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A Short Guide to Writing About Biology: From Lab Notes to Polished Prose
Author: Dr. Evelyn Reed, PhD (Biology), MSc (Science Communication)
Publisher: Nature Publishing Group – renowned for its high-impact scientific journals and commitment to clear scientific communication.
Editor: Dr. Anya Sharma, PhD (Journalism), experienced science editor with over 10 years experience at Nature Publishing Group.
Introduction:
Writing about biology effectively can feel like navigating a complex ecosystem itself. This a short guide to writing about biology aims to simplify the process, transforming your lab notes and research findings into compelling narratives accessible to a broad audience. This isn't just about conveying facts; it's about storytelling – weaving a compelling narrative that engages readers and leaves a lasting impression. This guide combines theoretical insights with practical advice, seasoned with personal anecdotes and real-world examples.
Chapter 1: Finding Your Narrative Voice in a Short Guide to Writing About Biology
My journey into science writing began unexpectedly. During my PhD, I discovered a hidden talent: the ability to explain complex biological processes to my less-scientifically inclined friends and family in a way that captivated them. This led me to pursue a master's degree in science communication, equipping me with the tools to translate scientific jargon into clear, engaging prose.
The first step in any writing project is finding your voice. Are you aiming for a formal, academic style, or a more conversational and approachable one? The target audience dictates the tone. Are you writing a research paper, a blog post, or a popular science article? Each requires a different style. A short guide to writing about biology necessitates adaptability and understanding of your audience.
Chapter 2: Structuring Your Writing: A Short Guide to Writing About Biology
Regardless of your chosen style, a strong structure is crucial. A clear introduction that hooks the reader is paramount. State your main argument or thesis clearly and concisely. Then, build your argument logically, presenting evidence and examples to support your claims. Use transitions smoothly to connect ideas and ensure a seamless flow. A conclusion should summarize your main points and leave the reader with a lasting thought.
Consider using case studies. For example, explaining the process of photosynthesis can be greatly enhanced by describing the unique adaptations of a particular plant species to its environment. This brings the scientific concepts to life. This a short guide to writing about biology emphasizes the power of relatable examples.
Chapter 3: Mastering the Language of Biology: A Short Guide to Writing About Biology
Scientific writing requires precision. Use precise language, avoiding ambiguity. Define technical terms clearly, either in the text or with a glossary. Avoid jargon unless you are certain your audience understands it. Always remember that clarity trumps complexity. A short guide to writing about biology stresses concise and accessible language.
Chapter 4: Overcoming Writer's Block: A Short Guide to Writing About Biology
Writer's block is a common hurdle, even for experienced writers. My advice is to start small. Begin with an outline, breaking down the larger task into manageable chunks. Freewriting – writing continuously without editing – can help overcome initial resistance. Don’t be afraid to edit and revise multiple times. This a short guide to writing about biology is also a guide to overcoming the challenges of scientific writing.
Case Study: The "Zombie Ant Fungus"
One of my most successful articles explored the Ophiocordyceps unilateralis fungus, also known as the "zombie ant fungus." Instead of dryly detailing its life cycle, I focused on the dramatic narrative: the fungus's manipulation of ant behavior, turning them into puppets to spread its spores. This captivating story made a complex topic accessible to a broad audience, demonstrating the power of narrative in science writing. This case study demonstrates a key principle of this a short guide to writing about biology.
Chapter 5: Editing and Proofreading: A Short Guide to Writing About Biology
Once your draft is complete, the editing and proofreading process is crucial. Read your work aloud to catch awkward phrasing or grammatical errors. Have a colleague or editor review your work for clarity, accuracy, and overall effectiveness. This is where a second pair of eyes becomes invaluable. This a short guide to writing about biology cannot overemphasize the importance of rigorous editing.
Chapter 6: Submitting Your Work: A Short Guide to Writing about Biology
Finally, submitting your work might seem daunting. Research the target journal or publication carefully, ensuring your manuscript adheres to their guidelines. Be prepared for revisions and feedback. Embrace these suggestions as opportunities for improvement. This a short guide to writing about biology concludes by reminding you that scientific writing is an iterative process.
Conclusion:
Writing about biology is a rewarding but challenging endeavor. This a short guide to writing about biology provides a framework for transforming scientific knowledge into engaging narratives that inform, inspire, and captivate readers. By combining a strong narrative structure, clear language, rigorous editing, and a deep understanding of your audience, you can effectively communicate the wonders of the biological world to a wider audience. Remember, clear communication is the cornerstone of scientific advancement.
FAQs:
1. What is the best way to choose a topic for a biology writing project? Select a topic that genuinely interests you and that you have some expertise in. Consider the audience and the purpose of your writing.
2. How can I avoid using jargon in my writing? Define technical terms clearly. If possible, use simpler alternatives. If jargon is unavoidable, provide clear explanations.
