The Craft of Scientific Writing PDF
by Michael Alley
Description
We are all apprentices 01 a craft where no one ever becomes a master. -Emest Hemingway In October 1984, the weak writing in a scientific report made national news.
The report, which outlined safety procedures during a nuclear attack, advised industrial workers "to don heavy clothes and immerse themselves in a large body of water. " The logic behind this advice was sound: Water is a good absorber of heat, neutrons, and gamma rays.
Unfortunately, the way the advice was worded was unclear.
Was everyone supposed to be com- up for air? Be- pletely submerged? Was it safe to come sides being unclear, the writing conveyed the wrong im- pression to the public.
The report came across as saying "go jump in a lake"-not the impression you want to give someone spending thousands of dollars to fund your re- search.
Chances are that Dan Rather will not quote sentences from your documents on national television, no matter how weak the writing iso Still, your writing is important.
On a personal level, your writing is the principal way in which people learn about your work.
When you commu- nicate weIl, you receive credit for that work.
When you do not communicate weIl or are too slow to communi- cate, the credit often go es to someone else.
On a larger level, your writing and the writing of other scientists and vii viii Foreword engineers influenees publie poliey about scienee and en- gineering.
Information
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Download - Immediately Available
- Format:PDF
- Publisher:Springer New York
- Publication Date:18/04/2013
- Category:
- ISBN:9781475724820
Other Formats
- Paperback / softback from £26.35
Information
-
Download - Immediately Available
- Format:PDF
- Publisher:Springer New York
- Publication Date:18/04/2013
- Category:
- ISBN:9781475724820
