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Name: Georganna Hancock
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Tuesday, September 18, 2007

Write Boring Science Lit

From: How to write Consistently Boring Scientific Literature

Table 1. Top-10 list of recommendations for writing consistently
boring publications.

 Avoid focus
 Avoid originality and personality
 Write l o n g contributions
 Remove implications and speculations
 Leave out illustrations
 Omit necessary steps of reasoning
 Use many abbreviations and terms
 Suppress humor and flowery language
 Degrade biology to statistics
 Quote numerous papers for trivial statements

The previous quotation is from a paper or article by Kaj Sand-Jensen of the Freshwater Biological Laboratory, Univ. of Copenhagen, Denmark. I wasn't quite sure if it is a serious academic piece or meant to be a humorous send-up of serious academic literature. It hauntingly reminded me of working on the thesis for my M.A. Otherwise, I think Sand-Jensen's points are well-taken directions for any nonfiction writing, especially anything meant to persuade others or to support a point of view (like op-ed articles, letters to the editor and personal essays).

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3 Comments:

Blogger Matthew C. Keegan said...

So very true! I'm not sure that I could write a scientific piece as I probably wouldn't be able to put all of the information together to create a compelling work.

On the other hand, I don't mind breaking down complex information and simplifying it for the masses. Provided, of course, I understand what is being said in the first place.

12:48 PM  
Blogger Linda said...

Congrats on getting added to Maria's blogroll - well deserved! I've linked you on my blog as well, such a fount of info here...

This ditty caught my attention... by day I write these 'boring' scientific-type articles, at night (and early morning) I turn on the other side of my brain and write my fiction and poetry. Makes me feel a bit schizophrenic at times. This left-right brain dichotomy is one of the paradoxes I explore on my blog. It is important in all writing to tell a compelling story, for scientific writing is as 'creative' as other forms and genres of writing.
Peace, Linda (aka drwasy from the forums)

6:28 PM  
Blogger Georganna Hancock said...

Thanks for your comment, Matthew. Synthesizing complex, technical (often medical) info into ordinary language was my strength as a newspaper writer. But when I went home, I couldn't write creatively for anything. Linda, I really admire you for being able to work with both sides of your brain! I also see we have several characteristics in common. Thanks for the kudos & link.

6:57 PM  

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