3. How important is visual communication in writing about biology? Images, diagrams, and other visuals can greatly enhance understanding and engagement. Use them strategically to illustrate key points.
4. What are some common mistakes to avoid when writing about biology? Overusing jargon, lacking clarity, insufficient evidence, poor structure, and neglecting proofreading are frequent issues.
5. How can I improve my science writing skills? Read widely, practice regularly, seek feedback, and consider taking a course in science writing or communication.
6. What are the ethical considerations when writing about biology? Always cite your sources, avoid plagiarism, and ensure accuracy in presenting scientific information.
7. Where can I find resources to improve my science writing? Numerous online resources, workshops, and courses are available to enhance your writing skills.
8. How do I choose the right journal or publication for my biology writing? Consider the journal's scope, target audience, and submission guidelines.
9. How can I make my biology writing more engaging for a lay audience? Use storytelling techniques, relatable examples, and clear, concise language. Avoid overwhelming the reader with technical details.
Related Articles:
1. "Crafting Compelling Narratives in Science Writing": Explores storytelling techniques in scientific communication.
2. "The Art of Scientific Illustration": Discusses the importance and techniques of visual communication in science.
3. "Avoiding Jargon in Scientific Writing": Offers practical strategies for writing clearly and accessibly.
4. "A Guide to Publishing in Peer-Reviewed Biology Journals": Explains the process of manuscript preparation and submission.
5. "Ethical Considerations in Scientific Writing and Publication": Addresses ethical issues related to research integrity and authorship.
6. "Writing Effective Introductions and Conclusions for Science Articles": Focuses on the structural elements of scientific writing.
7. "Using Case Studies to Enhance Scientific Communication": Provides examples and guidance on using case studies effectively.
8. "The Impact of Visuals in Communicating Biological Concepts": Examines the effectiveness of diverse visual aids in science.
9. "Mastering the Art of Scientific Editing and Proofreading": Offers practical tips for polishing scientific manuscripts.
| a short guide to writing about biology: Short Guide to Writing about Biology, Global Edition , 2015 |
| a short guide to writing about biology: A Short Guide to Writing about Chemistry Holly Davis, Julian Tyson, Jan A. Pechenik, 2010 This useful writing guide, by a team that includes two prominent chemists and the author of Pearson's best-selling A Short Guide to Writing About Biology, teaches students to think as chemists and to express ideas clearly and concisely through their writing--Back cover |
| a short guide to writing about biology: Writing in Biology Leslie Roldan, Mary Lou Pardue, 2016 At once sophisticated and practical, Writing in Biology: A Brief Guide advises students on composing research articles, literature reviews, oral presentations, and other key biology genres. The book gives careful attention to both the governing priciples of audience, purpose, and argument, and the ground rules for style, visual design, and sourcing. Writing in Biology: A Brief Guide is a part of a series of brief, discipline-specific writing guides from Oxford University Press designed for today's writing-intensive college courses. The series is edited by Thomas Deans (University of Connecticut) and Mya Poe (Northeastern University). |
| a short guide to writing about biology: A Short Guide to Writing about Biology Jan A. Pechenik, 2007 Written by a prominent biologist,A Short Guide to Writing about Biologyteaches students to think as biologists and to express ideas clearly and concisely through their writing. Students are provided with the tools they'll need to be successful writers in college and their profession, how to read critically, study, evaluate and report data, and how to communicate information clearly and logically. |
| a short guide to writing about biology: The Scientist’s Guide to Writing, 2nd Edition Stephen B. Heard, 2022-02-08 This is a new edition of The Scientists Guide to Writing, published in 2016. As a reminder the book provided practical advice on writing, covering topics including how to generate and maintain writing momentum, tips on structuring a scientific paper, revising a first draft, handling citations, responding to peer reviews, and managing coauthorships, among other topics. For the 2nd edtition, Heard has made several changes, specifically: - expanding the chapter on writing in English for non-native speakers - adding two chapters: one on efficient and effective reading and one on selecting the right journal and how to use preprint sites. - doubled the number of exercises - various other add-ons to existing chapters, including information on reporting statistical results, handling disagreement among peer reviewers, and managing co-authorships-- |
| a short guide to writing about biology: The Chicago Guide to Landing a Job in Academic Biology C. Ray Chandler, Lorne M. Wolfe, Daniel E. L. Promislow, 2008-09-15 The Chicago Guide to Landing a Job in Academic Biology is an indispensable guide for graduate students and post-docs as they enter that domain red in tooth and claw: the job market. An academic career in the biological sciences typically demands well over a decade of technical training. So it’s ironic that when a scholar reaches the most critical stage in that career—the search for a job following graduate work—he or she receives little or no formal preparation. Instead, students are thrown into the job market with only cursory guidance on how to search for and land a position. Now there’s help. Carefully, clearly, and with a welcome sense of humor, The Chicago Guide to Landing a Job in Academic Biology leads graduate students and postdoctoral fellows through the perils and rewards of their first job search. The authors—who collectively have for decades mentored students and served on hiring committees—have honed their advice in workshops at biology meetings across the country. The resulting guide covers everything from how to pack an overnight bag without wrinkling a suit to selecting the right job to apply for in the first place. The authors have taken care to make their advice useful to all areas of academic biology—from cell biology and molecular genetics to evolution and ecology—and they give tips on how applicants can tailor their approaches to different institutions from major research universities to small private colleges. With jobs in the sciences ever more difficult to come by, The Chicago Guide to Landing a Job in Academic Biology is designed to help students and post-docs navigate the tricky terrain of an academic job search—from the first year of a graduate program to the final negotiations of a job offer. |
