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Writing Be concise! What makes a good writer? • • • • • Inborn talent? Years of English and humanities classes? An artistic nature? The influence of alcohol and drugs? Divine inspiration? •Having something to say •Logical and clear thinking •Knowing a few simple, learnable rules of style Clear writing starts with clear thinking Before you start writing, ask: “What am I trying to say?” When you finish writing, ask: “Have I said it?” Make every word tell “Vigorous writing is concise. A sentence should contain no unnecessary words, a paragraph no unnecessary sentences, for the same reason that a drawing should have no unnecessary lines and a machine no unnecessary parts. This requires not that the writer make all his sentences short, or that he avoid all detail and treat his subjects only in outline, but that every word tell.” The Elements of Style, William Strunk Jr. (available online at: http://www.bartleby.com/141/) Make every word tell “Such preparations shall be made as will completely obscure all Federal buildings and non-Federal buildings occupied by the Federal government during an air raid for any period of time from visibility by reason of internal or external illumination.” (from a US government blackout order in 1942) FDR’s response: “Tell them that in the buildings where they have to keep the work going to put something across the windows.” Words and sentences Words 1. Reduce dead weight 2. Cut, cut, cut 3. Be specific Sentences 4. Include subject + verb + object 5. Use strong verbs 6. Eliminate negatives; use positive constructions Dead weight • Very, really, quite, basically, generally • Watch out for the verb “to be” (e.g., “there are”) There are many students who like writing. Many students like writing Dead weight • • • • • • • • • • • In the event that In the nature of It has been estimated that It seems that It may be argued that It can be shown that It is believed that For the most part For the purpose of In the case of In the final analysis Dead weight Clunky phrase Equivalent • A majority of Most • A number of Many • Are of the same opinion Agree • At the present moment Now • By means of By Dead weight Clunky phrase • • • • • • • All three of the Fewer in number Give rise to In all cases In a position to In close proximity to In order to Equivalent The three Fewer Cause Always Can Near To Dead weight Beware of • • • • • • • • • Assistance Utilize Numerous Facilitate Remainder Due to the fact that Is indicative of Sufficient For the purpose of Use instead Help Use Many Help Rest Because Shows Enough For/to Choosing the right words 1. 2. • • • Reduce dead weight words and phrases Cut, cut, cut Is a word or phrase necessary? What happens if I take it out? Don’t get attached! Cutting words I would like to assert that the author should be considered to be a buffoon. The author is a buffoon. The expected prevalence of mental retardation, based on the assumption of a normal distribution of intelligence in the population, is stated to be theoretically about 2.5%.” The expected prevalence of mental retardation, if intelligence is normally distributed, is 2.5% Cutting words To control infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tb), a robust T-cell-mediated immune response is necessary, and deficiency in this response predisposes an individual towards active TB. Deficiency in T-cell-mediated immune response predisposes an individual to active TB. Cutting words This paper provides a reviewS of the basic tenets of cancer biology study design, using as examples studies that illustrate the methodologic challenges and or that demonstrate successful solutions to the difficulties inherent in biological research. This paper reviews cancer biology study design, using examples that illustrate specific challenges and solutions. Choosing the right words 1. Reduce dead weight words and phrases 2. Cut, cut, cut: learn to part with your words 3. Be specific Use specific nouns and specific verbs and specific details…. Be specific Vague nouns Problem, situation, approach, method, reaction, period, component, technique, solution, challenge, difficulty Vague: A period of unfavorable weather set in. Specific: It rained every day for a week. Building sentences Sentences 4. Subject + verb + object 5. Use strong verbs and don’t turn verbs into nouns 6. Eliminate negatives; use positive constructions Active vs. passive voice In the passive voice, the actor is AWOL… President Kennedy was shot in 1963. Who shot him? Cigarette ads were designed to appeal to children. Who is responsible? Building sentences 4. Subject + verb + object 5. Use strong verbs and don’t turn verbs into nouns Active verbs Weak verbs Obtain estimates of estimate Has seen an expansion in has expanded Provides a methodologic emphasis emphasizes Take an assessment of The useful bits assess More active verbs Provide a review of review Offer confirmation of confirm Make a decision decide Shows a peak peaks Exhibits a dependence upon depends Building sentences 4. Subject + verb + object 5. Use strong verbs and don’t turn verbs into nouns 6. Eliminate negatives; use positive constructions Be positive • • • • • • Not honest Does not have Did not remember Did not pay attention to Did not have much confidence Did not succeed dishonest lacks forgot ignored distrusted failed Example Subject very long! The fear expressed by some teachers that students would not learn statistics well if they were permitted to use canned computer Negatives programs has not been realized in our Passive experience. A careful monitoring of achievement Dead weight levels before and after the introduction of computers in the teaching of our course revealed no appreciable change in students’ performances. Boring verb 55 words Example Many teachers feared that the use of canned computer programs would prevent students from learning statistics. We monitored student achievement levels before and after the introduction of computers in our course and found no decrease in performance. 