Sainani SciWrite 1.1

Summary

In the first week of Writing in the Sciences at Stanford University, Professor Kristin Sainani introduces the course's goals to improve students' writing processes and alleviate writing fears. She emphasizes the importance of clear and effective communication in scientific writing and debunks the myth that good writing is only about sounding smart or stylish. Instead, she stresses the value of clear, logical thinking and the iterative nature of writing, suggesting that good writing is a skill that can be learned and improved with practice. She also encourages students to read professional writing to enhance their own skills and to find a good editor to refine their work.

Takeaways

• 📚 **Introduction to Writing in the Sciences**: The course aims to help students rethink their writing process and ease fears associated with writing.
• 🗣️ **Clear Communication**: Good writing is about communicating ideas clearly and effectively, especially in scientific contexts.
• 🎨 **Style and Substance**: While style is important, the primary focus should be on clarity and substance over stylistic flair.
• 🤔 **Rethinking Writing**: Students are encouraged to reconsider their approach to writing, focusing on clarity and logic rather than being intimidated by style.
• 🔍 **Revision is Key**: Good writing often comes through revision; even professional writers rely on multiple drafts to refine their work.
• 🧠 **Logical Thinking**: Clear and logical thinking is essential for effective scientific writing, as it helps in presenting arguments clearly.
• 📈 **Learning from Others**: Reading professional writing in various formats can help improve one's own writing skills.
• ✍️ **Practice Makes Perfect**: Writing is a skill that can be improved through regular practice and by applying simple, learnable rules.
• 📘 **Reading for Improvement**: The course encourages students to read professional writing to understand different styles and techniques.
• 🗂️ **Cutting Down**: Learning to cut unnecessary content from writing can significantly improve its clarity and effectiveness.
• 🤝 **Finding a Good Editor**: Having a good editor who can provide feedback and help refine writing is invaluable for improving the quality of work.

Q & A

What is the main goal of the Writing in the Sciences course?

The main goal is to help students rethink their writing process, ease their fears around writing, and introduce key principles of effective writing that will be discussed throughout the course.

What does Kristin Sainani believe makes good scientific writing?

Good scientific writing should communicate ideas clearly and effectively, allowing other scientists, policymakers, and the public to understand the results and implications.

Why does Kristin Sainani emphasize the importance of clarity and effectiveness over style in the first draft?

Focusing on clarity and effectiveness ensures that the core ideas and results are communicated well. Style and elegance can be developed through revision and editing.

What are some common misconceptions about being a good writer according to the script?

Misconceptions include the belief that good writing requires natural talent, years of experience, or divine inspiration. Kristin Sainani argues that good writing is a learnable skill that can be developed through practice.

What does Kristin Sainani suggest students do to improve their writing skills?

She suggests reading professional writing from various sources, practicing writing regularly, and finding a good editor to provide feedback on their work.

Why is it beneficial to read professional writing outside of scientific literature?

Reading professional writing from sources like magazines and novels can provide insights into different styles and techniques that can enhance one's own writing.

What is the role of revision in developing good writing, as discussed in the script?

Revision is crucial for refining the first draft and achieving clarity, logic, and style. It often involves multiple rounds of reworking and editing.

How does Kristin Sainani suggest students approach the task of writing scientific papers?

She advises students to actively think about their audience, aim to make the scientific literature more engaging, and not to worry about being inspired, as writing is a skill that can be developed with practice.

What is the significance of finding a good editor in the writing process?

A good editor can provide valuable feedback, help cut unnecessary content, and improve the overall clarity and effectiveness of the writing.

Why does Kristin Sainani encourage students to talk about their research?

Talking about research can help clarify ideas and make the writing process easier, as it often leads to a more conversational and simple tone that is easier to understand.

What is the importance of cutting words from a scientific paper, as mentioned in the script?

Cutting words helps to make the writing more concise and readable. It can also improve the overall quality of the paper by focusing on the most important points.

Outlines

00:00

📝 Introduction to Writing in the Sciences

Professor Kristin Sainani introduces the course on Writing in the Sciences at Stanford University. She aims to help students rethink their writing process, ease their fears about writing, and focus on key principles of effective writing. The professor emphasizes that good writing is about clear and effective communication, particularly in scientific contexts. She notes that while many people worry about sounding smart or stylish, the primary goal should be to get ideas and results across to other scientists, policymakers, and the public. Professor Sainani also suggests that good writing often comes through revision, not just inspiration, and that having something meaningful to say is more important than worrying about sounding a certain way.

