Scientific writing

Summary

In this instructional video, the speaker discusses how to write scientific articles in English, focusing on essential components such as the abstract, introduction, methods, results, and conclusion. Key grammatical structures and tenses are explained, including the use of simple past, present perfect, and future tenses. The speaker emphasizes clarity and conciseness in writing, encouraging students to summarize their practical reports into scientific articles. Additionally, practical examples are provided to illustrate the proper application of these tenses in various sections of a scientific paper, ultimately guiding students toward effective academic writing.

Takeaways

• 😀 Scientific articles should have a clear structure: title, authors, abstract, introduction, methods, results and discussion, conclusions, and references.
• 📚 The abstract is primarily written in the simple past tense, while the introduction may use present perfect tense for context.
• 🔍 The introduction should present background information and conclude with the research objectives, using a mix of present and past tenses.
• ⚙️ Methods should be described using passive voice in the simple past tense to maintain an objective tone.
• 📈 Results are typically reported in the simple past tense, while ongoing relevance in discussions can use the present tense.
• 📝 Conclusions may include present perfect tense if findings are still applicable, and future work should be expressed in the future tense.
• 🚫 Avoid unnecessary complexity in writing; clarity and conciseness are essential for effective communication.
• ✏️ Correct tense usage is crucial: simple past for completed actions, present perfect for relevant actions, and simple present for general truths.
• 🔗 Citations in the discussion section should accurately reflect previous research, balancing between past and present tense.
• ✅ Students are assigned to summarize the lecture content, emphasizing the importance of understanding scientific writing conventions.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the session discussed in the transcript?

The session focuses on how to write scientific articles, particularly in English, and discusses the structure and grammatical tenses used in various sections of the article.

What are the typical sections included in a scientific article?

A scientific article typically includes the following sections: title, author(s) and affiliations, abstract, introduction, methodology, results and discussion, conclusions, and references.

Which tense is primarily used in the abstract section of a scientific article?

The abstract section primarily uses the simple past tense, although present perfect may be used for the background context in the introduction.

How should the introduction of a scientific article be structured regarding tense usage?

In the introduction, present tense should be used for general truths, while past tense should be employed to reference previous research findings.

What tense is recommended for writing the methodology section?

The methodology section is generally written in the passive voice using the simple past tense.

What tense should be used in the results and discussion section?

The results section typically uses the simple past tense for reporting findings, while the discussion can use simple present tense for general statements and comparisons.

What is the recommended approach for writing conclusions in a scientific article?

Conclusions should generally use present perfect tense for results that remain relevant, and future tense when discussing further research plans.

What writing tip is emphasized regarding clarity in scientific articles?

One key writing tip is to be concise and direct, avoiding unnecessary complexity or lengthy explanations.

Why is it important to differentiate between regular and irregular verbs in scientific writing?

It is important to differentiate between regular and irregular verbs to ensure correct tense formation, as regular verbs typically add '-ed' for the past tense, while irregular verbs have unique past forms.

What is the significance of using passive voice in the methodology section?

Using passive voice in the methodology section helps to focus on the actions taken rather than the individual performing them, which is a standard convention in scientific writing.