| a short guide to writing about biology: How to Write a PhD in Biological Sciences John Measey, 2021-11-29 You don’t have to be a genius to write a PhD. Of course, it will always involve a lot of hard work and dedication, but the process of writing is a whole lot easier if you understand the basic ground rules. This book is a guide through the dos and don’ts of writing a PhD. It will be your companion from the point when you decide to do a PhD, providing practical guidance to getting started, all the way through the nuts and bolts of the writing and editing process. It will also help you to get - and stay - in the right mental framework and establish good habits from the beginning, putting you in a commanding position later on. Examples are tailored to the biological sciences, offering a unique reference for PhD students in these disciplines. Embarking on a PhD doesn’t need to be daunting, even if it’s your first experience working within academia. Each short section focuses on writing - considered by many to be the most difficult aspect of a PhD - and delves into a practical detail of one aspect, from the title to the supplementary material. Whether you’re a student just starting your studies, an early career researcher or a supervisor struggling to cope, the book provides the insider information you need to get ahead. |
| a short guide to writing about biology: A Short Guide to Writing about Biology Jan A. Pechenik, 1993 Provides students with the tools needed to be successful writers in college and their profession, while emphasizing writing as a way of examining, evaluating, and sharing ideas. Students are taught how to read critically, study, evaluate and report data, and how to communicate information clearly and logically. Teaches students to think as biologists and to express ideas clearly and concisely through their writing. Courses preparing students for a profession in the field of biology. |
| a short guide to writing about biology: The Chicago Guide to Communicating Science Scott L. Montgomery, 2017-02-21 This book is a comprehensive guide to scientific communication that has been used widely in courses and workshops as well as by individual scientists and other professionals since its first publication in 2002. This revision accounts for the many ways in which the globalization of research and the changing media landscape have altered scientific communication over the past decade. With an increased focus throughout on how research is communicated in industry, government, and non-profit centers as well as in academia, it now covers such topics as the opportunities and perils of online publishing, the need for translation skills, and the communication of scientific findings to the broader world, both directly through speaking and writing and through the filter of traditional and social media. It also offers advice for those whose research concerns controversial issues, such as climate change and emerging viruses, in which clear and accurate communication is especially critical to the scientific community and the wider world. |
| a short guide to writing about biology: How to Write a Lot Paul J. Silvia, 2007-01 All students and professors need to write, and many struggle to finish their stalled dissertations, journal articles, book chapters, or grant proposals. Writing is hard work and can be difficult to wedge into a frenetic academic schedule. In this practical, light-hearted, and encouraging book, Paul Silvia explains that writing productively does not require innate skills or special traits but specific tactics and actions. Drawing examples from his own field of psychology, he shows readers how to overcome motivational roadblocks and become prolific without sacrificing evenings, weekends, and vacations. After describing strategies for writing productively, the author gives detailed advice from the trenches on how to write, submit, revise, and resubmit articles, how to improve writing quality, and how to write and publish academic work. |
| a short guide to writing about biology: Writing Science in Plain English, Second Edition Anne E Greene, 2025-04 |
| a short guide to writing about biology: Science Research Writing for Non-native Speakers of English Hilary Glasman-Deal, 2010 Designed to enable non-native English speakers to write science research for publication in English, this book is intended as a do-it-yourself guide for those whose English language proficiency is above intermediate. It guides them through the process of writing science research and also helps with writing a Master's or Doctoral thesis in English |
| a short guide to writing about biology: Biology For Dummies Rene Fester Kratz, 2017-03-20 The ultimate guide to understanding biology Have you ever wondered how the food you eat becomes the energy your body needs to keep going? The theory of evolution says that humans and chimps descended from a common ancestor, but does it tell us how and why? We humans are insatiably curious creatures who can't help wondering how things work—starting with our own bodies. Wouldn't it be great to have a single source of quick answers to all our questions about how living things work? Now there is. From molecules to animals, cells to ecosystems, Biology For Dummies answers all your questions about how living things work. Written in plain English and packed with dozens of enlightening illustrations, this reference guide covers the most recent developments and discoveries in evolutionary, reproductive, and ecological biology. It's also complemented with lots of practical, up-to-date examples to bring the information to life. Discover how living things work Think like a biologist and use scientific methods Understand lifecycle processes Whether you're enrolled in a biology class or just want to know more about this fascinating and ever-evolving field of study, Biology For Dummies will help you unlock the mysteries of how life works. |
