Chapter 13 - Final Study Guide

WRITING STYLE

Tone and Expression

Writing Style

 Scientific writing and creative writing serve

different end results. The prime objective of

scientific writing is clear communication.

 Establish a tone that conveys essential points in an

engaging manner

 Deliver a continuous flow of ideas using continuity of

words, concepts, and thematic development

 The goal is clear and logical communication of ideas

Tone and Expression

 Scholarly writing does not need to be dull or lack style

 Present your ideas directly, but use a tone that reflects your involvement with the problem and target a style that is interesting and compelling

 Present differences in your work in a non-combative manner

 Say only what needs to be said, avoid wordiness, it can hinder the delivery of your message

 Avoid redundancy, use enough words to convey your point, but no more

Be clear and precise

 Be sure that all words convey the proper meaning for your topic

 Avoid colloquialisms, they mask meaning

 Do not use excessive jargon, some is okay, but be sparing, jargon wastes space

 Watch your pronoun usage, pronouns can easily confuse readers, readers should not have to search the previous text for the referent

 Make sure that all comparisons are clear and logical to the reader

Colorful devices and Embellishments

 Linguistic devices that draw attention away from

ideas, rather than to ideas, are inappropriate for

scholarly writing

 Rhyming, alliteration, poetic expressions, and clichés

should not be used, and metaphors should rarely be

used

You are writing to convey scientific ideas and theory, not

to tell a story or poem, use appropriate style practices

to achieve this goal.

Improvement Strategies

 Find an improvement strategy that fits your style. There are three main methods:

 Write from an outline- this helps preserve the integrity of the writing itself and keeps the writer on task

 Read your own copy, after setting it aside for a while- this allows for a fresh view of the material

 Give a copy to a colleague- this allows for a critical review of the work from an objective party

Doing these three things may prolong the writing process; however, they will assist the writer in delivering greater accuracy and thoroughness of information and clearer communication to the reader.

Source

American Psychological Association (APA) (2010)

Publication manual of the American Psychological

Association (6th ed.). Washington, DC. Author.