斯坦福SCI论文写作课笔记（三）

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2.1 Use the active voice



1)What is the active voice

A gent+ verb+ recipient.

2)What is the passive voice

Recipient+ verb+ agent.

3)advantage

Emphasizes author responsibility
No attempt was made to contact non-responders because they were deemed unimportant to the analysis (passive)

VS

We did not attempt to contact non-responders because we deemed them unimportant to the analysis. (active)

Increases readability
A strong correlation was found between use of the passive voice and other sins of writing. (passive)

VS

We found a strong correlation between use of the passive voice and other sins of writing. (active)

VS

Use of the passive voice strongly correlated with other sins of writing. (active)

Reduces ambiguity(歧义)
General dysfunction of the immune system at the leukocyte level is suggested by both animal and human studies. (passive)

Vs

Both human and animal studies suggest that diabetics have general immune dysfunction at the leukocyte level. (active)

2.2 Is it really OK to use “We” and “I”？

Yes, it’s ok.

2.3 Active voice practice

Example1:

A recommendation was made by the DSMB committee that the study be halted.

自己：The DSMB committee that the study be halted made a recommendation.

Answer: The DSMB committee recommended that the study be halted(停止、停下).

Example2：

Major differences in the reaction times of the two study subjects were found.

自己：We found that major differences in the reaction times of the two study subjects.

Answer: The two study subjects differed in reaction times

Example3:

It was concluded by the editors that the data had been falsified by the authors.

自己：The editors concluded that the authors falsified data.

Answer: The editors concluded that the authors falsified their data.

Example4:

The first visible-light snapshot of a planet circling another star has been taken by NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope.

自己：NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope has taken the first visible-light snapshot of a planet circling another star.

Answer:同上

Example5：

Therefore, the hypothesis that the overall kinetics of a double transtibial amputee athlete and an able-bodied sprinter at the same level of performance are not different was rejected.

自己：We rejected the hypothesis(假说) that the overall kinetics of a double transtibial amputee athlete and an able-bodied sprinter at the same level of performance.

Answer: Therefore, We rejected the hypothesis(假说) that the overall kinetics of a double transtibial amputee athlete and an able-bodied sprinter at the same level of performance are comparable.

2.4 Writing with verbs

1)Write with verbs

Use strong verbs
Verbs make sentences go!

avoid turning verbs into nouns
Don’t kill verbs into nouns

Example:

During DNA damage, recognition of H3K4me3 by ING2 results in recruitment of Sin3/HDAC and repression of cell proliferation genes.

修改

During DNA damage, H3K4me3 recruits ING2 and Sin3/HDAC, which together repress cell proliferation genes.

Obtain estimates of      ——>      estimate

Has seen an expansion in ——>      has expanded

provide a methodologic emphasis   ——>  emphasizes methodology

Take an assessment of    ——>     assess

provide a review of      ——>      review

Offer confirmation of    ——>      confirm

Make a decision        ——>      decide

Show a peak           ——>      peaks

provide a description of ——>      describe

don’t bury the main verb
So try to keep that verb close to the subject, near the star of the sentence. (句首)

example: