Introduction to Science Research Writing This textbook is very useful for engineering students who are writing research papers. The approach taken here is quite different from that of most writing textbooks. Glasman-Deal, H. (2010) Science Research Writing. Imperial College Press.

Introduction to Science Research Writing Key features: 1. Analysis of the 'communication moves' in each section of the research paper (RP). 2. Grammar and writing skills: discussions of language features related to each RP section. 3. Vocabulary lists: function-based lists of vocabulary used in technical academic writing.

Science Research Writing Communication moves In this textbook, there is an analysis of the communication moves in each section of the technical research paper. "Communication moves" is a concept from linguistics.

Communication moves When we communicate, our communication almost always has a purpose or goal. E.g. "Please may I have a Coke?" Goal: getting a coke. E.g. "Do you have any butter?" Goal: finding out if the store has butter. Goal: finding out where the butter is. Goal: getting some butter.

Communication moves The things we say or write in order to achieve a goal are called 'communication moves.' In a research paper, every sentence in every section is a communication move.

Communication moves Science Research Writing teaches you how to identify the communication moves in a RP and guides you through the process of deciding the communication moves in YOUR paper.

Communication moves Academic Writing for Graduate Students also uses communication moves, but only for the Introduction and Discussion sections of the RP. Swales, J.M. and Feak, C.B. (2004) Academic Writing for Graduate Students. (2 nd edition). U. of Michigan Press.

Communication moves: comparison of AWGS and SRW

Grammar and writing skills: In each chapter SRW explains some language features related to the section under discussion. Please note that some of the language forms in SRW are in fact informal academic English, and thus are not suitable for use in many journals. You have to do good dossier work to decide which grammar forms may be used safely in the journal that you are targeting. Another good kind of dossier work is to sort the lists in SRW into formal and informal, precise and vague.

Vocabulary lists SRW provides function-based lists of vocabulary that are particularly useful in the writing of each section of the RP. Again, you have to be careful: the words in the list are not all suitable for writing Formal Academic English (FAE). Since the definition of FAE is a pragmatic definition, you need to do good dossier work on papers in your target journal. This kind of dossier work must be done as far in advance of writing as possible. I.e., please begin yesterday!