| a short guide to writing about biology: A Guide to the Scientific Career Mohammadali M. Shoja, Anastasia Arynchyna, Marios Loukas, Anthony V. D'Antoni, Sandra M. Buerger, Marion Karl, R. Shane Tubbs, 2020-01-09 A concise, easy-to-read source of essential tips and skills for writing research papers and career management In order to be truly successful in the biomedical professions, one must have excellent communication skills and networking abilities. Of equal importance is the possession of sufficient clinical knowledge, as well as a proficiency in conducting research and writing scientific papers. This unique and important book provides medical students and residents with the most commonly encountered topics in the academic and professional lifestyle, teaching them all of the practical nuances that are often only learned through experience. Written by a team of experienced professionals to help guide younger researchers, A Guide to the Scientific Career: Virtues, Communication, Research and Academic Writing features ten sections composed of seventy-four chapters that cover: qualities of research scientists; career satisfaction and its determinants; publishing in academic medicine; assessing a researcher’s scientific productivity and scholarly impact; manners in academics; communication skills; essence of collaborative research; dealing with manipulative people; writing and scientific misconduct: ethical and legal aspects; plagiarism; research regulations, proposals, grants, and practice; publication and resources; tips on writing every type of paper and report; and much more. An easy-to-read source of essential tips and skills for scientific research Emphasizes good communication skills, sound clinical judgment, knowledge of research methodology, and good writing skills Offers comprehensive guidelines that address every aspect of the medical student/resident academic and professional lifestyle Combines elements of a career-management guide and publication guide in one comprehensive reference source Includes selected personal stories by great researchers, fascinating writers, inspiring mentors, and extraordinary clinicians/scientists A Guide to the Scientific Career: Virtues, Communication, Research and Academic Writing is an excellent interdisciplinary text that will appeal to all medical students and scientists who seek to improve their writing and communication skills in order to make the most of their chosen career. |
| a short guide to writing about biology: KS3 Maths R. Parsons, CGP Books, 2004 KS3 Maths Complete Study & Practice (with online edition) |
| a short guide to writing about biology: A Short Guide to Writing about Art Sylvan Barnet, 2000 A Short Guide to Writing About Art, 6/E, the best-selling text of its kind, encourages students to form their own opinions about art, and then equips them with the tools they need to write effective essays. This handy guide addresses a wealth of fundamental matters, including description versus analysis; the value of peer review; documenting sources; and editing the final essay. |
| a short guide to writing about biology: Writing Papers in the Biological Sciences Victoria E. McMillan, 2020-08-26 Writing in the Biological Sciences is a handy reference that new to advanced students can readily use on their own. A variety of student models prepare you for the most common writing assignments in undergraduate biology courses. |
| a short guide to writing about biology: Systems Biology Eberhard O. Voit, 2020 Systems biology utilises new computational tools to analyse biological processes on an extraordinary scale. We can now study complex biological phenomena within their natural contexts, applying a holistic, systems-based approach. This book explores what this interdisciplinary field is about, and how it will affect our understanding of life. |
| a short guide to writing about biology: The Craft of Science Writing Siri Carpenter, 2024-11-05 A deeply sourced, inclusive guide to all aspects of science writing with contributions from some of the most skilled and award-winning authors working today. Science writing has never been so critical to our world, and the demands on writers have never been greater. On any given day, a writer might need to explain the details of AI, analyze developments in climate change research, or serve as a watchdog helping to ensure the integrity of the scientific enterprise. At the same time, writers must spin tales that hook and keep readers, despite the endless other demands on their attention. How does one do it? The Craft of Science Writing is the authoritative guide. With pieces curated from the archives of science writers’ go-to online resource, The Open Notebook, this book explores strategies for finding and shaping story ideas, pitching editors, and building a specialty in science writing. It delves into fundamental skills that every science writer must learn, including planning their reporting; identifying, interviewing, and quoting sources; organizing interview notes; and crafting stories that engage and inform audiences. This expanded edition includes new introductory material and nine new essays focusing on such topics as how to establish a science beat, how to find and use quotes, how to critically evaluate scientific claims, how to use social media for reporting, and how to do data-driven reporting. In addition, there are essays on inclusivity in science writing, offering strategies for eradicating ableist language from stories, working with sensitivity readers, and breaking into English-language media for speakers of other languages. Through interviews with leading journalists offering behind-the-scenes inspiration as well as in-depth essays on the craft offering practical advice, readers will learn how the best science stories get made, from conception to completion. Contributors: Humberto Basilio, Siri Carpenter, Jeanne Erdmann, Dan Ferber, Tina Casagrand Foss, Geoffrey Giller, Laura Helmuth, Jane C. Hu, Alla Katsnelson, Roxanne Khamsi, Betsy Ladyzhets, Jyoti Madhusoodanan, Amanda Mascarelli, Robin Meadows, Kate Morgan, Tiên Nguyễn, Michelle Nijhuis, Aneri Pattani, Rodrigo Pérez Ortega, Mallory Pickett, Kendall Powell, Tasneem Raja, Sandeep Ravindran, Marion Renault, Julia Rosen, Megha Satyanarayana, Christina Selby, Knvul Sheikh, Abdullahi Tsanni, Alexandra Witze, Katherine J. Wu, Wudan Yan, Ed Yong, Rachel Zamzow, Sarah Zhang, and Carl Zimmer |