37 words Dangling participles & misplaced modifiers Participles modify the nearest noun Walking along the beach, the sun rose majestically over the ocean. Using tissue isolation protocol, mtDNA was isolated from dried skins. Ivory samples were taken from tusks using a drill. Paragraphs 1. Avoid a succession of loose sentences 2. Paragraph flow is helped by: • logical flow of ideas • if necessary, transition words 3. First and last sentences should be really good Abstract • • • • • Summary of research At beginning of paper (write last!) Conference proceedings Short! (150-250 words) Give max information in min space Weissman 2008 Abstract structure • Purpose (1-2 sentences) • Procedures (very abbreviated) • Findings • Conclusions (1-2 sentences of discussion; 1 sentence about general importance) Mori et al. Circadian clock protein KaiC forms ATP-dependent hexameric rings and binds DNA. PNAS 99: 17203-17208 KaiC from Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942 (KaiC) is an essential circadian clock protein in cyanobacteria. Previous sequence analyses suggested its inclusion in the RecA/DnaB superfamily. A characteristic of the proteins of this superfamily is that they form homohexameric complexes that bind DNA. We show here that KaiC also forms ring complexes with a central pore that can be visualized by electron microscopy. A combination of analytical ultracentrifugation and chromatographic analyses demonstrates that these complexes are hexameric. The association of KaiC molecules into hexamers depends on the presence of ATP. The KaiC sequence does not include the obvious DNA-binding motifs found in RecA or a DnaB. Nevertheless, KaiC binds forked DNA substrates. These data support the inclusion of KaiC into the RecA/DnaB superfamily and have important implications for enzymatic activity of KaiC in these circadian clock mechanism that regulates global changes in gene expression patterns. 143 words Mori et al. Circadian clock protein KaiC forms ATP-dependent hexameric rings and binds DNA. PNAS 99: 17203-17208 KaiC from Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942 (KaiC) is an essential circadian clock protein in cyanobacteria. Previous sequence analyses suggested its inclusion in the RecA/DnaB superfamily. A characteristic of the proteins of this superfamily is that they form homohexameric complexes that bind DNA. We show here that KaiC also forms ring complexes with a central pore that can be visualized by electron microscopy. A combination of analytical ultracentrifugation and chromatographic analyses demonstrates that these complexes are hexameric. The association of KaiC molecules into hexamers depends on the presence of ATP. The KaiC sequence does not include the obvious DNA-binding motifs found in RecA or a DnaB. Nevertheless, KaiC binds forked DNA substrates. These data support the inclusion of KaiC into the RecA/DnaB superfamily and have important implications for enzymatic activity of KaiC in these circadian clock mechanism that regulates global changes in gene expression patterns. 143 words Mori et al. Circadian clock protein KaiC forms ATP-dependent hexameric rings and binds DNA. PNAS 99: 17203-17208 KaiC from Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942 (KaiC) is an essential circadian clock protein in cyanobacteria. Previous sequence analyses suggested its inclusion in the RecA/DnaB superfamily. A characteristic of the proteins of this superfamily is that they form homohexameric complexes that bind DNA. We show here that KaiC also forms ring complexes with a central pore that can be visualized by electron microscopy. A combination of analytical ultracentrifugation and chromatographic analyses demonstrates that these complexes are hexameric. The association of KaiC molecules into hexamers depends on the presence of ATP. The KaiC sequence does not include the obvious DNA-binding motifs found in RecA or a DnaB. Nevertheless, KaiC binds forked DNA substrates. These data support the inclusion of KaiC into the RecA/DnaB superfamily and have important implications for enzymatic activity of KaiC in these circadian clock mechanism that regulates global changes in gene expression patterns. 