? Does it sound natural? Using four different methodologies, previously used in the literature in separate contexts (i.e. anthropology, biology, physics and soil sciences), each of which gave contradictory results, in this study, the meaning of life, as seen through the perspec<ve of a typical inhabitant of western Europe, was inves<gated, confirming previous research (Smith et al, 2013) indica<ng that, as a general rule, we understand absolutely nothing. (63 words)

57 Guidelines on sentence length The best solu<on is to write your first drap without thinking too much about the length of the sentences. Then look for long sentences read them aloud If you have to inhale, you need to divide up the sentence.

58 Guidelines on sentence length Do not write a series of sentences of only 5-15 words. Occasionally use short sentences to agract agen<on. Avoid sentences of more than 35 words.

59 Guidelines on sentence length If your sentence contains any (qualsiasi) of the following, you probably need to divide it up: which + which and + and + and, +, +, +, +, also + in addition / furthermore ;

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61 Unacceptable short sentences The test bench, which was custom made in our laboratory, was equipped with an electronically controlled motor (asynchronous 3- phase, 180 w, gear ra<o 7.5). The motor kept the velocity constant. SENTENCE 1: 25 WORDS (Adrian s suggested average, but ) SENTENCE 2: 6 WORDS (in this context not necessary)

62 Keep very similar concepts in the same sentence (even if the sentence becomes 30 words) The test bench, which was custom made in our laboratory, was equipped with an electronically controlled motor (asynchronous 3- phase, 180 w, gear ra<o 7.5), which kept the velocity constant. 30 words is OK, but what s the problem now??

63 which + which The test bench, which was custom made in our laboratory, was equipped with an electronically controlled motor (asynchronous 3- phase, 180 w, gear ra<o 7.5), which kept the velocity constant.

64 which + which The test bench, which was custom made in our laboratory, was equipped with an electronically controlled motor (asynchronous 3- phase, 180 w, gear ra<o 7.5), which kept the velocity constant. The test bench was custom made in our laboratory and was equipped with an electronically controlled motor (asynchronous 3- phase, 180 w, gear ra<o 7.5), which kept the velocity constant.

65 Read them both aloud: which sounds more natural and why? The test bench, which was custom made in our laboratory, was equipped with an electronically controlled motor, which kept the velocity constant. The test bench was custom made in our laboratory and was equipped with an electronically controlled motor, which kept the velocity constant.

66 The blue version sounds more natural because there are no interruppons to the flow The test bench, which was custom made in our laboratory, was equipped with an electronically controlled motor, which kept the velocity constant. The test bench was custom made in our laboratory and was equipped with an electronically controlled motor, which kept the velocity constant.

67 Morale della favola Long sentences are NOT intrinsically bad. Short sentences are NOT intrinsically good. A sentence is badly constructed if it does not flow logically, i.e. if it is series of subclauses which interrupt each other. A sentence (short or long) is good if it requires minimal effort by the reader.

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