76 Science Research Writing 2. SUPPLY ESSENTIAL BACKGROUND INFORMATION Th is list provides words and phrases used to describe instruments, equipment or locations, and includes items such as parallel to and equidistant. Th ey are essential because the reader needs them in order to visualise or recreate your work. 3. PROVIDE SPECIFIC AND PRECISE DETAILS ABOUT MATERIALS AND METHODS (i.e. quantities, temperatures, duration, sequence, conditions, locations, sizes) Th is includes verbs which specifi cally describe what you did/used. Instead of writing only was done or was used, a more specifi c verb such as optimise or extract can save you time by explaining exactly what was 'done'. 4. JUSTIFY CHOICES MADE Th is includes phrases that introduce the reasons for the choices you made, such as in order to. It also includes a list of verbs that specify the advantages of the choices you made, like enable and facilitate. 5. INDICATE THAT APPROPRIATE CARE WAS TAKEN Th is includes adjectives (careful) as well as adverbs (carefully), so as to give you maximum fl exibility when you are constructing sentences. 6. RELATE MATERIALS/METHODS TO OTHER STUDIES Th is provides you with ways to distinguish between procedures/materials/ tests which were exactly the same as those used by other researchers, procedures/materials/tests which were similar to those used by other researchers and procedures/materials/tests which were signifi cantly diff erent. 7. INDICATE WHERE PROBLEMS OCCURRED Th is list includes ways of minimising the problem, minimising your responsibility, maximising the good aspects and suggesting a solution to the problem. 2.4.1 Vocabulary task Look through the Methodology sections in this unit and the Methodology or Experimental sections in your target articles. Underline or highlight all
Methodology — Vocabulary 77 the words and phrases that you think could be used in the seven areas above. A full list of useful language can be found on the next pages. Th is includes all the appropriate words and phrases you highlighted along with some other common ones. Read through them and check the meaning of any you don't know in the dictionary. Th is list will be useful for many years. 2.4.2 Vocabulary for the Methodology section 1. PROVIDE A GENERAL INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW OF THE MATERIALS/METHODS and GIVE THE SOURCE OF MATERIALS/ EQUIPMENT USED Some of the vocabulary you need for this is in the Introduction vocabulary list; for example, many of the verbs that describe what you did/used can be found there. Th ese verbs fall into three categories: the fi rst includes general verbs related to academic research, such as attempt, consider, conduct, determine, investigate, report, suggest, verify, and most of these can be found in the Introduction vocabulary list. Th e second category contains verbs that specify what you did, such as calculate, extract, isolate, formulate, incorporate, modify, plot, simulate, and these can be found in the vocabulary list below. Th e third category includes verbs which are specifi c to your fi eld and your research, but which are not useful in other fi elds, for example clone, dissect, isotype, infuse. Also try: all (of) both (of) each (of) many (of) most (of) the majority(of) (the) tests (the) samples (the) trials (the) experiments (the) equipment (the) chemicals (the) models (the) instruments (the) materials is/are commercially available was/were acquired (from/by) was/were carried out was/were chosen was/were conducted was/were collected was/were devised was/were found in was/were generated (by) was/were modifi ed was/were obtained (from/by)