Scientific writing : a reader and writer's guide

This book walks through the main parts of a paper, that is, those parts which create the critical first impression.

• Preface p. V
• Part 1 The Reading Toolkit p. 1
• Chapter 1 Require Less from Memory p. 3
• The Forgotten Acronym p. 3
• The Detached Pronoun p. 5
• The Diverting Synonym p. 10
• The Distant Background p. 11
• The Broken Couple p. 14
• The Word Overflow p. 16
• Chapter 2 Sustain Attention to Ensure Continuous Reading p. 18
• Move Ideas Forward p. 19
• Make Important Things Stand Out p. 21
• Illustrate to Clarify p. 24
• Question to Engage p. 24
• Recreate Suspense p. 26
• Chapter 3 Reduce Reading Time p. 29
• Visual Information Burgers p. 29
• Separating Space p. 30
• Trimmed and Discarded Text p. 31
• Chapter 4 Keep the Reader Motivated p. 35
• Dash or Fuel the Hopes of Your Readers: Your Choice p. 36
• Meet the Goals of Your Readers to Motivate Them p. 39
• Chapter 5 Bridge the Knowledge Gap p. 43
• 'Ground Zero' Bridges p. 45
• The Research Logbook: Keeping Track of the Knowledge Gaps p. 48
• Chapter 6 Set the Reader's Expectations p. 52
• Expectations from Grammar, Syntax, Punctuation, and Words p. 53
• Expectations from Science p. 56
• Chapter 7 Set Progression Tracks for Fluid Reading p. 61
• Three Topic-Based Progression Schemes to Make Reading Fluid p. 63
• Non-Topic-Based Progression Schemes p. 66
• Faulty Progression and Pause in Progression p. 71
• Chapter 8 Create Reading Momentum p. 81
• The Text as Visual p. 83
• The Subclause Hook p. 83
• The Countdown p. 85
• The Story p. 86
• The Question p. 86
• The Example p. 86
• Chapter 9 Control Reading Energy Consumption p. 88
• The Energy Bill p. 89
• The Role of Motivation p. 93
• Punctuation: a Refuelling Station p. 94
• Part II Paper Structure and Purpose p. 99
• Chapter 10 Title: The Face of Your Paper p. 103
• Six Titles to Learn About Titles p. 104
• Six Techniques for Improving Titles p. 109
• Purpose and Qualities of Titles p. 114
• A Title to Test Your Skills p. 115
• Chapter 11 Abstract: The Heart of Your Paper p. 118
• The Four Parts of an Abstract p. 120
• Coherence Between Abstract and Title p. 122
• The Tense of Verbs in an Abstract p. 126
• Purpose and Qualities of Abstracts p. 126
• Chapter 12 Headings/Subheadings: The Skeleton of Your Paper p. 129
• Three Principles for a Good Structure p. 130
• Syntactic Rules for Headings p. 137
• Purpose and Qualities of Structures p. 138
• Chapter 13 Introduction: The Hands of Your Paper p. 141
• What Is Wrong with a Short Boilerplate Introduction? p. 141
• The Introduction Answers Key Reader Questions p. 143
• The Introduction Sets the Foundations of Your Credibility p. 148
• The Introduction Is Active and Personal p. 151
• The Introduction Is Engaging and Motivating p. 154
• Chapter 14 Introduction Part II: Popular Traps p. 159
• The Trap of the Story Plot p. 159
• The Trap of Plagiarism p. 165
• The Trap of Imprecision p. 169
• The Trap of Judgmental Adjectives p. 170
• Purpose and Qualities of Introductions p. 172
• Chapter 15 Visuals: The Voice of Your Paper p. 174
• Seven Principles for Good Visuals p. 176
• Purpose and Qualities of Visuals p. 196
• Chapter 16 Conclusion: The Smile of Your Paper p. 198
• Purpose and Qualities of Conclusions p. 200
• Future Works p. 206