EASA-450 Scientific Communications, Spring 2005
Martha
Davis - Chapter 2, Before You Begin
Primary Thoughts
Need to read science to understand how to write it
Need to listen to scientific presentations to understand how to give them
Need to be clear about the message
If it can be interpreted in more than one way, it is wrong
Kinds
of Communication
Each
of the following has a conventional format to it:
scientific
report, maybe a laboratory exercise, or generally to an organization
thesis
or dissertation
grant
proposal for funding
scientific
paper to a journal
oral
paper presentation
seminar
or lecture
poster
presentation
Help
Roughly
in order of importance:
your
supervisor, advisor
departments
university
sources (grad school handouts, library)
professional
style guides from the publisher (e.g. for journals)
special
instructions from the agency (e.g. for proposals)
many books and references suggested in the chapter
Pencils, Mice, and Cyberspace
These
are subject to technological change:
language,
especially common usage
computers,
essential for revising text, creating figures, tables, desktop publishing,
transmitting electronic forms and preparing camera - ready format of your
final version
Internet,
faxes and email
Golden Rule:
Simplicity and clarity are essential in conveying a message