| a short guide to writing about biology: Illustrated Guide to Home Biology Experiments Robert Thompson, Barbara Fritchman Thompson, 2012-04-19 Perfect for middle- and high-school students and DIY enthusiasts, this full-color guide teaches you the basics of biology lab work and shows you how to set up a safe lab at home. Features more than 30 educational (and fun) experiments. |
| a short guide to writing about biology: Experimental Design for the Life Sciences Graeme D. Ruxton, Nick Colegrave, 2023 Providing students with clear and practical advice on how best to organise experiments and collect data so as to make the subsequent analysis easier and their conclusions more robust, this text assumes no specialist knowledge. |
| a short guide to writing about biology: The Biology Book Helen Fewster, 2021-06-24 Why do bees know how to dance? Where do plants get sugar? How do animals know their mothers? Who discovered germs? The science of biology is the story of our quest to understand the living world and explain how its organisms work and interact - whether microbes, mushrooms, or mammals. In answering these and many other questions, we've discovered the mechanics of plants, animals, and the human body; explored the mysteries of DNA and genetic inheritance; and learned how to develop vaccines that control diseases. Written in plain English, The Biology Book includes short, pithy explanations of more than 95 momentous ideas in science, from cell theory to evolution by natural selection. Themed chapters explore key areas of the life sciences including ecology, zoology, and biotechnology, tracing the history of scientific thought and introducing the scientists who shaped the subject, such as Carl Linnaeus, Jean-Baptiste Lamarck, Charles Darwin, and Gregor Mendel. Coverage of topical issues such as cloning, neuroscience, human evolution, and gene editing brings the story right up to date. Step by step flowcharts help to unpick complex theories, diagrams demystify biological processes, illuminating quotes make the ideas and discoveries memorable, and witty illustrations enhance our understanding of the science. Whether you're new to the subject, a budding botanist or molecular scientist, an avid student of the living world, or keen to keep up with and understand current ethical and scientific debates, The Biology Book is for you. |
| a short guide to writing about biology: A Short Guide to Writing about Film Timothy Corrigan, 2015 This best-selling text is a succinct guide to thinking critically and writing precisely about film. Both an introduction to film study and a practical writing guide, this brief text introduces students to major film theories as well as film terminology, enabling them to write more thoughtfully and critically. With numerous student and professional examples, this engaging and practical guide progresses from taking notes and writing first drafts to creating polished essays and comprehensive research projects. Moving from movie reviews to theoretical and critical essays, the text demonstrates how an analysis of a film can become more subtle and rigorous as part of a compositional process. |
| a short guide to writing about biology: Scientific Style and Format Council of Science Editors. Style Manual Committee, Council of Science Editors, 2014 The Scientific Style and Format Eighth Edition Subcommittee worked to ensure the continued integrity of the CSE style and to provide a progressively up-to-date resource for our valued users, which will be adjusted as needed on the website. This new edition will prove to be an authoritative tool used to help keep the language and writings of the scientific community alive and thriving, whether the research is printed on paper or published online. |
| a short guide to writing about biology: The Cartoon Guide to Biology Larry Gonick, David Wessner, 2019-07-30 From New York Times bestselling author Larry Gonick and Davidson College biology professor David Wessner comes this comprehensive and humorous cartoon guide to topics in biology. Did you faint when your middle school science teacher asked you to dissect a frog? Do you think DNA stands for “Don’t Know the Answer”? Do you still cling to the belief that osmosis was the name of Ozzy Osbourne’s last tour? If you said yes to any of these questions—or even if you didn’t—then you need The Cartoon Guide to Biology. The latest from New York Times bestselling author Larry Gonick—writing with Davidson College biology professor David Wessner—is a hilarious and informative handbook to the science of life. From the inner workings of the cell, to the magic of gene expression, to the Krebs and Calvin cycles, to sexual and asexual reproduction, The Cartoon Guide to Biology uses simple, clear, humorous illustrations to make biology’s most complex concepts understandable and entertaining. Whether you’re peering into the microscope for the first time or brushing up after decades of de-evolution, this book has you covered. |
