Frameworks and foundations in writing

Hi readers

If there is one thing I have learned about writing from engineering students, it is how to structure it well with logic, order and cohesion. They know how to build a good piece of writing.

This week's Writing in the Sciences examined how structure in writing provides the predictability readers come to expect from a report, thesis, or research article.

Firstly, we explored the 'typical' sections of a piece of scientific writing - the thesis, report or research paper:

Secondly, we attempted this exercise (it's a little bit like that game you used to play at school , where you had to match the animal with its home). See if you can match the section with its properties.

Match the sections

Match the sections (colour coded) answers

Thirdly, we explored the various facets of the typical piece of scientific writing. For example:

Abstracts, Introductions and Conclusions

The literature review

'Connectors' for cohesive writing (this one has a five star ***** rating from me!)

Some important points about structure in scientific writing are:

• That the predictability of the sections assists the reader


• It should make wide use of numbered sections and sub sections


• Ordering can be chronological or in groups of ideas (thanks Ivan for this one)


• Each section should introduce the next


• Each section should (where possible) mirror the next. (For example, the abstract and introduction will 'talk' to each section in order of their appearance in the report.)

Next week we will run two sessions: Using sources and Getting the most out of journal articles.

Andrea