Author
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Hatfield, Jerry |
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Submitted to: Crop Science
Publication Type: Other Publication Acceptance Date: 10/29/2004 Publication Date: 3/1/2005 Citation: Hatfield, J.L. 2005. Review of writing and presenting scientific papers. Crop Science. 45:809. Interpretive Summary: Technical Abstract: Writing and presenting scientific papers is not about the mechanics of writing and presenting scientific findings, but the art of communicating science. This book is the second edition of a book first published in 2000 and incorporates many suggestions gathered from readers of the first volume. It also includes a new section on research proposals, book reviews and writing about statistics. The overall purpose of this book is to help readers understand that effective communication of science is a critical responsibility of all scientists. Readers of this book will gain an appreciation of the value of effective communication. The authors use a simple ABC (Accurate and Audience-adapted, Brief, and Clear) approach as the framework of their presentation. If all of us follow these simple ABC's, the goal of effective communication will be achieved. The second chapter of the book describes a scientific paper and the table at the end of the chapter, which details the intent of each section of a paper, can be used as a checklist to help writers determine if they have 'hit the mark' with their writing. If we compare each paper after it is written with this checklist, we can improve communication with the reader. Subsequent chapters deal with the use of tables, figures, and statistics and provide useful hints for authors. Chapters describing styles of scientific writing provide helpful ideas on how to relate style to audience. |