| a short guide to writing about biology: Behave Robert M. Sapolsky, 2017-05-02 Why do we do the things we do? Over a decade in the making, this game-changing book is Robert Sapolsky's genre-shattering attempt to answer that question as fully as perhaps only he could, looking at it from every angle. Sapolsky's storytelling concept is delightful but it also has a powerful intrinsic logic: he starts by looking at the factors that bear on a person's reaction in the precise moment a behavior occurs, and then hops back in time from there, in stages, ultimately ending up at the deep history of our species and its genetic inheritance. And so the first category of explanation is the neurobiological one. What goes on in a person's brain a second before the behavior happens? Then he pulls out to a slightly larger field of vision, a little earlier in time: What sight, sound, or smell triggers the nervous system to produce that behavior? And then, what hormones act hours to days earlier to change how responsive that individual is to the stimuli which trigger the nervous system? By now, he has increased our field of vision so that we are thinking about neurobiology and the sensory world of our environment and endocrinology in trying to explain what happened. Sapolsky keeps going--next to what features of the environment affected that person's brain, and then back to the childhood of the individual, and then to their genetic makeup. Finally, he expands the view to encompass factors larger than that one individual. How culture has shaped that individual's group, what ecological factors helped shape that culture, and on and on, back to evolutionary factors thousands and even millions of years old. The result is one of the most dazzling tours de horizon of the science of human behavior ever attempted, a majestic synthesis that harvests cutting-edge research across a range of disciplines to provide a subtle and nuanced perspective on why we ultimately do the things we do...for good and for ill. Sapolsky builds on this understanding to wrestle with some of our deepest and thorniest questions relating to tribalism and xenophobia, hierarchy and competition, morality and free will, and war and peace. Wise, humane, often very funny, Behave is a towering achievement, powerfully humanizing, and downright heroic in its own right. |
| a short guide to writing about biology: The Science Writers' Essay Handbook Michelle Nijhuis, 2016-02 Though the essay form is more than four centuries old, it's perfectly suited to the digital age--and to science writing. The Science Writers' Essay Handbook will show you how to: * Recognize and develop essay ideas * Research and report for the essay form * Organize your material before you write * Develop a distinctive authorial voice * Revise and polish your essays for publication * Apply your essay-writing skills to stories of all kinds, from magazine features to multimedia productions to social-media posts No matter what kind of science storyteller you are, The Science Writers' Essay Handbook will give you new tools to bring out the best in your work. |
| a short guide to writing about biology: What is Life? Paul Nurse, 2020-09-03 Life is all around us, abundant and diverse, it is extraordinary. But what does it actually mean to be alive? Nobel prize-winner Paul Nurse has spent his career revealing how living cells work. In this book, he takes up the challenge of defining life in a way that every reader can understand. It is a shared journey of discovery; step by step he illuminates five great ideas that underpin biology. He traces the roots of his own curiosity and knowledge to reveal how science works, both now and in the past. Using his personal experiences, in and out of the lab, he shares with us the challenges, the lucky breaks, and the thrilling eureka moments of discovery.To survive the challenges that face the human race today - from climate change, to pandemics, loss of biodiversity and food security - it is vital that we all understand what life is. |
| a short guide to writing about biology: Biological Science Scott Freeman, 2014 ALERT: Before you purchase, check with your instructor or review your course syllabus to ensure that you select the correct ISBN. Several versions of Pearson's MyLab & Mastering products exist for each title, including customized versions for individual schools, and registrations are not transferable. In addition, you may need a CourseID, provided by your instructor, to register for and use Pearson's MyLab & Mastering products. Packages Access codes for Pearson's MyLab & Mastering products may not be included when purchasing or renting from companies other than Pearson; check with the seller before completing your purchase. Used or rental books If you rent or purchase a used book with an access code, the access code may have been redeemed previously and you may have to purchase a new access code. Access codes Access codes that are purchased from sellers other than Pearson carry a higher risk of being either the wrong ISBN or a previously redeemed code. Check with the seller prior to purchase. -- Supports and motivates you as you learn to think scientifically and use the skills of a biologist. Scott Freeman's Biological Science is beloved for its Socratic narrative style, its emphasis on experimental evidence, and its dedication to active learning. In the Fifth Edition, the author team has expanded to include new members-bringing a fresh focus on accuracy and currency, and multiplying the dedication to active learning by six. Research indicates that true mastery of content requires a move away from memorization towards active engagement with the material in a focused, personal way. Biological Science is the first introductory biology text designed to equip you with a strategy to accurately assess your level of understanding, predict your performance, and identify the types of cognitive skills that need improvement. 032174361X / 9780321743619 Biological Science Plus MasteringBiology with eText -- Access Card Package Package consists of: 0321743679 / 9780321743671 Biological Science 0321842170 / 9780321842176 MasteringBiology with Pearson eText -- ValuePack Access Card -- for Biological Science |
