Successful Scientific Writing. A Step-by-Step Guide for the Biological and Medical Sciences

Preface; 1. Start with a plan; 2. Conduct a comprehensive literature search; 3. Prepare for the challenge; 4. Begin well; 5. Compose the IMRAD core of a strong first draft; 6. Assemble the rest of the first draft; 7. Compile tables to develop, clarify, and support your narrative; 8. Include figures for evidence, efficiency, or emphasis; 9. Report numbers clearly and responsibly; 10. Revise for coherence; 11. Improve style and syntax; 12. Improve word choice; 13. Attend to punctuation, capitalization, and other mechanics; 14. Address your ethical and legal responsibilities; 15. Oral presentation: adapt the text and visuals; 16. Share your story in public: presenting talks and posters; 17. Publication: the rest of the story; Thirty exercises to improve anyone's scientific writing skills; Selected resources; Index.

Thoroughly revised and updated, the new edition of this acclaimed and best-selling guide offers a rich blend of practical advice and real-life examples. The authors draw on fifty years of experience, providing detailed step-by-step guidance designed to help students and researchers write and present scientific manuscripts more successfully through knowledge, practice, and an efficient approach. Retaining the user-friendly style of the previous editions, this fourth edition has been broadened to include detailed information relevant to today's digital world. It covers all aspects of the writing process, from first drafts, literature retrieval, and authorship to final drafts and electronic publication. A new section provides extensive coverage of ethical issues, from plagiarism and dual publication to honesty in reporting statistics. Both the text and 30 hands-on exercises include abundant examples applicable to a variety of writing contexts, making this a powerful tool for researchers and students across a range of disciplines.

Janice R. Matthews is a writer and educator with a broad background in the biological sciences. Her professional focus is on facilitating clearer communication of scientific material. She has edited books, technical manuals and hundreds of scientific research papers in the veterinary and biological sciences, both in university settings and for private industry. Robert W. Matthews is a Josiah Meigs Distinguished Teaching Professor, Emeritus Professor at the University of Georgia and a member of the UGA Teaching Academy. An insect behavior specialist, his scientific publications number over 175 research articles.