The Chicago guide to communicating science / Scott L. Montgomery.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Montgomery, Scott L.

Series:

Chicago guides to writing, editing, and publishing

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Communication of technical information.

Communication in science.

Technical writing.

Physical Description:

xi, 228 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm.

Other Title:

Guide to communicating science

Communicating science

Place of Publication:

Chicago : University of Chicago Press, 2003.

Summary:

Whether you are a graduate student or a senior scientist, your reputation rests on the ability to communicate your ideas and data. In this straightforward and accessible guide, Scott L. Montgomery offers detailed, practical advice on crafting every sort of scientific communication, from research papers and conference talks to review articles, interviews with the media, e-mail messages, and more. He avoids the common pitfalls of other guides by focusing not on rules and warnings but instead on how skilled writers and speakers actually learn their trade -- by imitating and adapting good models of expression. Moving step-by-step through samples from a wide variety of scientific disciplines, Montgomery shows precisely how to choose and employ such models, where and how to revise different texts, how to use visuals to enhance your presentation of ideas, and why writing is really a form of experimentation.

He also traces the evolution of scientific expression over time, providing a context crucial for understanding the nature of technical communication today. Other chapters take up the topics of writing creatively in science; how to design and use graphics; and how to talk to the public about science. Written with humor and eloquence, this book provides a unique and realistic guide for anyone in the sciences wishing to improve his or her communication skills.

Contents:

1 Communicating Science 1

2 Scientific Communication: Historical Realities for Readers and Writers 10

3 Reading Well: The First Step to Writing Well 26

4 Writing Well: A Few Basics 36

5 Writing Very Well: Opportunities for Creativity and Elegance 55

6 The Review Process: Contents and Discontents 69

7 The Scientific Paper: A Realistic View and Practical Advice 78

8 Other Types of Writing: Review Articles, Book Reviews, Debate/Critique 99

9 Graphics and Their Place 113

10 Technical Reports 138

11 The Proposal 146

12 For Researchers with English as a Foreign Language 161

13 Oral Presentations: A Few Words 169

14 The Online World: Using the Internet 183

15 Dealing with the Press 199.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages [215]-220) and index.

ISBN:

0226534847

0226534855

OCLC:

49959344