| a short guide to writing about biology: The Book of Humans Adam Rutherford, 2018-09-13 *FROM THE BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF A BRIEF HISTORY OF EVERYONE WHO EVER LIVED and HOW TO ARGUE WITH A RACIST* WHAT MAKES US HUMAN? Waging war? Sex for pleasure? Creating art? Mastery of fire? In this thrilling tour of the animal kingdom, Adam Rutherford tells the story of how we became the unique creatures we are today. Illuminated by the latest scientific discoveries, THE BOOK OF HUMANS is a dazzling compendium of what unequivocally fixes us as animals, and reveals how we are extraordinary among them. *** 'Adam Rutherford is a superb communicator, who eruditely explores the borderlands of history, archaeology, genetics and anthropology in this fascinating tour of our species' DAN SNOW 'This superbly accessible discussion about who we humans really are is important and necessary' CHRIS PACKHAM 'Charming, compelling and packed with information. I learned more about biology from this short book than I did from years of science lessons' PETER FRANKOPAN 'An outstandingly clear and witty account that shows beyond doubt how much we are part of the animal world, and yet at the same time how different we have become' HENRY MARSH |
| a short guide to writing about biology: A Short Guide to Writing about History Richard Marius, 1995 This text helps students get beyond merely compiling dates and facts; it teaches them how to incorporate their own ideas into their papers and to tell a story about history that interests them and their peers. Covering brief essays and the documented resource paper, the text explores the writing and researching processes, different modes of historical writing (including argument), and offers guidelines for improving style as well as documenting sources. --From publisher's description. |
| a short guide to writing about biology: Writing in Political Science Danielle LaVaque-Manty, Mika LaVaque-Manty, 2015 Writing in Political Science: A Brief Guide applies the key concepts of rhetoric and composition--audience, purpose, genre, and credibility--to examples based in political science. It is part of a series of brief, discipline-specific writing guides from Oxford University Press designed for today's writing-intensive college courses. The series is edited by Tom Deans (University of Connecticut) and Mya Poe (Northeastern University). |
| a short guide to writing about biology: The Book of Humans Adam Rutherford, 2018-09-06 Around 45,000 years ago, something happened. We dragged ourselves away from our origins by creating culture, with tools and art and abstract thought and our newly minted minds. The cognitive revolution gave us a sense that we are special, and specially created, distanced from nature. Writers, scientists, philosophers and religions have marvelled at our brilliance for millennia. Yet we are apes, wedded to the rest of creation by genes, anatomy, and physiology, all rooted in a shared evolution. All species are unique, but are we moreunique than other animals?This question is at the root of who we are. Things we once lorded as uniquely human are not. We are not the only species that communicates, makes tools, solves puzzles, has fashions, plans for the future, regrets past decisions, goes to war, grieves for lost lives, farms, uses manipulative mind control, and has sex for reasons other than to make new versions of ourselves. We arethe only ones who do all of these things.The Book of Humansis a guidebook to this paradox: what sets us apart from nature, but places us within it. Darwin began the process of inching us back into the natural world but in this dazzling new book, Adam Rutherford will look at how we occupy an exceptional place within the animal kingdom, demystify the complex behaviours we once thought just belonged to us and, in turn, enrich our understanding of what it means to be human. |
| a short guide to writing about biology: ACS Style Guide Anne M. Coghill, Lorrin R. Garson, 2006 In the time since the second edition of The ACS Style Guide was published, the rapid growth of electronic communication has dramatically changed the scientific, technical, and medical (STM) publication world. This dynamic mode of dissemination is enabling scientists, engineers, and medicalpractitioners all over the world to obtain and transmit information quickly and easily. An essential constant in this changing environment is the requirement that information remain accurate, clear, unambiguous, and ethically sound.This extensive revision of The ACS Style Guide thoroughly examines electronic tools now available to assist STM writers in preparing manuscripts and communicating with publishers. Valuable updates include discussions of markup languages, citation of electronic sources, online submission ofmanuscripts, and preparation of figures, tables, and structures. In keeping current with the changing environment, this edition also contains references to many resources on the internet.With this wealth of new information, The ACS Style Guide's Third Edition continues its long tradition of providing invaluable insight on ethics in scientific communication, the editorial process, copyright, conventions in chemistry, grammar, punctuation, spelling, and writing style for any STMauthor, reviewer, or editor. The Third Edition is the definitive source for all information needed to write, review, submit, and edit scholarly and scientific manuscripts. |
| a short guide to writing about biology: Concepts of Biology Samantha Fowler, Rebecca Roush, James Wise, 2023-05-12 Black & white print. Concepts of Biology is designed for the typical introductory biology course for nonmajors, covering standard scope and sequence requirements. The text includes interesting applications and conveys the major themes of biology, with content that is meaningful and easy to understand. The book is designed to demonstrate biology concepts and to promote scientific literacy. |
| a short guide to writing about biology: About Writing Robin Jeffrey, 2016 |