05:01

🔍 The Essence of Good Writing

Professor Sainani discusses what constitutes good writing, focusing on clarity and logical presentation. She points out that scientists often have something important to say but may struggle with articulating their ideas in a logical manner. The professor introduces the concept that good writing is a skill that can be learned and improved through practice, contrary to the common misconception that it's an innate talent. She encourages students to read professional writing from various genres to learn from expert writers and to practice writing regularly. The professor also stresses the importance of deprogramming from bad habits and finding a good editor to help refine one's work.

10:03

✂️ The Power of Revision

In this section, Professor Sainani emphasizes the importance of revision in the writing process. She suggests that the first draft is often not the final product and that it's crucial to iterate and refine one's work. The professor encourages students to 'cut loose' and not be too attached to their initial writing, as this can hinder the improvement of the piece. She also talks about the value of finding a good editor who can provide constructive feedback and help make the writing more accessible to a broader audience. The professor concludes by reminding students that writing is a challenging task for everyone, and that it's normal to feel overwhelmed, but with practice and the right approach, anyone can improve their writing skills.

Keywords

💡Writing Process

The writing process refers to the various stages an author goes through to complete a piece of writing. In the script, Professor Kristin Sainani aims to help students rethink their approach to the writing process, emphasizing that it's not just about producing a first draft but also about revising and refining the work to make it clear and effective.

💡Clear Communication

Clear communication is the ability to convey ideas and information in a way that is easy to understand. The script highlights that good scientific writing should communicate complex ideas clearly and effectively to other scientists, policymakers, or the general public. Professor Sainani stresses that the primary goal of writing is to get ideas and results across to the reader.

💡Revision

Revision is the process of reviewing and making changes to a piece of writing to improve its clarity, coherence, and style. The script mentions that even professional writers go through multiple revisions to achieve elegant and stylish writing. Professor Sainani encourages students not to worry about making their first draft perfect but to focus on getting their ideas across clearly.

💡Logical Thinking

Logical thinking involves organizing and presenting ideas in a coherent and logical manner. In the context of the script, logical thinking is crucial for scientific writing, as it helps authors to structure their arguments in a way that is easy for readers to follow. Professor Sainani suggests that clear and logical thinking is a skill that can be learned and applied to improve writing.

💡Style

Style in writing refers to the way in which language is used to convey the author's message, including elements such as tone, vocabulary, and sentence structure. The script discusses that while many people believe that having a 'natural' talent or a certain flair is necessary for good writing, Professor Sainani argues that style can be learned and improved through practice and application of simple rules.

💡Fear of Writing

Fear of writing is a common issue that many people face, which can hinder their ability to express their ideas effectively. In the script, Professor Sainani acknowledges this fear and aims to help students overcome it by rethinking their approach to writing and focusing on the clarity and effectiveness of their communication.

💡Reading Professional Writing

Reading professional writing, such as magazines, novels, and non-fiction books, can help improve one's own writing skills. The script suggests that by reading professional writing, students can learn how to write more effectively by observing the techniques used by professional authors. Professor Sainani assigns an exercise for students to read something outside their usual scientific literature to enhance their writing skills.

💡Practice

Practice in the context of writing refers to the act of regularly writing to improve one's skills. The script emphasizes that writing, like any other skill, improves with practice. Professor Sainani encourages students to practice writing regularly, even if it's just for a few minutes each day, to enhance their writing abilities.

💡Cutting

Cutting in writing involves removing unnecessary words or phrases to make the text more concise and clear. The script discusses the importance of cutting words from a first draft to improve the writing. Professor Sainani mentions that many scientific papers could be written in a more interesting way and that learning to cut words can significantly enhance the quality of writing.

💡Editor

An editor is someone who reviews and suggests changes to a piece of writing to improve its quality. In the script, Professor Sainani talks about the importance of finding a good editor who can provide feedback and help improve the writing. She mentions that getting feedback from someone outside one's discipline can be particularly helpful in making the writing more accessible and understandable.

💡Voice

Voice in writing refers to the unique style or perspective that an author brings to their work. The script touches on the idea that academic writing can sometimes feel restrictive, but Professor Sainani encourages students to find their own voice and express their ideas in a way that is authentic to them.