143 words Mori et al. Circadian clock protein KaiC forms ATP-dependent hexameric rings and binds DNA. PNAS 99: 17203-17208 KaiC from Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942 (KaiC) is an essential circadian clock protein in cyanobacteria. Previous sequence analyses suggested its inclusion in the RecA/DnaB superfamily. A characteristic of the proteins of this superfamily is that they form homohexameric complexes that bind DNA. We show here that KaiC also forms ring complexes with a central pore that can be visualized by electron microscopy. A combination of analytical ultracentrifugation and chromatographic analyses demonstrates that these complexes are hexameric. The association of KaiC molecules into hexamers depends on the presence of ATP. The KaiC sequence does not include the obvious DNA-binding motifs found in RecA or a DnaB. Nevertheless, KaiC binds forked DNA substrates. These data support the inclusion of KaiC into the RecA/DnaB superfamily and have important implications for enzymatic activity of KaiC in these circadian clock mechanism that regulates global changes in gene expression patterns. 143 words Mori et al. Circadian clock protein KaiC forms ATP-dependent hexameric rings and binds DNA. PNAS 99: 17203-17208 KaiC from Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942 (KaiC) is an essential circadian clock protein in cyanobacteria. Previous sequence analyses suggested its inclusion in the RecA/DnaB superfamily. A characteristic of the proteins of this superfamily is that they form homohexameric complexes that bind DNA. We show here that KaiC also forms ring complexes with a central pore that can be visualized by electron microscopy. A combination of analytical ultracentrifugation and chromatographic analyses demonstrates that these complexes are hexameric. The association of KaiC molecules into hexamers depends on the presence of ATP. The KaiC sequence does not include the obvious DNA-binding motifs found in RecA or a DnaB. Nevertheless, KaiC binds forked DNA substrates. These data support the inclusion of KaiC into the RecA/DnaB superfamily and have important implications for enzymatic activity of KaiC in these circadian clock mechanism that regulates global changes in gene expression patterns. 143 words Assignment • Write an abstract of paper provided • Max: 150 words • Due: Monday, November 15 (by email) Introductions BIG picture General background, i.e., what is known The gap: what is not known Your question/ goals Your approach Introduction structure Martínez-González et al. (2008) Adherence to Mediterranean diet and risk of developing diabetes: prospective cohort study. BMJ First paragraph: What is known about risk factors for diabetes Diabetes mellitus is an increasingly important global public health problem that threatens to reach pandemic levels by 2030.As some randomised trials have consistently shown, increased physical activity and weight loss are efficient approaches for the control and prevention of type 2 diabetes. Diet has also long been believed to be an important risk factor for diabetes. Second paragraph: What is known about the Mediterranean diet and diabetes Many studies have shown that the Mediterranean food pattern has a role in prevention of cardiovascular disease.The similarity of some risk factors and some empirical and mechanistic evidence suggest that the Mediterranean diet can also protect against diabetes. The major protective characteristics include a high intake of fibre, a high intake of vegetable fat, a low intake of trans fatty acids, and a moderate intake of alcohol. Moreover, a particular feature of the diet is the abundant use of virgin olive oil for cooking, frying, spreading on bread, or dressing salads.This leads to a high ratio of monounsaturated fatty acids to saturated fatty acids. This ratio can be used to score adherence to a Mediterranean diet as the traditional diet. Despite having a relatively high total fat content, this food pattern is rich in monounsaturated fatty acids (from olive oil) and poor in saturated fatty acids. Diets rich in monounsaturated fatty acids improve lipid profiles and glycaemic control in people with diabetes, suggesting that a high intake improves insulin sensitivity.Together these associations suggest the hypothesis that following an overall pattern of Mediterranean diet can protect against diabetes. In addition to having a long tradition of use without evidence of harm, a Mediterranean diet is highly palatable, and people are likely to comply with it. Third paragraph : What is not known about the Mediterranean diet and diabetes Few prospective studies have evaluated the specific role of the Mediterranean diet on the risk of developing diabetes in initially healthy Mediterranean populations. A prospective follow-up study recently reported an inverse association between adherence to the diet and the incidence of diabetes. All members of that study, however, had survived a previous myocardial infarction and the tool to assess dietary habits had inherent limitations because it included only a short list of items, and the authors did not attempt to measure the entire diet. Fourth paragraph : What this study did and why it’s better than previous studies We evaluated the association between adherence to a Mediterranean diet and the incidence of diabetes using a full validated food frequency questionnaire to measure the entire diet. Plagiarism of structure = bad Point B Point A Point C Point D Emulation = good Model/ system Problem Question Your approach Assignment • Write a 1-1.5 page Introduction for a NSERC Discovery Grant • single-spaced, 12 pt font, with 2.5 cm margins • Use two major headings: (1) Objectives and (2) Background. You may also use subheadings within these major headings. • Include references (not included in the space limit). • Due: Monday, November 22 (by email, as Word document)