| a short guide to writing about biology: Using the Biological Literature Diane Schmidt, 2014-04-14 The biological sciences cover a broad array of literature types, from younger fields like molecular biology with its reliance on recent journal articles, genomic databases, and protocol manuals to classic fields such as taxonomy with its scattered literature found in monographs and journals from the past three centuries. Using the Biological Literature: A Practical Guide, Fourth Edition is an annotated guide to selected resources in the biological sciences, presenting a wide-ranging list of important sources. This completely revised edition contains numerous new resources and descriptions of all entries including textbooks. The guide emphasizes current materials in the English language and includes retrospective references for historical perspective and to provide access to the taxonomic literature. It covers both print and electronic resources including monographs, journals, databases, indexes and abstracting tools, websites, and associations—providing users with listings of authoritative informational resources of both classical and recently published works. With chapters devoted to each of the main fields in the basic biological sciences, this book offers a guide to the best and most up-to-date resources in biology. It is appropriate for anyone interested in searching the biological literature, from undergraduate students to faculty, researchers, and librarians. The guide includes a supplementary website dedicated to keeping URLs of electronic and web-based resources up to date, a popular feature continued from the third edition. |
| a short guide to writing about biology: A Guide to Writing in the Sciences Andrea A. Gilpin, Patricia Patchet-Golubev, 2000-01-01 Clear and concise, this guide describes the basic elements of scientific writing, from lab reports to research essays to articles, as well as the grammar and punctuation fundamental to all writing.128 pp. |
| a short guide to writing about biology: From Research to Manuscript Michael Jay Katz, 2006 Demonstrating how to compose a scientific paper, this book describes not just what to do but why and how, explaining why each section of a science paper requires its particular form of information, and showing how to fit data and arguments into that form. It recognizes that experiments in different disciplines need different presentations. |
| a short guide to writing about biology: Handbook for Academic Authors Beth Luey, 2010 This fifth edition has been revised to reflect the impact of digital technology on authorship and publishing. |
#shorts - YouTube
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SHORT Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster
He is short for his age. the shortest day of the year Life's too short to worry about the past. The movie was very short. You have done a lot in a short space of time. a short burst of speed I've …
SHORT | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary
SHORT definition: 1. small in length, distance, or height: 2. used to say that a name is used as a shorter form of…. Learn more.
Short note 7 Little Words - 7LittleWordsAnswers.com
3 days ago · Short note. Below you will find the solution for: Short note 7 Little Words which contains 6 Letters. Short note 7 Little Words . Possible Solution: QUAVER. Since you already …
Short - definition of short by The Free Dictionary
short - primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration; "a short life"; "a short flight"; "a short holiday"; "a short story"; "only a few short months"
Meaning of short – Learner’s Dictionary - Cambridge Dictionary
SHORT definition: 1. having a small distance from one end to the other: 2. continuing for a small amount of time…. Learn more.
- YouTube
Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.
SHORT | definition in the Cambridge English Dictionary
SHORT meaning: 1. small in length, distance, or height: 2. used to say that a name is used as a shorter form of…. Learn more.
Short - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms - Vocabulary.com
The adjective short describes things that aren't long when you measure them, or have a small distance from one end to another, like your short hair or the short walk to the library. A small …
What Is YouTube Shorts? – The 101 Guide - Influencer Marketing …
Jun 24, 2024 · YouTube Shorts is a short-form video feature that YouTube introduced in 2020 to compete with rivals like Instagram Reels and TikTok. Using this feature, content creators can …
#shorts - YouTube
About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features NFL Sunday Ticket
SHORT Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster
He is short for his age. the shortest day of the year Life's too short to worry about the past. The movie was very short. You have done a lot in a short space of time. a short burst of speed I've …
SHORT | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary
SHORT definition: 1. small in length, distance, or height: 2. used to say that a name is used as a shorter form of…. Learn more.
Short note 7 Little Words - 7LittleWordsAnswers.com
3 days ago · Short note. Below you will find the solution for: Short note 7 Little Words which contains 6 Letters. Short note 7 Little Words . Possible Solution: QUAVER. Since you already …
Short - definition of short by The Free Dictionary
short - primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration; "a short life"; "a short flight"; "a short holiday"; "a short story"; "only a few short months"
Meaning of short – Learner’s Dictionary - Cambridge Dictionary
SHORT definition: 1. having a small distance from one end to the other: 2. continuing for a small amount of time…. Learn more.
- YouTube
Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.
SHORT | definition in the Cambridge English Dictionary
SHORT meaning: 1. small in length, distance, or height: 2. used to say that a name is used as a shorter form of…. Learn more.
Short - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms - Vocabulary.com
The adjective short describes things that aren't long when you measure them, or have a small distance from one end to another, like your short hair or the short walk to the library. A small …
What Is YouTube Shorts? – The 101 Guide - Influencer Marketing …
Jun 24, 2024 · YouTube Shorts is a short-form video feature that YouTube introduced in 2020 to compete with rivals like Instagram Reels and TikTok. Using this feature, content creators can …