Highlights

Introduction to Week 1 of Writing in the Sciences course

Instructor Kristin Sainani introduces herself as a clinical assistant professor at Stanford University

Course goals include rethinking the writing process and easing fears around writing

The importance of clear and effective communication in scientific writing

Good writing is not just about sounding smart but about getting ideas across

The role of revision in achieving clear and logical writing

Having something to say is more important than sounding a certain way

The misconception that good writing comes naturally or requires divine inspiration

The necessity of practice and learning simple rules to improve writing

Reading professional writing as a way to learn from good writers

The assignment to read something outside of scientific literature to improve writing

The idea that writing should be a daily practice to improve

The suggestion to talk about research to clarify ideas before writing

The challenge of writing scientific literature that is engaging and not tedious

The importance of not waiting for inspiration to write

Advice on how to make the first draft process easier and more efficient

The value of finding a good editor to improve one's writing

The permission to use personal voice and style in academic writing

The encouragement to find one's own voice as a writer

The program's copyright information and website

Transcripts

So, welcome to Week 1 of Writing in the Sciences.

My name is Kristin Sainani and I'm a clinical assistant professor at Stanford University

where I teach, uh, in addition to scientific writing, I also teach

statistics. In this first week I wanna start with a little bit of an introduction

and then I'm gonna just jump right in with some key principles of effective writing that

we are going to be talking about over the next couple weeks. So just to start with I have a little

introduction

and some of the goals that I have for you for this course is that I'm hoping

to get you to rethink your writing process a little bit

help you rethink your approach to writing, and I'm also helping to ease some fears

that you may have around writing. So, we are going to do a little bit of that in this module.

So in my course at Stanford,

I always like to start by asking students the question what makes good writing

and feel free to discuss this on discussion format later

but for now I'm going to tell you what I think makes good writing.

So first and foremost what I think makes good writing

is that good writing is to communicate in ninety clearly and effectively

missus even work for in scientific range

school quite a scientific writing to get your ideas across get your results

across to other scientists

to policymakers sometimes it's the only public so it's really all about getting

your IT across clearly and effectively

right well is also is under calumet the second element

good writing right this is really random basis is is there a

good writing is is beautiful its talented stylish right

and I think what actually happens a lot of people sit down to write

is there Murray no stop them to work there worry did not sound in a certain

way

3 smarter soundclick may spend so much time focusing on number two different

yeah

I'm down just trying to get the idea across clearly and effectively

know it all sorts of problems in the right sorry what you in this Chris to

keep your focus on

me grannies to get your idea across clearly

and effectively want you to worry massive it's time for

because that first part clear and effective writing

I just use having something to say which is science that's what results you

how it is clear and logical thinking is very important to get your

argues across clear logical way we think

scientists probably almost feel that we have that we have something to say we

have

their tickets so that step you know I don't look great

is a little bit less intimidating to most people I witnessed I was pretty

sexy

really intimidating but actually happens through been

revision so alligators stylish

writing doesn't happen I first got even for professional writers gonna show you

examples

course that elegant stylish piece really comes through

refused to take the time to go back reworking for stretch

also oftentimes a lot of professional writing

you see it magazine novel that's been through some good

each ask really polished Friday spent millions times per perch happens

revisions I don't eat want to even worry about it when you're writing the first

draft

just being forget you Ross clear and logical way

so also always liked

ask that question to my students makes good

writer yeah I think a lot of things get associated with good writers

I would give you a few speech people associate with that

so I think a lot of people seeing each

that you're going to be a good ready to have some kind it worked out class sizes

feel that it worked for art

with the rage report Masjid she science D

insulate how to import or you might think it takes years at least

humanities classes to become a good writer get less I just have to

we think it's just kinda Bertuzzi

nature three people think maybe you take the influence on alcohol and drugs

may be some kind of divine inspiration a kind you

so all these things get associate level states you need is to be good writers

but in fact I don't think any any Addies to be a good writer

so I think what it takes to be a good writer is one

can't have something to say not do something that you're passionate about

my community yeah that's how the English trio

but I can't tell you how many times it happens tonight existed

I'll has to come to my office we go over the ants also a all my cousins paragraph

was a little confused by what you meant

you tell you what we're trying to say its Metallica being oh wow

wish I was trying to set up your craft they don't know and that's why did you

see paragraph when I can understand it because they want

you sure what you're trying to say so you have to have something to say know

what you try to cross

you need to articulate a clear taking has to be able to present your arm its

logical way

particularly in scientific writing yeah I think most scientists really feel very

comfortable that they have bozos that has something to say

logically what you might not happen yet

you may not know few simple learnable

rules style a decent rules that I can teach you in this class

surprisingly you may not have never been taught these before

fact in some cases you may have been talking opposites

so hot exactly who these are fairly simple rules

I can teach you easy to learn much cooler now

it would be a lot easier for you to rate clear dissected fish

my so when it table messages I have read the script is that correct any word

good writing is a skill don't have to be born with it you

can learn it as any skill you heard it through practice

so here's some things you can do

how to improve your right citing this course here's a few texted

to do so hot to create is a really good way to learn to be a better writer is a

few

be resources professional good writing

magazines novels up non-fiction books

not necessarily the scientific researcher so you're actually first

assignment for this course

isn't gonna fortunate to find some time to pick up something that

to read this you wouldn't have time to read otherwise a week some time to read

something even if it's just a magazine

read it hit in how professional writers

hot right fees in some districts to use military thriller in this class

community

so do much for you outside the scientific literature well you're taking

this course

if you have time I as I said right is a skill so that we practice the better you

can it's not a little time at the end of each day

with getting each day try to rate manager he could be old-fashioned

Renault read literature

try to spend a few minutes just practicing some other techniques

gonna talk about in this worse

I want you to waco so academic ready

out some habits that you may have picked up by

enough to eat yet because the deprogramming step

so I can tell you not something that we have its cool

that were to have to do before work me happy that's not how it's

trip three %um house

really good to have him free sit down to write about your

right research Israel talk it out with somebody

you just a friend is not necessarily in your disappoint she was oftentimes we

talk about our research

we do need more conversational tone which we talking were simple terms

we actually present ideas better when we sit down to write

so often talking about researching how I'm

what I think that really really good scores yes I want you to

actively trying to sit down to write your transcript

actively trying not to what were your Peter

that may sound very funny but we're all in the same boat here because we all

have to beat the scientific literature

you probably all have the experience where got the Saccos

scientific papers and I read there sitting on your desk

your just country reading reading them because you know they're going to be

tedious

hard to get through and I'll in the scientific literature doesn't have to be

now

okay we can write it didn't work kg slightly

interesting way so really wanted actively thinking about when you're

writing

trying to you're ready agent right not to

for your audience that would be great great the scientific literature was fun

to read this magazine or book

nothing I here's why students is I don't want a great night inspires

city to have this notion that migrate certain days the road is lined up

certain way

of course this is just across the nation technique you don't you need special

user inspiration to be able to write

you do need to be prepared to write something we're going to talk about in

the right process

don't be it's free it's just I get over that you should not have to be inspired

except reading is for everyone so it's really hot like the issue

UIs that even for perhaps professional writers

do this every day it's just something you hear me difficult task for any

so if you find reinhard you're in the same boat as everybody else

so I think knowing that you just how to reduce the anxiety

we have ground right also in this course

I'm gonna try to give you a lot test how your writing

easier there are a lot of ways that shit ease the reading process you could make

it easier for yourself

so does it certainly has its gonna be talking about this worst

it is nice to know that everybody is the staple right writing is really hard for

every month it's just a very challenging

cast I'm also not really a precise revision scores

so a lot of Sciences don't spend enough time on traditionally

really worry over the first draft try to get perfect I'm a first draft

Nate Dogg skepticism sweet revenge so I'm gonna try it's not that it really

kinda just

go through the first could get it on paper temperature

this is a British easier and more efficient right you really can't

the alyeska French happens tradition not first draft

I'm gonna try to teach you how to cut loose in this course

it's really hard to cut your own work if you have other people's work people to

stop

in this course is Welsh which he comes with last year were just have to learn

what senator chimeric senators might want you

her send me something to add I theory class exactly I'm sometimes cool send me

something

my abstract citron's 250 words used to be less than 200 can you help me

so I take that as a challenge can also contact them

150 words now so I we really haven't cut it will really improve your writing

britt talk a lot about cutting letter from your this first week of course

obviously can't find a good editor somebody who can damage your work and

sometimes a spouse

befriend a significant other if they're willing can be a good editor

somebody outside your discipline you look at your give you some

feedback tell you whether it's written in a little bit they can understand tell

you it's confusing

its poor rich so hot you might actually in this course we're gonna be

disappearing

you might actually be out some other your some other scientists who are

willing

to you and your work you get a good anti-religious ago it was only through

this course the

you want her 100 each others were critically

so try to find a good editor men's final asking him to emphasize this

worst really watches her tee risks your

sometimes the scientific literature you know you soon great scientific

academic writing this religious fighting your task force in the slot shoot well

they're all these rules you don't

dare create not really kinda you know boxes you and it does not much you find

your voice is right

so I'm gonna tell you that so many things a bit salty can see you in a past

life

use it cash were bring the word we thats actually okay

to use the word your eye using cash so I mean treaty sir

rested on that note blocks tryst find your own wakes

as a writer your go ahead and put something in writing it's a little bit

funny

put something that's provoked a certainly watch it he some rest

in Finder races writer the preceding program is copyrighted by the Board of

Trustees

above the Leland Stanford junior University

please visit us at med dot Stanford dot

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