Writing for computer science

Chapter 1: Introduction

Writing for Computer Science

Introduction

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Prepared by:

• Sowaida Nezami
• Lalma Mohammadi

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Introduction

“This writing seemeth to me ……. Not much better than the noise or sound which musicians make while they are in tuning their instruments.”

‘Francis bacon’

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Introduction (continued)

• Writing plays many roles in science; we use it to:
• Recording events
• Clarifying thoughts
• Communication
• Adding to scientific knowledge
• Many researchers do not write well. bacon’s quote given in previous slide was made hundred years ago. Yet applies to much science writing today.
• Skills required for science and writing are different.
• Best writing is based on:
• Straight forward
• Logical thinking
• Isn't rich
• Readability
• Clarity

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Introduction (continued)

• A research paper can remain relevant for years or even decades.
• Understanding the structure of a paper and understanding the content is both different concepts and requires different efforts.
• Importance and validity of a paper cannot be convincing if it's difficult to understand. The more important the results, the better the writing and presentation should be.
• To produce competent papers, follow these steps:
• Create a logical organization
• Use concise sentences
• Revise against checklist
• Seek feedback
• Most researchers find that their work improves through practice, experience, and willingness to continue to reflect and learn.

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Kind of publication

• Scientific results can be presented in:
• Books
• Thesis
• Journal article
• A paper in conference or workshop
• Manuscript
• Books:
• Mostly used by undergraduates.
• Doesn’t contain new results.
• Doesn’t provide evidence for the correction of information.
• Main purpose: to present information in accessible and readable form.
• Better than papers.
• A thesis is usually a deep or even definitive exploration.

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Kind of publication (continued)

• Journals and conference proceedings:
• consist of contributions that range from substantial papers to extended abstracts.
• A journal paper is  an end product of the research process.
• Conference papers are refereed but may be constrained by length limits.
• Extended abstract, commonly means that the detail of the work is omitted.
• Unlike the books, the contents of paper must be justified. To make sure it’s trustworthy, high-quality work. �

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Kind of publication (continued)

• A typical research paper consists of:
• the arguments
• evidence
• experiments
• proofs
• background required to support and explain a central hypothesis.
• Paper or thesis should be an objective addition to scientific knowledge.

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Writing, Science, and Skepticism

• Science is a system for accumulating reliable knowledge. the process of science begins with speculation, observation, and a growing understanding of some idea or phenomenon.
• A key aspect of writing is that the discipline of stating ideas as logical, organized text forces you to formulate and clarify your thoughts.
• Writing suggests new concepts to consider; written material can be systematically discussed and debated with colleagues.
• Writing defines what we consider to be knowledge.
• A unifying principle for the scientific culture that determines the value of research is that of skepticism.��

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Writing, Science, and Skepticism (continued)

• Skepticism is an open-minded approach to knowledge.
• A skeptic seeks the most accurate description or solution that fits the known facts, without concern for issues such as the need to seek favor with authorities.�Absolute skepticism is unsustainable.
• Skepticism is key to good science. For an idea to survive, other researchers must be persuaded of its relevance and correctness not with rhetoric, but in the established framework of a scientific publication. New ideas must be explained clearly to give them the best possible chance of being understood, believed, remembered, and used. It ends with publication, that is, an explanation of results to the research community.��

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Using this book

• This book helps computer scientists with their writing and research.
• Style is in some respects a matter of taste. This book has been written with the intention that it be browsed, not memorized.
• For novice, it introduce the elements of scientific paper and reviews a wide range of issues that working researchers need to consider.
• This book can be used as the principal text for a senior research methods subject, use it as a resource.
• It covers the major facets of writing and experimentation for research in computer science.
• There are also exercises in all chapters to help develop writing and research skills.

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Using this book (continued)

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• There are many home pages for research methods subjects, on research in general and in the specific context of computing, where up-to-date readings can be found.
• There are checklists to be used as a reference for evaluating your work, at the ends of some chapters.�

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Spelling and Terminology

• British spelling is used throughout this book, with just a couple of quirks, such as use of “program” rather than “programme”.
• Choice of terminology is less straightforward.
• The generic “research student” is used throughout, and, making arbitrary choices, “thesis” rather than “dissertation” and “Ph.D.” rather than “doctorate”. The academic staff member (faculty in North America) who works with “supervises” a research student is, in this book, an “advisor” rather than a “supervisor”.�

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Spelling and Terminology (continued)

• Rather than use circumlocutions such as “my colleagues and I”, or “together with my students”, the simple shorthand “we” is used to indicate that the work was not mine alone.
• Many of the examples of language use are drawn from other people’s writing; in some cases, the text has been altered to disguise its origin.

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