Present and explain ideas in the same (logical) sequence

Example:

Memory is the capacity to store and recall

new information. It can be subdivided

into two main types: short-term and

long-term. Short-term memory involves

remembering information for a minute or

less, for example, the memory required

to perform a simple calculation such

as 5 Ч 7 Ч 3. Another type of short-term

memory is sensory memory, for example,

we see a video as a continuous scene

rather than a series of still images. Longterm

memory can be further subdivided

into recent memory, which involves new

learning, and remote memory, which

involves old information. Interestingly,

research shows sex differences in remote

memory: women tend to remember better

verbal situations, whereas men have a

better recollection of events relating to

visuals and space.

The author presents a list of topics at the beginning of a paragraph that he intends to discuss further in the later part of the paragraph. He then deals with the topics in the same order and format as he initially presented them: first short-term memory, then long-term.

 

Cut redundant words

The words in square brackets below are probably all redundant, and could simply be removed without having to make further changes to the sentence.

 

It was small [in size], round [in shape], yellow [in color] and heavy [in weight].

This will be done in [the month of] December for [a period of] six days.

Our research [activity] initially focused [attention] on [the process of] designing the architecture.

The [task of] analysis is not [a] straightforward [operation] and there is a [serious] danger that …

The analyses [performed in this context] highlighted [among other things] the [fundamental and critical] importance of using the correct methodology in a consistent [and coherent] manner [of conduction].

 

Present your key findings in a very short sentence

And list the implications

Be explicit about your findings, so that

Even a non-expert can understand them

Dealing with the limitations of your reasearch

As a young researcher you want your scientific community to see you as credible, professional and honest, and also reasonably modest. This means that you can, and should, draw attention to limitations in your research.

It was found that the containers for the samples had become contaminated.

This fraction is assumed to originate from...

It might be speculated that...

It is regrettable that the containers had become contaminated as this meant that …

It is reasonable to hypothesize that...

It appears possible that...

Saving other author’s faces: put their research

In a positive light, say the findings are open to another interpretation

 

Our interpretation of these results is...

My perspective on these findings is...

From our investigations we conclude that...

It would not be implausible to analyze...

In fact, our analysis reveals that...

Budinich’s findings could also be interpreted as evidence of...

 

 

MARKERS and their FUNCTIONS

 

In order to do this / To this end / With this

mind

To state the purpose of something. For

instance, you outline a requirement,

and then you begin to say how you

could meet this requirement

 

Then / Following this / Afterwards

To indicate a temporal relationship

 

For example, / An example of this

is / In fact, / Unlike / Nevertheless,

To give an example or supporting/negating

evidence. By ‘example’ I don’t mean

just a list of items, but a complete

example or evidence that supports or

negates what you have just been saying

and that requires several sentences to

explain

 

In addition / Another way to do / An

additional feature of

To add additional points. For instance,

if you are focusing just on one thing

(e.g. X) and you talk about X’s attributes

 

On the other hand / However / In contrast

To qualify what you have just said: i.e. to

indicate an exception or the two sides of

an argument

 

Due to / Since / Although

To give reasons for something

 

Thus / Therefore / Consequently / Because

of this

To indicate a consequence

 

This means that / This highlights that /

These considerations imply that / In

conclusion / In sum

To announce and give a mini conclusion

about what you have said in the previous

sentences

 

Figure 1 shows / As can be seen in Table 2

To talk about figures, tables etc.

 

Firstly, secondly, finally

To introduce elements in a list

 

As far as X is concerned, / In relation to X,

In the case of / With regard to / As noted

earlier

To introduce a new element; to recall

something mentioned earlier

 

It is worth noting that / Interestingly

To add some additional information or

make some comment, not necessarily

directly about something you have

mentioned before but as an aside.